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Timeline: A year of rebuilding at Chapecoense

NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty

It was one year ago that tragedy fell upon Chapecoense.

On Nov. 28, 2016, at 21:58 local time, LaMia Flight 2933 crashed into the mountains surrounding Medellin, Colombia. Among the 71 casualties were 19 members of Chapecoense's squad and 20 journalists joining the Verdao for the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final. There were only six survivors, including Alan Ruschel, Helio Neto, and Jakson Follmann.

One year on, Chapecoense is a club rebuilt. Footballers were brought in from elsewhere, while players were promoted from the youth team. As a result, the Verdao performed admirably in the Copa Libertadores and avoided relegation in its first full season since the air disaster.

Here's a timeline of the resourceful rebuild.

Nov. 29, 2016

  • Brazil's president, Michel Temer, declares three days of national mourning and offers condolences.
  • Ruschel, Neto, and Follmann are confirmed as survivors, while Danilo, a goalkeeper who survived the crash, dies from his injuries.
  • Hundreds of supporters gather at the Arena Conda, Chapecoense's stadium, to mourn the footballers and staff killed in the plane crash, bringing flags and flowers as tribute. In the evening, approximately 10,000 people hold a vigil.
  • Atletico Nacional, which Chapecoense was supposed to play in the Copa Sudamericana's final, calls on CONMEBOL to award the title to the Verdao after the "unanimous agreement" of El Verde's players.
  • Brazilian clubs announce solidarity measures, including free loans for Chapecoense in 2017 and immunity from relegation for three seasons.
  • Nivaldo, a goalkeeper who didn't join Chapecoense's squad for the flight, confirms his retirement.

Nov. 30, 2016

  • Thousands of supporters flock to the Arena Conda for a mass vigil in a tribute to the victims of the plane crash. Among them are Chapecoense's footballers who didn't travel to Medellin.
  • Nacional's players, staff, and supporters hold a vigil of their own at Estadio Atanasio Girardot, where the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final was supposed to be played. The gesture of solidarity is attended by 45,000 spectators, who hold white candles and chant: "Please remember across the continent, we will never forget the champions Chapecoense."
  • FOX Sports Brasil airs 90 minutes of a black screen in the time slot allocated for the game.

Dec. 3, 2016

  • Thousands of supporters and mourners attend a wake for the victims as coffins are carried into the Arena Conda.

Dec. 5, 2016

  • CONMEBOL awards the Copa Sudamericana title to Chapecoense.

Dec. 8, 2016

  • Barcelona invites Chapecoense to the 2017 Joan Gamper Trophy, aiming "to help with the institutional and sporting reconstruction of the Brazilian club."

Dec. 9, 2016

  • Vagner Mancini is appointed as Chapecoense's manager, replacing Caio Junior, who was among those killed in the plane crash.

Dec. 12, 2016

  • Danilo is named as the Craque da Galera do Campeonato Brasileiro. His mother, Dona Ilaides, collects the award on her late son's behalf.

Dec. 17, 2016

  • One day after leaving the hospital, Ruschel, who required spine surgery, says he was persuaded to swap seats before the plane crash: "Cadu Gaucho asked me to sit further forward and let the journalists sit together at the back. I didn't want to but then I saw Jakson Follmann and he insisted I sit beside him. Only God can explain why I survived the accident. He grabbed me and gave me a second chance."

Jan. 6, 2017

  • Thirty-nine days after the plane crash, Chapecoense starts a new season. Neto - who suffered severe trauma to his skull, thorax, and lungs - attends an official presentation, appearing alongside footballers who were promoted from the Verdao's youth team.

Jan. 9, 2017

  • The FIFA Fair Play Award goes to Nacional, which requested that Chapecoense be awarded the Copa Sudamericana title. The award is accepted by Dr. Juan Carlos de La Cuesta, El Verde's president.

Jan. 21, 2017

  • Around 20,000 supporters watch Chapecoense's first game since the crash, as the Verdao and SE Palmeiras play out a 2-2 draw in a friendly at the Arena Conda. Ruschel, Neto, and Follmann receive the Copa Sudamericana trophy before the match, and Douglas Grolli, among 22 footballers loaned to the club, scores its first goal since the air disaster.

Jan. 25, 2017

  • Brazil and Colombia play a friendly at the Estadio Nilton Santos, with the proceeds going to the victims of the plane crash. The Selecao beats Los Cafeteros 1-0 courtesy of a second-half goal by Dudu.

Jan. 29, 2017

  • Chapecoense plays its first competitive game since the plane crash, beating Inter de Lages 2-1 in the Campeonato Catarinense, one of Brazil's 27 state championships. Wellington Paulista and Niltinho, both of whom are on loan, score the Verdao's goals.

March 7, 2017

  • Chapecoense secures its first-ever victory in the Copa Libertadores, South America's equivalent of the Champions League, with a 2-1 win at Zulia. Reinaldo scores the Verdao's first goal in the tournament as Rafael Henzel, a journalist who survived the plane crash, narrates the game on FOX Sports Brasil.

April 4, 2017

  • In a game featuring the two clubs that are united by the plane crash, Chapecoense beats Nacional 2-1 at the Arena Conda in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana, which pits the winner of the Copa Libertadores against the winner of the Copa Sudamericana. Reinaldo converts a penalty kick and Luiz Otavio scores the winner.

May 7, 2017

  • Chapecoense wins its first title since the plane crash. After beating Avai Futebol Clube 1-0 in the first leg of the Campeonato Catarinense's final, the Verdao falls 1-0 in the second leg at the Arena Conda but ultimately wins by virtue of boasting the better record in the tournament.

May 10, 2017

  • Nacional wins the Recopa Sudamericana, beating Chapecoense 4-1 in the second leg to capture its seventh international trophy. The game takes place on the Verdao's 44th anniversary.

May 13, 2017

  • Chapecoense begins its quest to retain first-division status with a 1-1 draw at Corinthians in the Brasileirao. The Verdao rejected the offer of immunity.

May 23, 2017

  • After Chapecoense defeats Club Atletico Lanus 2-1 to advance to the Copa Libertadores' knockout phase, CONMEBOL awards a 3-0 victory to El Granate. The Verdao fielded an ineligible player in Otavio, who scored the winning goal. The mistake was reportedly due to an email being sent to the wrong person, and the decision ends the club's tournament run.

July 4, 2017

  • Mancini is sacked as manager after the Verdao go winless in four games. Emerson Cris takes over on an interim basis.

July 26, 2017

  • Ruschel makes his first appearance since the plane crash, playing 40 minutes as Chapecoense and Ypiranga FC play out a 1-1 draw in a friendly. "I had butterflies in my stomach, but I am ready to return," he says.

Aug. 7, 2017

  • Barcelona beats Chapecoense 5-0 in the Joan Gamper Trophy. Ruschel is included in the Verdao's starting lineup and wears the captain's armband for the game. He is given a special welcome along with Neto and Follmann, and exchanges shirts with Lionel Messi at the interval. The presidents of the two clubs exchange gifts. Ernesto Valverde says: "It was a great tribute to a club that has had a very difficult time and that we hope recovers. It has been an emotional day."

Oct. 16, 2017

  • Gilson Kleina is appointed as Chapecoense's manager through December 2018.

Nov. 16, 2017

  • Chapecoense completes its mission of avoiding relegation in its first full Brasileirao season since the plane crash, beating EC Vitoria 2-1 at the Arena Conda to go 10 points clear of the relegation zone with three matchdays remaining.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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