BEVERLY HILLS, February 25, (THEWILL) – The father of Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker for English Premier League side Liverpool, has passed away in Brazil.
The older Becker, Jose Agostinho, had gone missing on Wednesday after diving into the dam on his property near the town of Rincao do Inferno in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, only for his body to be found around midnight in the city of Bage.
The 57-year-old, who was reported as missing at around 5pm local time on February 24, turned out to have died in what is being reported as a swimming incident
The Cacapava do Sul Fire Department was called to the scene before news emerged out of the region later that evening that Mr. Becker’s body had been found lifeless. On Thursday morning, the tragic news was confirmed by the Fluminense official Twitter account and by Sao Paulo’s as well.
“The Fluminense Football Club deeply regrets the death of Jose Agostinho Becker, father of goalkeepers Muriel and Alisson,” the Brazilian club, where Alisson’s younger brother Muriel currently plays, posted. “We wish all friends and family all the strength.”
To their 4.4 million followers, Sao Paulo tweeted: “With much regret, Sao Paulo FC receives the sad news of the death of Jose Agostinho Becker, father of goalkeepers Alisson and Muriel.
“Our condolences and solidarity with the two athletes and their families. A lot of strength and a lot of light at this point.”
The local club, Internacional, where the Liverpool goalie began his professional career and where his younger brother also started, joined in offering their sympathies online at the break of the sad news:
“It is with great sadness that we received the news of Jose Agostinho Becker’s death, the father of our ex-goalkeepers Alisson and Muriel.
“Clube do Povo wishes strength to family and friends in this moment of so much pain. We wish all friends and family all the strength.”
The late Jose was a goalkeeper himself at amateur level, representing Rio Grande do Sul, and provided a great influence on his sons.
Alisson had referenced his father’s huge influence on his decision to become a goalkeeper as a junior footballer previously. In 2018, the Reds shot-stopper said: “I have a family of goalkeepers.
“My father played for his work team, my mother played handball in school, and my grandfather played in amateur football.
“And after all this, came my brother playing and then I started to like it, too.”
Alisson has been a star player and very dependable man between the sticks for Liverpool since joining the club from Roma in 2018 and was voted FIFA Best Men’s Goalkeeper in 2019. It is understandable that manager Jurgen Klopp, as one who recently suffered the loss of his mother, will surely now be giving him the chance to take a break from playing if he wants
These tragic events away from the pitch really put things in perspective after LFC’s generally poor recent form.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
