Spanish attacking midfielder David Silva, European and world champion with La Roja, announced Thursday on his social networks, to retire from sport at the age of 37.
“Thank you very much … Football”, soberly published Silva on his social networks, accompanying his message with a farewell video retracing his journey, his goals, his dribbles, his trophies.
Trophies, the Spanish veteran has accumulated a number during a career spanning 20 years. In particular under the colors of the Spanish team, for which he has 125 selections (seventh most capped player) and 35 goals (fourth top scorer).
He is one of the major players in the Euro-2008 – Mondial-2010 – Euro-2012 treble of an ultra-dominant Roja on the continental and world stages. He scored in all three competitions, notably in the 2012 final against Italy (4-0).
The club career of the native of the Canary Islands, on January 8, 1986, was just as successful. Trained in Valencia, “El Mago” (The Magician) won a King’s Cup with the Ché club before heading to England, to Manchester City.
A total of 436 games in the Citizen jersey, 77 achievements and ten full seasons make David Silva a Manchester City star. He took part in the founding title of champion of England in 2012, when a goal from Sergio Agüero in added time on the last day gave City the crown, 44 years later.
Three other Premier League titles follow (2014, 2018, 2018), as well as two FA Cups and five League Cups. In 2020, Silva returns to Spain, to Real Sociedad, where he plays the last three seasons of his career, pocketing a new Copa del Rey in the process.
Sometimes in the heart of the game, sometimes on the left wing, Silva shone with his silky technique, his sharp game vision and his sense of goal.
“Your wand will never cease to shine. Goodbye, Magician”, paid tribute to Real Sociedad on the networks, while Manchester City thanked his “legend for his incredible career”.