Luis Silva (footballer, born 1988)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Luis Silva

| image = Luis Silva DC United.JPG

| caption = Silva playing for D.C. United

| fullname = Luis Saúl Silva López

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1988|12|10}}

| birth_place = Oaxaca, Mexico

| height = 5 ft 11 in

| position = Attacking midfielder, forward

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2004–2007

| youthclubs1 = Salesian High School

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Chivas USA

| collegeyears1 = 2008–2011

| college1 = UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

| years1 = 2011

| clubs1 = Orange County Blue Star

| caps1 = 10

| goals1 = 5

| years2 = 2012–2013

| clubs2 = Toronto FC

| caps2 = 44

| goals2 = 5

| years3 = 2013–2015

| clubs3 = D.C. United

| caps3 = 54

| goals3 = 15

| years4 = 2015

| clubs4 = Real Salt Lake

| caps4 = 10

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2016

| clubs5 = Tigres UANL

| caps5 = 0

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2017–2018

| clubs6 = Real Salt Lake

| caps6 = 49

| goals6 = 12

| years7 = 2019

| clubs7 = Honka

| caps7 = 13

| goals7 = 3

| years8 = 2019

| clubs8 = Seattle Sounders FC

| caps8 = 5

| goals8 = 0

| club-update = 20 October 2019

}}

Luis Saúl Silva López{{family name footnote|Silva|López|lang=Spanish}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.tigres.com.mx/2016/01/luis-saul-silva-lopez/ |title=Jugadores – Luis Saúl Silva López |website=Tigres UANL |language=Spanish |accessdate=August 8, 2016}} (born 10 December 1988) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or forward.

Early life and education

Silva was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and moved to Los Angeles at a young age.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/luis-silva|title=Luis Silva|publisher=}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/dc-uniteds-luis-silva-honors-humble-roots-by-giving-back-to-mexico/2015/04/20/c858c646-e768-11e4-8581-633c536add4b_story.html|title=D.C. United's Luis Silva honors humble roots by giving back to others|first=Steven|last=Goff|date=April 20, 2015|newspaper=Washington Post}} Silva spent two years playing with local youth club Pateadores, helping them win the Premier Division in 2006, as well as spending two years with C.D. Chivas USA's U-19 team. Silva attended Bishop Mora Salesian High School in Los Angeles where he was a two-time All-CIF selection as a midfielder and forward.{{cite web|url=http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-soccer/2011-12/bios/silva_luis00.html|title=Luis Silva UC Santa Barbara |author=UC Santa Barbara Athletics Department |date=March 7, 2012 |work=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Men's Soccer |accessdate=March 7, 2012}} He was named Offensive Player of the Year in the 2007 season when he helped the Mustangs win the CIF Southern Section Championship and scored a goal in the Mustangs' 6–1 romp over Pasadena Marshall as the team set a finals scoring record. He went on to play collegiately with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. He was named to the All-Big West First Team three times. In his senior year, Silva scored 17 goals and added 10 assists, garnering recognition as a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist.

Playing career

During his college years, Silva also played in the USL Premier Development League for Orange County Blue Star in 2011. He joined UCSB teammates Charley Pettys and Christian Ramirez on the squad and finished with 5 goals and 2 assists in 10 matches played.{{cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2011/22364.html#STATS |title=Orange County Blue Star 2011 Statistics |website=USLSoccer.com |accessdate=September 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408213802/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2011/22364.html#STATS |archivedate=April 8, 2014}}

