CHAPECOENSE FACTFILE

Brazil top division side Chapecoense were aboard the aircraft that crashed in Medellin, Colombia with 81 people on board.

A little-known team outside their own country, Chapecoense made headlines in tragic circumstances but what else do we know about the Serie A outfit? 

WHO ARE CHAPECOENSE? 

The club's full name is Associação Chapecoense de Futebol, and they were founded in 1973. Chapecoense are based in the town of Chapeco in the State of Santa Catarina in the south of Brazil, approximately 450 km from Porte Alegre. 

Having toiled in Brazil's lower divisions since 1979, Chapecoense made a return to Serie A in 2014 and have stayed in the league since then.

This is no small achievement for a club of their lowly stature, in a league populated by more illustrious teams such as Corinthians and Santos.

WHO HAS WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH?

Reports suggest at least five of the 81 people on board have survived the crash.

Though it is not known how many and which footballers were on the flight, local media reports say Marcos Danilo, Alan Ruschel and Jackson Follmann are still alive.

CLUB'S NOTABLE PLAYERS

Cleber Santana, 35, is the club's captain and central midfielder. He moved to La Liga side Atletico Madrid in 2007, spending three years at the club before returning to Sao Paulo in 2010.

Matheus Biteco is also on loan from Hoffenheim having joined the German side from Gremio in 2015. The defensive midfielder is a Brazil U20 international.