Thiago Silva is a Brazilian professional footballer and the second most expensive defender in history. The fast and relentless central defender, described by football writers as a complete defender and leader, is the captain of his national team and his club, Paris Saint-Germain.
For three consecutive years; In 2013, 2014 and 2015, Silva was voted one of the two best centre-backs in the world. Read on to learn more about him.
the biography
Thiago Silva was born Thiago Emiliano da Silva on September 22, 1984 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to his parents; Geraldo Emiliano da Silva and Angela Maria da Silva. The Silva family was poor, so they looked to sports as a way out of poverty.
Silva has shown promising signs as a footballer growing up. His skills got him into a high school at Brazilian football club Fluminense where he had the chance to impress the team’s coach as a defensive midfielder in a friendly match. He was then given a short trial at the club following this performance, but was given no time to play. This led him to try other clubs like Flamingo and Botafogo, to no avail.
In 2000, Silva took part in a demonstration tournament in Sao Paulo, where scouts from top clubs came to watch his lower division team. He was spotted there by a former Brazilian player who offered him a contract with RS Futebol Clube. He became a full-fledged professional footballer in 2001, playing in the country’s third division and other regional tournaments.
Professional football
Silva eventually moved to Juventude in 2004 and grew from a midfielder to a defender. With Juventude, Silva’s game improved remarkably, as did his team’s overall performance. He was considered the best player of the season and the third best player in Brazil. He was also included in the team of the season. This year proved to be a pivotal year for Silva as the move to Europe was announced.
Porto paid €2.5 million for Silva’s services in 2004. The 20-year-old defender, however, only managed to play for the reserve team before being loaned to Dynamo Moscow in Russia the following year. Silva still failed to buy time before being diagnosed with tuberculosis, which kept him inactive for six months.
After recovering, Thiago Silva returned to Brazil to join Fluminense on a two-year contract. He resumed his rhythm of arrival before leaving the coasts of South America to join Porto, playing practically every game from 2006 to 2008, standing out. In his second season with the club, he helped them win the 2007 Copa do Brasil. His performance also earned him a selection in Brazil’s preliminary Copa America squad.
In 2008, having already played more than 100 games for Fluminense, Silva again caught the eye of European heavyweights, notably AC Milan, who paid 10 million euros for his services.
From 2009 to 2012, he became a first-choice defender for the club, playing alongside Alessandro Nesta. He made 119 appearances and scored 6 goals before Arab oil-funded PSG signed him for around €42m in 2012. With Milan Silva he won Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana in 2011.
Since 2012, Thiago Silva has played for the Parisians, guiding them to five Ligue 1 titles, four Coupe de France titles, five Coupe de la Ligue titles and three Trophée des Champions. He also won numerous other individual titles, including two FIFPro World XI caps.
Thiago Silva’s family – wife, children
Thiago Silva is married to Isabelle da Silva. The couple have two sons named Isago da Silva and Iago da Silva. It is not known exactly when the couple got married or when their children were born. Isabelle can be seen attending and watching her husband’s football matches and has expressed her frustration every time her husband is not selected. She is a woman who prefers to keep the details of her personal life as private as possible.
Height, weight, measurements and other facts
Birth name: Thiago Emiliano da Silva
Date of birth : September 22, 1984
Place of birth: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height: 6 feet (1.83 m)
Weight: 79kg
Chest: 40 inches (102 cm)
Arms / Biceps: 14½ inches (37 cm)
Height: 34 inches (86 cm)
Occupation: Footballer
Birth sign: Virgo