Luis Silva was selected 4th overall by Toronto FC in the first round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/article/1114580--toronto-fc-drafts-for-help-at-both-ends-of-the-pitch |title=Toronto FC drafts for help at both ends of the pitch |author=Daniel Girard |date=January 12, 2012 |work=Toronto Star |accessdate=February 11, 2012}} Silva made his debut for Toronto FC on March 7, 2012, scoring a goal against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. Silva scored his first league goal against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on July 11, the game ended in a 3–2 home victory.{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/mls/article/1225215--toronto-fc-beat-vancouver-whitecaps-3-2-in-thriller-at-bmo-field |title=Toronto FC beat Vancouver Whitecaps 3–2 in thriller at BMO Field | location=Toronto | work=The Star}} Three days after his first league goal, he scored the lone goal in an away victory over New England Revolution.{{cite web |url=http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/07/silva-strikes-again-toronto-win|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717191249/http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/07/silva-strikes-again-toronto-win|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2012|title=Silva Strikes Again in Toronto Win |author=Kyle McCarthy |date=July 14, 2012 |work=Toronto FC |accessdate=July 15, 2012}}

On July 9, 2013, it was announced that Silva had been traded to fellow MLS side D.C. United in exchange for allocation money.{{cite web|title=Reds Trade Silva To D.C.|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/reds-trade-silva-dc|work=Toronto Football Club|access-date=July 9, 2013}} On his regular season debut on July 20, Silva scored from {{convert|30|yards}} as his team lost 4–1 to the Chicago Fire.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2013/07/20/chicago-fire-routs-d-c-united-4-1/ |title=Chicago Fire routs D.C. United, 4–1 |author=Steven Goff |newspaper=Washington Post |date=July 20, 2013 |accessdate=August 30, 2014}} Silva appeared in the 2013 U.S. Open Cup Final on October 1, 2013, in the 75th minute and helped D.C. win 1–0 against Real Salt Lake and secure United's third U.S. Open Cup Championship.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=October 1, 2013|title=D.C. United Earns Third Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship with 1-0 Victory Against Real Salt Lake|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/news/lamar-hunt-u-s-open-cup/2013/10/dc-united-defeat-real-salt-lake.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005055843/http://www.ussoccer.com/news/lamar-hunt-u-s-open-cup/2013/10/dc-united-defeat-real-salt-lake.aspx|archive-date=October 5, 2013|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=}} Silva scored a first half hat-trick against the Montreal Impact at Saputo Stadium on June 11, 2014, leading D.C. United to a 4–2 win.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/luis-silva-scores-hat-trick-in-first-half-as-dc-united-dominate-impact/article19131622/|title=Luis Silva scores hat trick in first half as D.C. United dominate Impact|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=June 11, 2014|accessdate=September 28, 2014}}

On July 16, 2015, it was announced that Silva had been traded to MLS team Real Salt Lake for Álvaro Saborío.{{cite web|url=http://www.realsaltlake.com/news/2015/07/real-salt-lake-trades-alvaro-saborio-dc-united-exchange-luis-silva|title=Real Salt Lake Trades Alvaro Saborio to D.C. United in Exchange for Luis Silva|date=July 16, 2015|publisher=}} Silva ended his D.C. United career with 15 goals and six assists in 54 appearances, including a career-best 11 goals in 2014. In 2016, he moved to Liga MX side Tigres UANL.

