25 Facts About Emiliano Sala

Emiliano Sala enjoyed prolific spells with both clubs, scoring 39 goals between them, before returning to Bordeaux.

Emiliano Sala was a passenger aboard a Piper Malibu light aircraft flying from Nantes to Cardiff.

Emiliano Raul Sala Taffarel was born in the town of Cululu, Santa Fe Province.

Emiliano Sala's father worked as a truck driver, and the family later moved to Progreso, where Sala was raised.

Emiliano Sala was a fan of Independiente, and, growing up, studied footage of his favourite footballer, Argentine international Gabriel Batistuta.

Emiliano Sala's parents were separated at the time of his death, and his father died of a heart attack on 26 April 2019, three months later.

Emiliano Sala is survived by his mother and two younger siblings, sister Romina and brother Dario.

Emiliano Sala began playing football for San Martin de Progreso, where he remained until he was 15 years old.

Emiliano Sala then moved to San Francisco, Cordoba to play at football school Proyecto Crecer after being spotted by a scout.

Emiliano Sala played six Preferente matches for Spanish club CD Soledad B between October 2007 and February 2008.

Emiliano Sala played one official match for Crato, scoring twice, but suddenly decided to leave the club and return to Argentina, saying that his girlfriend was "in trouble" in his homeland.

Emiliano Sala instead joined Championnat National side US Orleans on loan after being spotted by manager Oliver Frapolli a year previously.

Emiliano Sala helped the club to an eighth-place finish in the Championnat National.

Emiliano Sala finished the season with 20 goals in all competitions, with his total of 18 league goals setting a new club record for goals in a single season.

Emiliano Sala scored five goals for Caen during his loan spell before returning to Bordeaux.

Emiliano Sala twice made goalscoring appearances as a substitute and was restored to the starting line up under Cardoso before the manager was sacked in October 2018.

Emiliano Sala thus became the first FC Nantes player to score three goals in a Ligue 1 match since Mamadou Diallo did so against FC Sochaux-Montbeliard in February 2006.

Emiliano Sala rejected a late bid from a club in the Chinese Super League to join Cardiff, despite being offered a higher salary, due to his desire to play in the Premier League.

Emiliano Sala stated that he modelled his style on his idol, former Argentine international forward Gabriel Batistuta.

Emiliano Sala had been invited to attend Cardiff's match against Newcastle United by manager Neil Warnock, but he returned to France to say goodbye to his Nantes teammates and collect personal belongings.

Later that day, Dorset Police identified the body as Emiliano Sala's by means of fingerprint evidence.

Emiliano Sala's body was taken back to Argentina on 15 February 2019 and his funeral was held, in his hometown of Progreso, the following day.

Emiliano Sala's identity was not made public, but several newspapers identified the man as pilot David Henderson, who arranged the flight and had originally intended to fly the plane.

Emiliano Sala had stated to friends that the 35-year-old airplane was "dodgy".

In 2021, a competition called the Challenge Emiliano Sala was created in honour of Sala.