Thiago Silva is widely known as one of the most complete Centre backs in World Football for aerial ability on the ball, the way he orchestrates the team, being vocal on and off the pitch and for an outstanding sense to read the game. Now 36, the Brazilian veteran is in the twilight of his career and recently switched loyalties to Chelsea after 8 years at Paris.
Lauded by many of the footballing greats as one of the finest players of his generation, his path to success and glory was immensely fraught with difficulties and challenges. He has played for some of European Footballs Greatest clubs in AC Milan, Dynamo Moscow, Paris Saint Germain and now Chelsea. So now without further ado, let’s look into some of Thiago Silva’s unknown facts:
1. Poverty Stricken Early days
Thiago Silva was born 50 Meters away from Rio’s infamous shantytowns on 22nd September 1984. His Mother brought him up together with his Brother, Erivelton and Sister, Danila after his parents split. His formative years were filled with poverty and illness in an ever-so dangerous neighborhood. He grew up with another Brazilian Superstar, David Luiz (Mentioned below) in the ‘Favelas’ known for violence and political pressures. His early days are the pillars of the monstrous mentality of the Brazilian, number 2.
2. Rising Youth Career
Silva, as the world calls him, was admitted to Campo Grande, a footballing school in close affiliation with Brazilian Supergiant club, Fluminense. He began impressing his coaches and was soon was too good to play for the school based club. The then Fluminense coach, Maurinho observed him handle a very inexperienced back four in a friendly game in Xerem, giving the young Brazilian a trial at the club for the position of a defensive midfielder. He got severly restricted opportunities and auditioned for playing time at Madureira, Olaria and even at cross town rivals Flamengo (better known as the ‘Fla-Flu’ rivalry).
After another set of unsuccessful trials at Botafogo, Silva was spotted by Barcelona Esporte Clube, in the lower divisions of Brazilian leagues. His performance attracted the top clubs rapidly and soon transferred to RS Futebol. He was later spooted by Bruno conti, a coach with Italian team AS Roma, who then offered him a contract to move to Europe and play in the Italian Serie A. Silva, only 18 at the time denied the offer and instead switched to Juventude, a move which established him as a very well-known prodigy in a footballing sense. In one years’ time, the Brazilian was booking tickets to move to Portugal to FC Porto.
3. Tuberculosis and the ’15-Day Window’
Thiago Silva moved to FC Porto in the winter transfer window of the 2004-05 season, on the back of a quite amazing season with Juventude. He was included in the reserve team only before he complained about game time when he was sent out on loan to Dynamo Moscow in the after math of the traumatic, post Jose Mourinho Era at Porto. After an initial medical, the midfielder was then detected with Tuberculosis with doctors telling him that the Defender had the illness since the past 6 months, basically post his move to Europe. It is reported that, had the Defender been diagnosed 15 days later, he would have died from the respiratory problem. His battle from TB was acute and immensely difficult to deal with.
4. Silva was about to hang up his boots
Facing a severe disease like Tuberculosis broke our Number 6 and it was then when he decided to retire and leave the game. In an interview some years ago, it was revealed that the midfielder was so concerned by the fight with the disease that he was firm on his decision to retire and that it was only his Mother, Angela and his wife, Isabele who helped him talk out of that decision. Doctors recommended surgery and advised to operate and cut a part of his Right lung to help cure the disease, a surgery which could have effectively ended his footballing career. He denied having the surgery and the rest is history!
5. Upscaling – AC Milan
Thiago Silva soon transferred to Fluminense as Ivo Wortmann (the then Dynamo Moscow Manager) agreed to manage the Brazilian side with the condition that the club would be signing Silva. In the three-year stint at the club, Thiago Silva announced his game style across and the world of journalists and agents together with scouts taking notice.
