Manchester City and Spain legend David Silva has announced his retirement from professional football aged 37, days after suffering a knee injury.
Silva had planned to continue his career at Real Sociedad but an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury picked up in preseason threatened to keep him out for most of next season and pushed him to change his plans.
Famously referred to as El Mago (The Magician), he won 20 trophies across his time in Valencia, Manchester City, and Real Sociedad.
He came through the youth ranks at Valencia before heading to Manchester City and becoming a true club legend. Silva won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups during his time at the Premier League club and saw his contribution honoured with a statue outside the ground.
A statue of Silva now stands outside the club’s Etihad Stadium alongside former teammates Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero.
The forward left after 436 appearances for Manchester City and returned to Spain to play for Real Sociedad, winning the Copa del Rey in his first season back in La Liga.
Silva was also a key player for the Spain national team, lifting the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
“Today is a sad day for me,” Silva said. “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.
““Ches (Valencia), Armeros (Eibar), Celtinas (Celta Vigo), Citizens (Man City) and Txuri Urdines (Real Sociedad)…thank you because you have made me feel at home.”