In 2012, the tiny club of Santa Cruz faced Grêmio in a state league clash few outside Rio Grande do Sul even noticed.
But an image from that night would soon travel far beyond Brazil’s borders: a single young fan, alone in the stands, a half-empty plastic cup at his feet.
The headline in the paper where he worked read simply: “Don’t Leave Me Alone.”
The clip went viral. Over a million views. The lonely fan in the blue and white jersey became a symbol of devotion in a sport too often drowned in empty seats and fading hope.
But for Tiago Rech, that image wasn’t an end, it was only the beginning.
A year later, Santa Cruz were relegated to the second tier. Rech, now living back home and unemployed, crossed paths with the club’s president by chance.
One conversation turned his fandom into purpose; he was offered a job as Santa Cruz’s fifth employee.
Nominally, he was the communications man. In reality, he was everything. Rech fetched sponsors, arranged security with the fire brigade, spoke to the police, and worked matchdays like a one-man orchestra.
“I joke that I’d take the corner, run into the box to head it, then race back to defend,” he laughs now.
It was a crash course in how to turn passion into results. On Friday club dinners, an old Santa Cruz ritual, Rech mingled with city leaders and veteran directors.
He sold them a vision: break the endless cycle of short contracts and one-season managers. Build a squad that played all year. Create continuity where there was only crisis.
When the old guard finally stepped aside, there was only one choice to lead this rebirth: Rech, now just 27 years old. The lone fan became president.
When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to derail everything, Santa Cruz found a way. A condensed season in 2020 gave them a chance to sign players who might never have come.
By December, Tiago’s club lifted their first-ever title: the Copa Federação Gaúcha de Futebol.
A photographer asked him to recreate that famous photo from 2012. This time he sat in the stands again, but instead of a cheap cup by his side, he cradled Santa Cruz’s first piece of silverware in 107 years.
Again, the world watched.
Before stepping down, Tiago guided Santa Cruz back to Brazil’s second tier.
He passed the presidency to the same friend who’d given him his first shot years before, closing the loop on a story that began with a lonely cheer behind the goal.
FKA/MA
Watch as Ghanaians speak out on Thomas Partey’s rape charge, suggest fresh start in Saudi Arabia
