Alan Ruschel, one of only six survivors of the 2016 Chapecoense plane crash that killed 71 people, has defied the odds to become captain of the club and lead them to two trophies. The crash, which occurred on 28 November 2016 while the team was travelling to the Copa Sudamericana final in Colombia, claimed the lives of 19 players, 20 journalists, 14 coaching staff, seven crew, nine club officials and two guests. Ruschel, then 27, suffered severe injuries and was told he might never walk again, let alone play football.
Ruschel recalls the fateful flight: 'We were having fun at the airport. On the plane, some guys were listening to pagode, singing, playing cards. Jakson Follman invited me to sit next to him in the middle of the plane. It saved my life.' He credits his survival to that invitation and his deep religious faith, quoting Proverbs 16:9 tattooed on his body: 'In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.'
After the crash, Ruschel underwent extensive rehabilitation, with pins inserted in his back. 'Mentally, it was very hard. I wanted to walk again and I did it. Then my next challenge was to start running. After running, I began to think about playing football again,' he said. His determination paid off when he returned to the pitch for a friendly against Barcelona at Camp Nou in August 2017, receiving a standing ovation from 65,000 fans. He also met Lionel Messi, who encouraged him to become a champion with Chapecoense.
Ruschel faced scepticism even within his own club, with someone suggesting he was only playing out of pity. 'It hurt, but it also motivated me to show I was good enough. I never wanted to be labelled as just a survivor,' he said. After a loan spell at Goiás in 2019, where he scored his second post-crash goal, he returned to Chapecoense and helped them win the Campeonato Catarinense in 2020 and 2021, becoming a symbol of resilience.
Now 33, Ruschel continues to play for Chapecoense, now in Brazil's Série B. Reflecting on his journey, he said: 'I don't try to understand why I survived. I think I'll understand one day. For now, I try to inspire people. I faced a lot of adversity and I want to motivate people through it.' His story remains a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome tragedy.
