David Silva RETIRES From Football At Age 37, After 20-Years In The Game
Spain and Manchester City's legend David Silva has officially announced his retirement from professional football at age 37, bringing to an end a brilliant career spanning around 20 years in the game.
Silva was due to prepare for another 2023-24 season with LaLiga club side Real Sociedad this campaign, but suffered a complicated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in preseason training session on July 21, which was due to keep him out a number of months. As a result, he has decided to call time on a glittering career.
He started his career at his native Canary Islands home before moving to Valencia as a youngster, where he would become a key part of the first team at Mestallla, winning the Copa del Rey, he also had a season at Eibar on loan prior to his breakthrough.
The former Spain international joined Man City in 2010 for €28.75m and went on to make 436 appearances for the club in a decade, scoring 77 goals.
He conquered every trophy available to him in England, other than the Champions League, bringing in a golden era for the club. Amongst his honours were four Premier League trophies, earning a spot in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year three times.
Thirteen of his twenty career trophies came in a sky blue jersey, including five Carabao Cups, five League Cups and two FA Cups.
A statue of Silva was later unveiled outside the Etihad Stadium in 2021, standing alongside those of fellow club legends Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero.
The 37-year-old returned to Spain, joining Sociedad on a free transfer in the summer of 2020 and proved to be an instrumental figure in his three full seasons with the Basque club.
He was part of the club's success under Imanol Alguacil, contributing to their Copa del Rey win. The playmaker registered five assists in LaLiga action as Sociedad finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in a decade last year.
He said in a video statement posted to social media: "Today is a sad day for me.
"Today it is time to say goodbye to what I have dedicated my whole life to.
"Today it is time to say goodbye to my colleagues, who are like family to me. I will miss you very much."
"Ches [Valencia], Armeros [Eibar], Celtinas [Celta Vigo], Citizens [Man City] and Txuri Urdines [Real Sociedad]. Thank you because you have made me feel at home."
🪄 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗦 por todo el fútbol que nos has dado, @21LVA. Tu magia perdurará para siempre.
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 27, 2023
⭐️ Un Mundial.
🏆🏆 Dos Eurocopas.
1⃣2⃣5⃣ Partidos con la @SEFutbol.
⚽️ 35 Goles.#GraciasSilva pic.twitter.com/eQlMooGjhO
Between 2008 and 2012, he was also part of all three historic Spain's team that won the World Cup in South Africa 2010, as well as back-to-back Euros (2018, and 2012).
He retired from international duty in 2018, after 125 caps and 35 goals, finishing fourth in their all-time top scorers list behind Fernando Torres, Raul Gonzalez and David Villa.
A tribute was paid on the Spain national team's social media, stating: "Thank you for all the football you have given us. Your magic will last forever."
Man City also paid tribute to their former player on the club's social media, saying: "What an incredible career. Wishing you all the best for the future, El Mago!"
In total, Silva secured 19 trophies, playing 744 times at club level, recording 121 goals and 194 assists. One of the all-time greats of Spanish and world football, Silva will no doubt be sorely missed by fans and all of those working in the game.
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