The former Manchester City playmaker David Silva has said his goodbyes to football as the World Cup winner and four-time Premier League champion announced his retirement.
The 37-year-old played 436 games across 10 seasons at the Etihad Stadium, helping to turn City into the best team in England and winning a total of 11 major honours with the club.
Silva started his career in the youth ranks at Valencia, making his senior debut in 2004 and spending six years in La Liga before signing for City. He was capped 125 times by Spain, scoring 35 goals and winning the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2008 and 2012.
“Today is a sad day for me,” he said in a message posted on his Twitter account. “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.” Addressing the fans of the clubs he represented, Silva added: “Thank you because you have made me feel at home.”
He left City in 2020, with chairman the, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, confirming Silva would be one of three players – with Vincent Kompany and Sergio Agüero – whose contribution to the club would be commemorated with a statue outside the Etihad.
Silva spent three seasons at Real Sociedad and made almost 100 appearances but was forced to hang up his boots after suffering a serious knee injury in pre-season training this month.