Thousands gathered at Tenerife 's stadium on Saturday to pay their final respects to striker Jesus de Miguel, with captain Enric Gallego fighting back tears to remember a teammate who died aged 30 after suffering a cardiac arrest following a match collision.

De Miguel was taken to intensive care after colliding with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono on Monday. Spanish second-division club Tenerife confirmed his passing on Tuesday morning.

A massive banner displaying his black-and-white photograph and the words "Forever Demi" hung behind a central pitch stage at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez.

Following a video showing footage of his Tenerife debut, fans chanted: "De Miguel, we love you".

Players sat beside representatives from all clubs in Spain's top two divisions, including Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno, as tears fell in the stands.

Thousands of fans gathered to pay their final respects to De Miguel (Getty)

"To speak of you in the past tense is tremendously unfair," Gallego said, pausing…