Defoe hit with personal heartbreak on eve of European Championships

Jermain Defoe has flown home from England’s training camp following the death of his father overnight, the FA confirmed this morning. 

The 29-year-old had been preparing for the European Championships with England when news reached him of his father’s passing. It’s a second family heartbreak for Defoe, after his half-brother, Jade, died of head injuries in 2009 and being the victim of assault. 

An FA statement said:”England striker Jermain Defoe has returned home to England this morning following the passing of his father overnight. Jermain will re-join the England Euro squad in due course. There will be no replacement player called in. We would ask all media to respect Jermain and his family’s privacy at this difficult time.”

Elsewhere in La Liga, Manuel Preciado has passed away just 24 hours after agreeing to take over from relegated Villarreal. The former Sporting Gijon manager suffered a heart attack aged just 54 

Preciado was sacked by Gijon in January despite leading them to the Spanish top flight, twice in six years and in April 2011 ended Jose Mourinho’s nine-year unbeaten home record. 

A Villarreal club statement said: “Villarreal want to express their deepest sorrow at the sad loss and want to offer their condolences to his family and all his relatives.” 

A statement on the Sporting Gijon website, where Preciado was the second longest serving manager, read: “With deepest regret, Sporting Gijon wish to express their sorrow at this sad loss, for someone who formed an integral part of this club’s history, and send their deepest condolences to his family in this time of grief.”

The Upcoming would like to send our condolences to both the Defoe and Preciado families at this sad time.

Dean Mears