Alex Sandro dos Santos Apolinário (7 November 1996 – 7 January 2021) was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. On 7 January 2021, he died due to a cardiac arrest suffered during a match.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alex Sandro dos Santos Apolinário | ||
| Date of birth | 7 November 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Ribeirão Preto, Brazil | ||
| Date of death | 7 January 2021 (aged 24) | ||
| Place of death | Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Botafogo SP | |||
| 2015–2016 | Cruzeiro | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2018 | Cruzeiro | 7 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Athletico Paranaense (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2019–2021 | Alverca | 40 | (8) |
| Total | 52 | (9) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editBorn in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Apolinário started his career at Botafogo Futebol Clube (SP) in his native city before signing with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in 2015. In 2016, he was promoted to their senior team, and on 9 March he made his professional debut in the Primeira Liga in a 2–1 home win over Club Athletico Paranaense, as a 64th-minute substitute for Matías Pisano.[1]
In January 2018, Apolinário transferred to Paranaense on a one-year loan deal.[2] The team won the Campeonato Paranaense, though he was not a regular.[3] On 10 March as a first-half substitute for João Pedro Heinen, he scored his only goal to conclude a 7–1 home win over Rio Branco Sport Club.[4]
Apolinário moved abroad for the first time in January 2019, joining F.C. Alverca of the Campeonato de Portugal, the third tier of the country's football league system.[5] On 17 October that year, he opened the scoring as the club eliminated holders Sporting CP from the third round of the Taça de Portugal with a 2–0 home win;[6] it was only the second time in its history that team was eliminated by a third-tier club.[7]
Death
editOn 3 January 2021, in a Campeonato de Portugal match against Almeirim in Alverca do Ribatejo, Apolinário went into cardiac arrest in the 27th minute of the match.[8] He was revived after several attempts and stayed at the Vila Franca de Xira Hospital, where he was put in an induced coma.[9] He died four days later; he was 24.[10][11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Raposa mostra a força do elenco e vira sobre o Atlético-PR no Mineirão" [Raposa shows the strength of the squad and comes from behind against Atlético-PR in the Mineirão ] (in Portuguese). Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Meia do Cruzeiro que foi apresentado no Londrina acerta ida ao Atlético-PR" [Cruzeiro midfielder who was presented in Londrina gets closer to transfer to Atlético-PR] (in Portuguese). UOL. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Onde e como estão os jogadores do Atlético campeões paranaenses?" [Where and how are the Atlético players who are champions of Paraná?] (in Portuguese). Bem Paraná. 24 June 2018. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Atlético-PR faz 7 a 1 no Rio Branco e assume liderança do Grupo B" [Atlético-PR beat Rio Branco 7–1 and take the lead in Group B]. Gazeta Esportiva (in Portuguese). 10 March 2018. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Campeonato de Portugal: mercado mexe de Alverca à Madeira" [Campeonato de Portugal: activity in the transfer window from Alverca to Madeira]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 18 January 2019. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Sporting, detentor do troféu, eliminado da Taça pelo Alverca" [Sporting, trophy holders, eliminated from the Taça by Alverca] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 17 October 2019. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ "O Alverca continua a ser um problema para o Sporting" [Alverca continue to be a problem for Sporting]. Público (in Portuguese). 17 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Alverca atualiza estado de saúde de Alex Apolinário: "Em estado grave, estabilizado e em coma induzido"" [Alverca issue update on Alex Apolinário's health: "In a serious condition, stabilised and in an induced coma"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 4 January 2021. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ Bruxo, Michael (5 January 2021). "Footballer 'fighting for life' in hospital after collapsing on pitch". Portugal Resident. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ Grez, Matias (8 January 2021). "Football player Alex Apolinario dies aged 24". CNN. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Morre atacante brasileiro que sofreu parada cardiorrespiratória em Portugal". UOL (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
External links
edit- Alex Apolinário at Soccerway
