Classy Thomas Frank opens his first Tottenham press conference by paying a touching tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has paid tribute to Diogo Jota after he died in a car crash aged 28 earlier this month. 

Jota and his brother Andre Silva, 25, were killed following the accident, which occurred in northern Spain on July 3. 

Now, in his first Spurs press conference since joining the club from Premier League rivals Brentford, Frank has paid tribute to the pair. 

The Danish manager was announced as the Lilywhites’ manager last month after they decided to sack Ange Postecoglou – despite the Australian winning them a first trophy in 17 years as he guided to victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final.

Frank was speaking ahead of his side’s first pre-season friendly, which sees them play Reading on Saturday afternoon.

He said: ‘On behalf of everyone at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, our condolences go to the family and the loved ones of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva and everyone at Liverpool Football Club.’ 

The brothers died in a car crash in northern Spain on July 3

The Portuguese international, who was part of Liverpool‘s Premier League-winning side last season, made 131 appearances for Wolves and scored 44 goals during a three-year spell at the club after initially joining on loan from FC Porto in 2017. 

He then moved to Anfield in a £41million transfer in the summer of 2020 after impressing as part of the side that secured European football under Nuno Espirito Santo. 

On Thursday, his former club Wolves announced that he would be posthumously inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame following his death. 

The West Midlands side confirmed the news via the release of an official club statement, which read: ‘Diogo Jota has been inducted into the Wolves Hall of Fame, in a tribute that honours both his remarkable achievements for the club and the deep impact his passing has had on the footballing world. 

‘The Hall of Fame, which is run independently by a committee chaired by Wolves legend John Richards, has moved swiftly to make this rare and heartfelt decision, following the tragic and untimely death of Diogo and his younger brother Andre.

Wolves Hall of Fame chairman and club vice president John Richards added his own statement on the matter after the news  

‘There is such a feeling of sadness and disbelief around this awful tragedy that we wanted to make this tribute of our own as soon as we could.

‘Like everyone else, we’ve been stunned by events, and we remember what a wonderful player Diogo was for Wolves during that unforgettable promotion season under Nuno and our early years back in the Premier League.

On Thursday, Jota’s former club Wolves announced that he would be posthumously inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame following his death

‘His record of 44 goals at Wolves, and then 65 at Liverpool as a Premier League title winner, speaks volumes. So many fans across the game – especially in Portugal after he helped them win the Nations League this summer – are feeling his loss deeply. We saw no reason to delay this decision.

‘We hope it will bring a little comfort to those who were close to Diogo and Andre, and we trust Wolves supporters will understand that this gesture is made with real love and admiration, and also fully justified.’