Serginho (footballer, born 1974)

Paulo Sérgio Oliveira da Silva (19 October 1974 – 27 October 2004), better known as Serginho, was a Brazilian footballer who played as a defender.

Career

Serginho started his career in the town of Coronel Fabriciano, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. He played for São Caetano as a defender.

With São Caetano, Serginho won the 2nd division of Campeonato Paulista in 2000, and the first division in 2004, and was runner-up in two Campeonatos Brasileiros and one Copa Libertadores.

Death

On 27 October 2004, Serginho collapsed during a Campeonato Brasileiro match between his team, São Caetano, and São Paulo, after suffering a fatal cardiac arrest around the 60th minute of play. After 15 minutes of resuscitation, he was rushed to Sao Luis Hospital, in Sao Paulo city. He was pronounced dead shortly after. A subsequent autopsy revealed that Serginho's heart weighed approximately 600 grams—about twice the size of an average adult male heart, a condition known as cardiomegaly.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Following an official investigation, São Caetano was found to have allowed Serginho to play despite prior knowledge of his heart condition, which had been identified during pre-season medical examinations. As a result, the club was penalized with a 24-point deduction. Despite this severe sanction, São Caetano managed to avoid relegation that season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Juan Izquierdo, who also died in the Morumbi
• List of association footballers who died while playing

External links

• Template:Sambafoot

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