David Silva (footballer, born October 1986)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = David Silva

| image = David Mendes Silva.jpg

| caption = Silva with CSKA Sofia in 2009

| fullname = David Mendes da Silva

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|10|11|df=y}}

| birth_place = Coimbra, Portugal

| position = Winger

| currentclub = Bettembourg

| clubnumber = 3

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Porto

| years1 = 2005–2007 | clubs1 = FC Porto | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 2007–2008 | clubs2 = Tourizense | caps2 = 33 | goals2 = 4

| years3 = 2008–2009 | clubs3 = Lokomotiv Mezdra | caps3 = 15 | goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2009–2010 | clubs4 = CSKA Sofia | caps4 = 13 | goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2010 | clubs5 = → Castellón (loan) | caps5 = 6 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2010–2012 | clubs6 = Kilmarnock | caps6 = 45 | goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2012–2013 | clubs7 = Olhanense | caps7 = 16 | goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2013–2014 | clubs8 = Kilmarnock | caps8 = 3 | goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2015 | clubs9 = Jaro | caps9 = 10 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2016 | clubs10= Bangkok | caps10= 20 | goals10= 9

| years11 = 2017 | clubs11= Songkhla United | caps11= | goals11=

| years12 = 2018 | clubs12= US Mondorf | caps12= 12 | goals12= 0

| years13 = 2019–2022 | clubs13= US Mondorf | caps13= 66 | goals13= 6

| years14 = 2022– | clubs14= Bettembourg | caps14= 68 | goals14= 10

| pcupdate = 14 February 2025

| nationalyears1 = 2012–2013 | nationalteam1 = Cape Verde

| nationalcaps1 = 7 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| ntupdate = 15 June 2013

}}

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

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.[http://cska.sportal.bg/en/article:472?PHPSESSID=f924e6af7375396d8a38f65d439807c4 David Silva and Rui Miguel are joining the team]{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He scored his first goal with a powerful long-range shot from about {{convert|25|m|ft|0}} 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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/castellon-confirma-cesion-david-mendes-da/dasftbseg/20100118dasdasftb_33/Tes|title=El Castellón confirma la cesión de David Mendes|date=2010-01-18|work=AS.com|access-date=2018-03-28|language=es}} On 23 June 2010, his contract with CSKA was terminated by mutual consent.[http://pfkcska.sportal.bg/bg/article:1385 ЦСКА се раздели с двама играчи] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626111906/http://pfkcska.sportal.bg/bg/article%3A1385 |date=26 June 2010 }}, sportal.bg {{in lang|bg}}

On 1 August 2010, Silva signed a two-year deal with Kilmarnock after impressing as a trialist in pre-season.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/08/01/kilmarnock-snap-up-portuguese-winger-david-silva-as-club-look-at-further-signings-86908-22456194/ |title=Kilmarnock snap up Portuguese winger David Silva as club look at further signings |work=Sunday Mail |date=1 August 2010}} He was Mixu Paatelainen's first signing as manager.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kilmarnock/8875344.stm |title=Kilmarnock sign midfielder David Silva |last=Moffat |first=Colin |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 August 2010 |accessdate=1 August 2010}}

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.{{cite news |title=Sétimo empate do campeonato no Académica – Olhanense|trans-title=Seventh draw of the championship in Académica – Olhanense|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/1a-liga/setimo-empate-do-campeonato-no-academica-olhanense_d581696 |access-date=4 January 2022 |publisher=Rádio e Televisão de Portugal |date=25 August 2012 |language=Portuguese}}

Silva returned to Kilmarnock on 26 September 2013, signing until the end of the season.{{cite news|title=David Silva signs until the end of the season |url=http://www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk/articles/20130926/david-silva-signs-until-the-end-of-the-season_85961_3472192 |publisher=kilmarnockfc.co.uk |date=26 September 2013 |accessdate=27 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531191735/http://www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk/articles/20130926/david-silva-signs-until-the-end-of-the-season_85961_3472192 |archivedate=31 May 2014 }} After failing to prove his fitness, he was released in January 2014.{{cite news|title=Transfer Deadline Day: Kilmarnock take Sunderland's Karlsson|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25982737|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2014|accessdate=31 January 2013}}

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.{{cite news |title=Découvrez les nouvelles recrues de l'US Mondorf|trans-title=Discover US Mondorf's new recruits |url=https://5minutes.rtl.lu/sport/local/a/1357111.html |access-date=4 January 2022 |publisher=RTL |date=3 June 2019 |language=French}}

{{Quote_box

| width = 25%

|align=left

| quote = 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. |source=–David Silva{{cite web|url=http://www.espbr.com/noticias/orgulho-representar-pais-meus-pais|title="É um orgulho representar o país dos meus pais" |trans-title="It's a pride to represent the country of my parents" |language=Portuguese|publisher=Esporte Brasil |date=4 October 2012 |accessdate=7 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002050649/http://www.espbr.com/noticias/orgulho-representar-pais-meus-pais |archivedate=2 October 2013 }}}}

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.[https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/seleccao/cabo-verde/tubaroes/artigo/2012/10/04/david_silva_e_pecs_estreiam_se_n.html] {{in lang|pt}}

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.{{cite news |title=Cape Verde dampens SAfrica spirits in 0-0 draw |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/cape-verde-dampens-safrica-spirits-in-0-0-draw |access-date=4 January 2022 |work=Fox Sports |date=19 January 2013}}