Abhijay Raj Vaish, Pune
David Silva, also known as ‘El Mago’ has announced his retirement at 37 after suffering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) in pre-season for Real Sociedad. One of the finest playmakers, the Spanish wizard weaved his magic over a span of 19 years before hanging up his boots after a glorious career.
The playmaker proved his mettle in two pronounced contemporary schools of modern football, i.e., Spain and England. An academy product of Valencia, Silva went on to conquer England with his magical capabilities and exquisite ball control, dominating the Premier League with Manchester City. His decade-long trophy-laden stint with City entailed four Premier League titles, two FA cups, and five league cups.
A statue of the midfielder was unveiled outside the Etihad Stadium in 2021, along with the likes of club legends Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero, owing to his being at the heart of City’s success. He also won two Copa Del Reys each during his respective stints in Spain for both Valencia and Real Sociedad, which ended their trophy drought in 2020.
The maestro retired from international duty in 2018, having won the prestigious World Cup & two European Championships, netting 35 times in his 125 appearances for Spain. The Spanish National Team’s social media paid tribute to their legend, saying, “Thank you for all the football you have given us. Your magic will last forever”.
Silva has made 750 appearances in his club career, netting 120 goals and almost 200 assists.
Manchester City paid homage to their former star on social media, stating: “What an incredible career. Wishing you all the best for the future, El Mago!”
The Spaniard posted a video on social media bidding farewell to his beloved game. “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”, Silva said.