Having helped Fluminense win the 07’ Copa do Brasil Silva was named in the team of the season and also became a fan favourite, despite the club having a poor 08’ season. He was again eyeing a move to top European clubs and that’s when AC Milan came knocking. He moved to San Siro to play for the Rossoneri and becomes one of the World’s most iconic defenders. Paolo Maldi, Alessandro Nesta and Franco Baresi, Milan had seen some of the most legendary CBs of all time and Silva had some big boots to fill in. He came to the European fore and gradually adapted to the game style. His performances showcased that top European Journalists named his 10 Million Dollars transfer fee as an “Utter Bargain”.
Pippo Inzaghi, Clarence Seedorf, Alanxandre Pato all applauded his game and newspapers and Journalists alike started comparisons of him with Frank Rijkaard and the Prime Paolo Maldini. In a game vs Napoli, in the midst of a tight Scuddetto battle, he outclassed rival and future teammate Edinson Cavani who termed the match as a big nightmare. The game is widely recognised as his best game of his career alongside Champions League games against a prime Real Madrid side.
6. Game Recognizes Game – “O Monstro”
Thiago Silva was a part of a AC Milan side which seriously plump with sheer talent and ability with the likes of Ronaldinho and Inzaghi to spearhead attack and Nesta and Dida in the back line. They had Clarence Seedorf and ‘The Generale’ – Gattuso with the orchestrator Pirlo playing from midfield. His performances were so rich in class and his ability to intercept or block a pass in the final third meant the other stars of the team always took their turns to recognize the talent of the young CB.
He had been given a nick name, “O Monstro” in Brazil for his exceptional leadership skills and vocal strengths. His customary code to organize the stars of that AC Milan side was no less than exceptional because of the fact that he was junior to almost the entire senior squad. Dunga called him a phenomenal player while Ronaldo Nazario compared him to the likes of Franz Backenbauer.
7. Thiago Silva is an Actor!
Thiago Silva has starred in 3 movies and documentaries combined. The first one was a role as himself as a part of the Champions League Games Documentary which UEFA releases every year. He was then a part of the Serie A Documentary built on the 2010-11 season, his best season at Milan. He was also a part of the series of adverts ‘Winner Stays’ alongside some of the World’s top Sports celebrities including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kobe Bryant, Ibrahimovic, Andrea Pirlo, Wayne Rooney and even Irina Shayk.
8. Married to Isabele Silva
Thiago Silva is married to Isabele Silva and the duo have been together since early 2000s. The two got married in May 2005 in a private ceremony after dating for some years. As mentioned earlier, it was Isabele who convinced Thiago to ignore the potential surgery on his right lung to cure TB.
The two share two adorable sons named Isago and Iago together. Thiago and his wife spent 7 years in the French Capital, Paris, enough to grant them French citizenship back in 2019.
9. Best Friends with David Luiz!
David Luiz and Thiago Silva began their footballing careers in the same streets of Brazil. The duo had the same careers onto the Brazil National team squad although Thiago earned his cap a couple of years earlier. The duo recently shared pictures of them together when they were nothing more than street freestylers who dreamt of making it big on the Centre stage.Preview (opens in a new tab)
The duo partnered each other for both the Brazil National team and also for the Paris saint Germain Squad for 3 years. The two have been seen shopping together or hanging out on occasions with their families. It is rumored that Silva took David Luiz’ and another Brazilian, Willian’s advice before joining Chelsea in the 2020 transfer window.
10. Net-Worth and Endorsements
Thiago Silva is an ambassador for Nissan and regularly features on promotional events and campaigns for the Japanese car maker. He has a net worth close to 50 Million Dollars. His mansion in the Southern part of Rio is valued at approximately 1 Million Dollars. He endorses Nike and is again a common feature on ad campaigns. His Market value after his move to PSG was 42 Million Euros, the highest of his career.
11. Love for Cars
Thiago Silva loves cars and is a huge collector of some of the most vintage hot wheels. He has a Vintage Porsche Panamera and a Nissan GTR for starters in his mansion in Rio. He also posseses an Audi A1 and an Audi Q7 along with a BMW (edition undisclosed) and also some recently purchased Mercedes wheels. His pace on the pitch reflects the pace off the pitch!
