Thiego

Willian Thiego de Jesus (22 July 1986 – 28 November 2016), known as Willian Thiego or simply Thiego, was a Brazilian footballer who played as a centre back. He was one of the victims when LaMia Airlines Flight 2933 crashed on 28 November 2016.

Thiego

Personal information
Full name	Willian Thiego de Jesus
Date of birth	(1986-07-22)22 July 1986
Place of birth	Aracaju, Brazil
Date of death	28 November 2016(2016-11-28) (aged 30)
Place of death	La Unión, Colombia
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
2004–2006	Sergipe
2006–2007	Grêmio
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006	Sergipe	0	(0)
2007–2012	Grêmio	50	(1)
2010	→ Kyoto Sanga (loan)	10	(0)
2011	→ Bahia (loan)	16	(0)
2012	Ceará	29	(1)
2013	Figueirense	18	(3)
2014	Khazar Lankaran	29	(2)
2015–2016	Chapecoense	68	(8)
Total		240	(15)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Grêmio

Born in Aracaju, Sergipe, Thiego started his career at Sergipe's youth setup, and impressed enough to secure a move to Grêmio in 2006.

Initially assigned to the under-20s, Thiego was promoted to the first team the following year; known as Willian Thiego, he only used the last name due to the presence of Willian Magrão in the squad. He made his Série A debut during the campaign, contributing with 11 appearances.

On 14 June 2008 Thiego scored his top tier goal, a powerful close-range shot in a 3–0 away win against Goiás.^[1] He would subsequently appear regularly for the club, also representing the side in 2009 Copa Libertadores.

Thiego was sent on a one-year loan to Kyoto Sanga FC in January 2010.^[2] Upon returning, he subsequently served another temporary deal at Bahia^[3] before leaving the club.

Ceará / Figueirense

On 5 March 2012, Thiego was sold to Ceará.^[4] He immediately became a regular starter at the club, but was still released on 31 October.^[5]

On 16 January 2013, Thiego signed a one-year deal with Figueirense.^[6]

Khazar Lankaran

Following the expiration of his Figueirense contract, Thiego signed an 18-month contract with Khazar Lankaran of the Azerbaijan Premier League on 27 January 2014.^[7] He left Khazar Lankaran in December 2014, after having his contract cancelled by the club.^[8]

Chapecoense

In January 2015, Willian Thiego signed for Chapecoense.^[9] A backup to Rafael Lima during his first season, he became a regular starter during his second.

On 15 June 2016, Thiego scored a brace in a 3–3 home draw against former club Grêmio.

Death

Main article: LaMia Flight 2933

On 28 November 2016, whilst at the service of Chapecoense, Thiego was among the fatalities of the LaMia Airlines Flight 2933 accident in the Colombian village of Cerro Gordo, La Unión, Antioquia.^[10]

Career statistics

As of 27 November 2016^[11]

Club	Season	League			State League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Grêmio	2007	Série A	11	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		11	0
	2008		13	1	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	—		14	1
	2009		21	0	5	0	0	0	5[b]	0	—		31	0
	Subtotal		45	1	5	0	0	0	6	0	—		56	1
Kyoto Sanga (loan)	2010	J.League	10	0	—		1	0	—		—		11	0
Bahia (loan)	2011	Série A	5	0	11	0	5	0	—		—		21	0
Ceará (loan)	2012	Série B	17	1	12	0	2	0	—		—		31	1
Figueirense (loan)	2013	Série B	21	3	17	0	5	1	—		—		43	4
Khazar Lankaran	2013–14	Azerbaijan Premier League	14	2	—		4	0	—		—		18	2
	2014		15	0	—		0	0	—		—		15	0
	Subtotal		29	0	—		4	0	—		—		33	2
Chapecoense	2015	Série A	13	1	5	0	0	0	4[a]	0	—		22	1
	2016		33	5	17	2	5	0	7[a]	1	—		62	8
	Subtotal		46	6	22	2	5	0	11	1	—		84	9
Career total			173	13	67	2	22	1	17	1	0	0	279	17

1. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
2. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores

Honours

Grêmio

• Campeonato Gaúcho: 2007

Chapecoense

• Copa Sudamericana: 2016 (posthumously)^[12]