David Silva (footballer, born October 1986)

David Mendes da Silva (born 11 October 1986) is a footballer as a winger for US Mondorf in Luxembourg.

David Silva
Silva with CSKA Sofia in 2009
Personal information
Full nameDavid Mendes da Silva
Date of birth (1986-10-11) 11 October 1986 (age 37)
Place of birthCoimbra, Portugal
Position(s)Winger
Team information
Current team
US Mondorf
Number3
Youth career
Porto[1]
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2005–2007FC Porto
2007–2008Tourizense33(4)
2008–2009Lokomotiv Mezdra15(2)
2009–2010CSKA Sofia13(1)
2010Castellón (loan)6(0)
2010–2012Kilmarnock45(4)
2012–2013Olhanense16(1)
2013–2014Kilmarnock3(0)
2015Jaro10(0)
2016Bangkok20(9)
2017Songkhla United
2018US Mondorf12(0)
2019–US Mondorf5(0)
International career
2012–2013Cape Verde7(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:56, 7 September 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 June 2013

He began his career at Porto, where he did not make the first team, and also played in Bulgaria, Scotland, Spain, Finland, Thailand and Luxembourg.

Born in Portugal to Cape Verdean parents, he earned seven caps for Cape Verde at full international level. He was part of their squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Club career

After spending the first three years of his career in his home country with Porto B and Tourizense, Silva relocated to Bulgaria in June 2008, signing a three-year contract with Lokomotiv Mezdra. He played 15 games in the Bulgarian first division, scoring two goals.

He left in January 2009 for CSKA Sofia along with teammate Rui Miguel.[2] He scored his first goal with a powerful long-range shot from about 25 metres (82 ft) in his first match for CSKA in the A PFG against Belasitsa, a 3–0 win. In January 2010, he was transferred to CD Castellón for the remainder of the season.[3] On 23 June 2010, his contract with CSKA was terminated by mutual consent.[4]

On 1 August 2010, Silva signed a two-year deal with Kilmarnock after impressing as a trialist in pre-season.[5] He was Mixu Paatelainen's first signing as manager.[1]

Silva spent the 2012–13 season in Portugal, at Olhanense. On his second Primeira Liga appearance, he scored his only goal to equalise in a 1–1 draw at Académica de Coimbra on 24 August.[6]

Silva returned to Kilmarnock on 26 September 2013, signing until the end of the season.[7] After failing to prove his fitness, he was released in January 2014.[8]

After spells in Finland's Veikkausliiga with FF Jaro and in Thailand with Bangkok F.C. and Songkhla United, Silva signed for US Mondorf-les-Bains in the Luxembourg National Division in June 2019.[9]

For me it is a pride and an honour to represent the country of my parents. Although I was born already in Portugal, I grew up in a Cape Verdean atmosphere, in Venda Nova, and so I have a very strong connection to the country.

–David Silva[10]

International career

In October 2012, Silva received his first call up for the Cape Verdean national team, for a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Cameroon on 14 October.[11]

Silva was called up for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, his country's first major tournament. He made one appearance in the opening game, as a 76th-minute substitute for Héldon Ramos in a goalless draw against hosts South Africa.[12]

References