On March 6, 2019, Silva joined Veikkausliiga side Honka on a one-year deal with an option for an additional year.{{cite web|url=https://esporthonka.fi/hyokkays-vahvistuu-luis-silva-honkaan/|title=Hyökkäys vahvistuu – Luis Silva Honkaan|publisher=FC Honka|date=March 6, 2019|accessdate=March 7, 2019|language=Finnish}} He left the club in August to return to the United States, signing with Seattle Sounders FC in MLS.{{cite press release |date=August 8, 2019 |title=Sounders FC adds Emanuel Cecchini and Luis Silva as summer transfer window closes |url=https://www.soundersfc.com/post/2019/08/08/sounders-fc-adds-emanuel-cecchini-and-luis-silva-summer-transfer-window-closes |publisher=Seattle Sounders FC |accessdate=August 8, 2019}} Silva and Seattle went on to win the 2019 MLS Cup.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=November 10, 2019|title=Seattle Sounders are 2019 MLS Cup champions: Rave Green win second MLS title|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/10/seattle-sounders-are-2019-mls-cup-champions-rave-green-win-second-mls-title|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=mlssoccer.com}}{{Cite journal|last=|first=|date=November 10, 2019|title=Former UCSB Midfielder Luis Silva Wins MLS Cup With Seattle Sounders FC|url=https://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-soccer/2019-20/releases/20191110m5p1gv|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=ucsbgauchos.com}} He was released by Seattle at the end of the 2019 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundersfc.com/post/2019/11/20/sounders-fc-announces-roster-decisions-conclude-2019-season|title=Sounders FC announces roster decisions to conclude 2019 season | Seattle Sounders FC}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club	rowspan="2"\|Season	colspan="3"\|League	colspan="2"\|Cup	colspan="2"\|Continental	colspan="2"\|League Cup	colspan="2"\|Total	rowspan="2"\|{{Tooltip\|Ref.\|Reference}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3"\|Toronto FC	2012	MLS \|30	5	2	0	7Appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League.	2	colspan="2"\|—	39	7 \|{{cite web\|title=Luis Silva » Club matches\|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/luis-silva_4/2/\|publisher=World Football\|accessdate=February 1, 2017}}{{cite web\|title=Luis Silva » CONCACAF Champions League 2011/2012\|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/luis-silva_4/concacaf-champions-league-2011-2012/toronto-fc/3/\|publisher=World Football\|accessdate=February 1, 2017}}{{cite web\|title=Luis Silva » CONCACAF Champions League 2012/2013\|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/luis-silva_4/concacaf-champions-league-2012-2013/toronto-fc/3/\|publisher=World Football\|accessdate=February 1, 2017}}
2013	MLS \|14	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	16	0 \|{{cite web \|title=Luis Silva \|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/luis-silva \|website=mlssoccer.com \|publisher=Major League Soccer \|accessdate=January 9, 2019}}{{cite web\|title=L. Silva\|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/luis-silva/225191/\|website=Soccerway\|publisher=Perform Group\|accessdate=February 1, 2017}}
colspan="2"\|Total	44	5	4	0	7	2	colspan="2"\|—	55	7	—
rowspan="4"\|D.C. United	2013	MLS \|13	3	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	15	3 \|
2014	MLS \|27	11	0	0	1	0	0	0	28	11 \|{{cite web\|title=Luis Silva » CONCACAF Champions League 2014/2015\|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/luis-silva_4/concacaf-champions-league-2014-2015/d-c-united/3/\|publisher=World Football\|accessdate=February 1, 2017}}
2015	MLS \|14	1	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	16	1 \|
colspan="2"\|Total	54	15	4	0	1	0	0	0	59	15	—
Real Salt Lake	2015	MLS \|10	0	0	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	11	0 \|{{cite web\|title=Luis Silva » CONCACAF Champions League 2015/2016\|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/luis-silva_4/concacaf-champions-league-2015-2016/real-salt-lake/3/\|publisher=World Football\|accessdate=February 1, 2017}}
Tigres	2016–17	Liga MX \|0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	0 \|{{cite web \|title=Luis Silva » CONCACAF Champions League 2016/2017 \|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/luis-silva_4/concacaf-champions-league-2016-2017/uanl-tigres/3/ \|publisher=World Football \|accessdate=January 9, 2019}}
rowspan="3"\|Real Salt Lake	2017	MLS \|30	7	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	30	7 \|
2018	MLS \|19	5	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	1	0	21	0 \|
colspan="2"\|Total	49	12	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	1	0	51	12	—
FC Honka	2019	Veikkausliiga \|13	3	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	13	3 \|
colspan="3"\|Career total	170	35	9	0	11	2	1	0	191	35	—

Awards and honors

Toronto FC

Canadian Championship: 2012

D.C. United

U.S. Open Cup: 2013

Tigres UANL

Liga MX: Apertura 2016

Seattle Sounders FC

MLS Cup: 2019{{cite news |title=Seattle Sounders are 2019 MLS Cup champions: Rave Green win second MLS title |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/10/seattle-sounders-are-2019-mls-cup-champions-rave-green-win-second-mls-title |publisher=Major League Soccer |date=November 10, 2019 |accessdate=November 10, 2019}}