Liverpool retire number 20 – a phrase that has flooded X, Google, and football forums ever since the Anfield club made the rare and poignant decision to honour a fallen legend. The move, which stunned fans and pundits alike, is not just a tribute to the player who wore it, but a lasting symbol of respect, memory, and emotional solidarity in the footballing world. With this retirement, Liverpool broke from their traditional stance, creating a moment of history steeped in reverence and sorrow.
The decision sent shockwaves through YouTube reaction videos, fan vlogs, and discussion panels on Quora, with people questioning the reasons, the legacy, and the rarity of such a move in English football. In this in-depth feature, we explore everything from the player’s influence to how supporters are responding, and why this number 20 shirt will never be worn at Anfield again.
The meaning behind retiring a football shirt
In football, shirt numbers are more than digits. They often become synonymous with greatness, personality, or, in rarer cases, tragedy. Retiring a number is one of the highest forms of tribute a club can pay. While common in American sports, it’s almost sacred in English football, only seen in exceptional circumstances.
Liverpool Football Club has traditionally resisted this gesture, choosing instead to honour their legends through statues, stands, and ceremonial matches. So when the announcement came that the number 20 shirt would be officially retired, it sparked a flurry of speculation, emotion, and admiration.
Diogo Jota’s legacy and tragic end
The number 20 shirt was most famously worn by Portuguese forward Diogo Jota, a player who captured the spirit of Klopp’s Liverpool with relentless energy, intelligent movement, and critical goals in high-stakes matches. Jota became a fan favourite almost immediately after arriving from Wolves, with his attacking instincts earning comparisons to the club’s greatest forwards.
But what truly immortalised him in the hearts of fans was not just his footballing talent, but the heartbreaking tragedy that followed. In early July 2025, news broke that Jota and his brother, fellow footballer André Silva, had died in a devastating car crash on Spain’s A-52 motorway near Cernadilla.
The shock was felt not just across Merseyside, but around the world. While supporters gathered outside Anfield with handwritten notes, candles, and scarves, social media platforms were ablaze with tributes. The phrase “number 20 forever” trended on X within hours.
Global fan reaction and tributes
The global fan reaction was immediate and intense. On YouTube, memorial edits of Jota’s best goals, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage reached millions of views within days. Influential Liverpool fan accounts on Meta and TikTok created digital spaces for mourning and reflection.
Quora was filled with questions like “Why did Liverpool retire the number 20?” and “Has Liverpool ever retired a number before?” Such conversations demonstrated how uncommon the incidence was. X, too, became a digital memorial, with hashtags like #YNWAJota and #LFC20Retired trending across football-related feeds.
The club’s official statement confirmed the shirt would never be worn again “as a mark of eternal respect to a player whose time was cruelly cut short, but whose impact was timeless.”
Klopp’s heartfelt farewell
Jurgen Klopp, who had a deeply personal relationship with Jota, gave one of the most moving tributes in a press conference just before a pre-season friendly. With visible emotion, Klopp spoke about Jota not just as a player, but as a human being full of humility, joy, and hunger to learn.
He stated, “There are players you coach, and there are players you remember for life. Diogo was both. Number 20 now belongs to the people who loved him.”
His words echoed through every Liverpool supporter, and several X users quoted the line repeatedly as a banner of remembrance.
Teammates reflect on their memories
In the weeks after the tragedy, there was a noticeable tremor in the Liverpool dressing room. Captain Virgil van Dijk, in an interview on This Is Anfield, recalled how Jota’s competitive nature helped keep training sessions intense.
Mohamed Salah posted a photo of himself and Jota embracing after a goal, with the caption: “Gone far too soon, but you’ll always be with us. Number 20 is yours forever.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold, another emotional voice, wrote on Meta: “We wore the badge together, we fought together, and we’ll carry your legacy in every match.”
These personal notes painted a portrait of a teammate who had left an irreplaceable mark on both the pitch and the people around him.
Fan campaigns and petitions
Following the tragic news, fans began petitioning almost immediately for Liverpool to retire the shirt. One petition on change.org gained over 200,000 signatures in under 48 hours.
The campaign gained backing from former Liverpool players, sports journalists, and celebrity supporters, with calls for Anfield to find a permanent way to honour Jota. The decision to retire the number, initially considered unlikely, gathered momentum until it became inevitable.
Supporters also called for a memorial banner to be permanently displayed on The Kop, and discussions around renaming an academy building or pitch after him continue to circulate among fan forums.
