Former Stoke City Defender Dionatan Teixeira Dies at Age 25
Former Stoke City centre-back Dionatan Teixeira has died aged 25 of a suspected heart attack.
According to BBC Sport, his current club, Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol, reported he became ill and died on Sunday in his home country Brazil.
He joined the Potters in 2014 but left in January this year after injuries limited him to just two senior appearances for the club.
Stoke and Fleetwood Town, where he spent a stint on loan in 2015, paid tribute to him on Twitter:
Per Fraser Nicholson for Stoke’s official website, club chief executive Tony Scholes said: “Dionatan was a hugely popular member of our squad and it’s difficult to comprehend that he has passed away at such a young age. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his young family and friends at such a difficult time.”
Teixeira’s former team-mates Steve Sidwell, Charlie Adam and Jack Butland also sent their condolences:
So too did Pete Smith of the Stoke Sentinel, who remembered the defender fondly:
Teixeira’s appearances for Stoke came in a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in 2015 and a 3-1 win over Bournemouth the following year.
Sheriff, for whom the Brazilian made 10 appearances as he helped them complete a league and cup double last season, said in a statement: “He will remain forever in our hearts.”
Bristol City coach sends Stoke City warning as threat to Robins midfield order emerges
Taylor Gardner-Hickman could offer something different in the centre of the park, should Nigel Pearson choose to break up what has been his established midfield trio
Curtis Fleming insists Bristol City have barely scratched the surface regarding Taylor Gardner-Hickman with the on-loan utility man pushing for a start against Stoke City, and in his favoured position of midfield.
Garner-Hickman was the fifth and final signing of the summer window for the Robins, with the 21-year-old essentially arriving as an emergency due to Ross McCrorie’s unfortunate and unforeseen viral infection which will keep the Scot out until 2024, after he underwent surgery on the issue last week.
Gardner-Hickman has made four appearances for City, since joining on loan from West Brom with a view to making it a £1.3m permanent signing at the end of the season: one as starter and three off the bench. Of those four games, two have been at right-back and two in midfield.
Since starting at Swansea in place of George Tanner on the right side of the defence, the 23-year-old’s return to the team and upturn in form has meant Gardner-Hickman’s last two appearances have offered a means of relief in the final portions of games for central midfielders Jason Knight and Joe Williams.
