Full name Luiz Carlos Saroli Height 1.8 m | Playing position Spouse Adriana Mânica Saroli | |
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Date of birth (1965-03-08)8 March 1965 Date of death 28 November 2016(2016-11-28) (aged 51) Died 28 November 2016, Colombia Children Matheus Saroli, Gabriel Saroli Teams coached Associação Chapecoense de Futebol (Manager, 2016–2016), Al Shabab (Manager, 2014–2016) Similar Cléber Santana, Everton Kempes dos Sant, Bruno Rangel, Thiego, Dener Assunção Braz | ||
Luiz Carlos Saroli (8 March 1965 – 28 November 2016), known as Caio Júnior or Caio Jr., was a Brazilian football forward and manager.
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He spent his 14-year professional career in Brazil and Portugal, notably amassing Primeira Liga totals of 140 games and 31 goals in the latter nation in representation of three teams, mainly Vitória de Guimarães.
Caio Júnior started working as a manager in 2002, going on to be in charge of a host of clubs. In 2016, whilst at the service of Chapecoense, he died in an aviation incident in Colombia.
Playing career
Born in Cascavel, Paraná, Caio Júnior's Série A input consisted of 37 games and nine goals combined for Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, Sport Club Internacional and Paraná Clube, during four seasons. in 1987 he moved to Portugal where he would remain the next eight years, starting out at Vitória S.C. in the Minho Province.
Caio Júnior made his debut in the Primeira Liga on 23 August 1987, coming on as a 67th-minute substitute in a 2–2 away draw against Varzim SC. He finished his first season with eight goals from 31 appearances, helping his team to the 14th place as well as the third round of the UEFA Cup.
Having returned to his homeland at the age of 31, and with the exception of Paraná in 1997, Caio Júnior competed exclusively in the lower leagues until his retirement.
Managerial career
On 27 February 2014, Caio Júnior was appointed coach of Criciúma Esporte Clube. In June of that year he returned to the UAE Arabian Gulf League, after signing for Al Shabab (Dubai) in the same capacity.
Caio Júnior reached Associação Chapecoense de Futebol on 25 June 2016. He took the team to the final of the Copa Sudamericana, after disposing of Argentina's San Lorenzo de Almagro on the away goals rule.
Death
On 28 November 2016, whilst travelling with Chapecoense to the aforementioned finals, 51-year-old Caio Júnior was among the fatalities of the LaMia Flight 2933 accident in the Colombian village of Cerro Gordo, La Unión, Antioquia. Shortly after having reached the decisive match in the competition, he uttered: "If I died tomorrow I'd die a happy man".