Chapecoense legend who didn't travel with teammates announces retirement

42-year-old Chapecoense goalkeeper Nivaldo today announced his immediate retirement from football.

The veteran goalkeeper joined Chapecoense in 2006 and was due to play his farewell game against Atletico-MG on the final day of the Brasileirão championship.

On 299 appearances for the club, Nivaldo didn’t take part in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Palmeiras in order to play his 300th game in front of the home supporters. That will no longer happen.

71 passengers died in yesterday’s plane crash in Colombia, which was taking the Chapecoense team to play in the Copa Sudamericana final.

“I was supposed to go on the trip but ended up staying,” said Nivaldo to Globoesporte. “Everything has a reason in life. I didn’t travel to Palmeiras (on Sunday), because it would make my farewell game to play here against Atletico-MG, when I would complete 300 games for the club.

“As there was a change in the trip, they would not return to Chapeco and instead go straight from Sao Paulo to Medellin. So Caio [the coach] said he would not take me.”