- By Himanshu Badola
- Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:05 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The former Manchester City midfielder made a heart-breaking announcement on Thursday as he decided to take retirement from professional football after picking up an unfortunate anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during pre-season training with his club, Real Sociedad.
Silva, the 37-year-old midfielder, injured his left knee in July, just before his fourth season with the La Liga club.
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The Spanish International posted a heartfelt video on social media, expressing his disappointment in saying goodbye to the sport he dedicated his entire life to. He also thanked all his colleagues and teammates, calling them family, and expressed how much he will be missing them.
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"Today is a sad day for me," Silva said in a video. "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."
Silva was widely regarded as one of the decorated midfielders and finest playmakers of his generation. He achieved a lot of success in the Premier League, La Liga, and the Spanish national team, especially playing a crucial role in La Roja's (Spain Men's National Football Team) victorious campaigns in the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships.
He was a vital part of Spain's golden generation, sharing the pitch with the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas, David Villa, and many more.
Throughout his career, Silva amassed an impressive collection of major trophies, including two Copa del Rey titles (one with Valencia in 2008 and the other with Real Sociedad in 2020).
He played a major role in the emergence of Manchester City as a powerhouse, helping them win four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and five League Cups during his period with the Premier League giants for a decade.
Starting his journey as an academy product of the Laliga club Valencia Silva went on to make nearly 750 club appearances, scoring over 120 goals, and providing almost 200 assists while featuring for Valencia, Eibar, Celta, Man City, and Real Sociedad.
He also scored 35 goals for Spain in 125 appearances for the national team.
In recognition of his immense contribution to Manchester City's success, the club honored him with a statue outside the Etihad Stadium after his departure in 2020.
