David Silva, a former Spanish national player, has declared his retirement at the age of 37.
This decision comes shortly after he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during pre-season training with his team, Real Sociedad.
The midfielder had injured his left knee earlier in July while preparing for his fourth season with the LaLiga club.
“Today is a sad day for me,” Silva said in a video posted to his social media, recapping some of his career highlights.
“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, one of the most talented playmakers of his generation, achieved great success in the Premier League, LaLiga, and the Spanish national team. He had an impressive collection of trophies, including the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain.
Additionally, he won the Copa del Rey twice, once with Valencia in 2008 and again with Sociedad in 2020. However, his most triumphant period was with Manchester City, where he spent ten years from 2010 to 2020 and won the Premier League four times, the FA Cup twice, and five League Cups.
Silva, who came up through Valencia’s academy, has scored over 120 goals and provided nearly 200 assists in around 750 matches for his club. He also scored 35 goals in 125 appearances for the Spanish national team.
Following his departure in 2020, Silva was commemorated with a statue outside Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium as a tribute to his significant role in the club’s achievements.
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