Man City legend retires from football after ACL injury

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Man City legend retires from football after ACL injury

Manchester City legend David Silva has announced his retirement from professional football on what he has called a 'sad day'.

Silva made 436 appearances over 10 years during a glittering City career that coincided with the club’s rise from relatively obscurity into a European super power. Since leaving the Etihad Stadium in 2020, the Spaniard had been playing back his homeland with Real Sociedad.

The veteran midfielder has been a key part of an improving side at La Real, finishing fourth in La Liga in 2022/23 and returning to the Champions League group stage for the first time in a decade.

But Silva suffered an ACL injury in pre-season training earlier this month and, at the age of 37, appears to have accelerated his retirement rather than continue playing after rehab.

"It is time to say goodbye to what I have dedicated my whole life to," he said in a social media video.

A product of Valencia’s youth system, Silva initially made his name during loans at Eibar and Celta Vigo, before becoming an important first-team player back with Los Che and establishing himself as one of the best emerging creative midfielders in Europe.

At 22, he was a Euro 2008 winner with Spain and added a World Cup title in 2010 aged 24. Prior to the latter tournament, Manchester City had agreed a transfer with Valencia and he helped the club end a 34-year trophy drought with an FA Cup in his first season.

A year later, a 44-year wait for a league title also ended in the most dramatic of circumstances, with further Premier League trophies in 2014, 2018 and 2019, plus another FA Cup and five League Cups.