Comparing with other football legends
Retiring shirt numbers in football is rare, but not without precedent. Diego Maradona’s number 10 was retired by Napoli, while Marc-Vivien Foé’s number 23 was retired by Manchester City after his untimely death on the field.
Jota now joins this small and emotional club of players whose careers – and lives – were tragically interrupted. What sets Liverpool’s tribute apart is the unique connection between Jota and the fans, built not over decades, but in an intense, beautiful few years of goals, grit, and humility.
The future of number 20 in Liverpool’s story
With number 20 now etched into Anfield’s history, the question arises – what happens next? Will there be annual memorials? A Diogo Jota Foundation? Will youth teams be educated on his influence as part of the club’s legacy culture?
Though the club has not confirmed any long-term plans beyond retiring the number, internal sources suggest that talks are underway for a memorial match, with proceeds going to charities supported by Jota and his family.
The club has also reportedly begun consultations with the Jota family on ways to honour his memory beyond the shirt retirement. Whether that takes the form of a statue, mural, or charity initiative, fans are certain of one thing – number 20 will never be forgotten.
Tributes from rival fans and clubs
What made the moment even more touching was the wave of respect from rival clubs. Manchester United fans unveiled a banner reading “Respect #20” during a pre-season match, while Manchester City and Arsenal held minutes of silence before kick-offs.
Clubs across Europe sent condolences, with Porto – Jota’s first professional club – holding a candlelit vigil. Even players from La Liga and Serie A expressed their sorrow and support online.
These cross-club tributes underlined the universal respect for Jota as a player and human being. It wasn’t about rivalry, but unity in grief.
The business side of remembrance
Within hours of the announcement, Liverpool’s official store stopped the sale of number 20 kits. All proceeds from recent sales were pledged to the Jota family’s chosen charity. Collectors and fans who had the number 20 shirt now owned what many called “a piece of history”.
There was also a rise in demand for Jota memorabilia, but Liverpool FC urged fans not to monetise the moment. Instead, they encouraged respectful remembrance through messages, donations, and digital tributes.
Cultural impact beyond the pitch
Diogo Jota was more than just a footballer. Known for his love of gaming – particularly FIFA, where he once ranked number 1 in the world – he was a cultural figure who connected with a new generation of fans.
YouTube content creators and Twitch streamers paid homage with montage clips, charity streams, and reaction videos. On Meta, fan art of Jota as an “eternal red” gained huge traction, with young fans painting murals in his honour across Liverpool and even in Lisbon.
His death was not just a sports story – it became a cultural moment that brought people together, highlighting the role footballers play in shaping identity and community.
FAQs
What’s the story behind Liverpool retiring the No. 20 shirt?
Following Diogo Jota’s tragic death on July 3, 2025, Liverpool announced the symbolic retirement of the No. 20 shirt—something unprecedented in the club’s 133‑year history. This gesture honors both his influence in securing Liverpool’s 20th league title in 2024‑25 and his lasting legacy at Anfield .
Did Liverpool actually retire the shirt permanently?
Officially, the club confirmed that Jota’s No. 20 “will be rightly immortalised” in club statements . While some outlets say it’s symbolic rather than a formal retirement , the strong fan sentiment and wording suggest it’s unlikely any player will wear it again.
Why did this decision resonate so deeply with fans?
The connection runs deep:
Jota wore No. 20 from the moment he joined in 2020, and that same number coincided with Liverpool’s 20th league title.
Fan chants like “Oh, he wears the number 20” became iconic .
Supporters have clamored on X (formerly Twitter) for permanent retirement, gathering outside Anfield to pay their respects .
Have other top clubs done something similar?
Yes—though it remains rare. Manchester City retired Marc-Vivien Foé’s No. 23 after his death in 2003 . In England, this marks only the second notable case and the first at Liverpool in more than a century.
What’s the latest trend and reaction on X (formerly Twitter)?
The hashtag #Forever20 is trending hard. Fans are sharing clips of Jota’s goals, the poignant chant, and heartfelt messages:
“He helped win us number 20 while wearing number 20. Retire it forever.”
Clubs across Europe are observing a minute of silence before games, and UEFA announced a moment of silence at Women’s EURO fixtures .
To Conclude
Liverpool retire number 20 – a powerful, emotional, and historic gesture that marks the end of an era, but also ensures Diogo Jota’s legacy will echo through Anfield forever. His name, his goals, his energy, and above all his spirit will continue to inspire every player who walks through the Shankly Gates.
While the shirt may never be worn again, it will always be remembered. The retirement of number 20 is not just about what was lost, but about what was left behind – a legacy of brilliance, humility, and deep human connection.
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