Francisco Silva (footballer, born 1986) explained

Francisco Silva (footballer, born 1986) should not be confused with Francisco Silva (footballer, born 1983).

Francisco Silva
Fullname:Francisco Andrés Silva Gajardo[1]
Birth Date:11 February 1986
Birth Place:Quillota, Chile
Height:1.78 m
Position:Defensive midfielder
Currentclub:Deportes Limache
Youthyears1:1998–1999
Youthclubs1:Colo-Colo
Youthyears2:2000–2005
Youthclubs2:Universidad Católica
Years1:2005–2013
Clubs1:Universidad Católica
Caps1:136
Goals1:5
Years2:2005
Clubs2:Deportes Ovalle (loan)
Years3:2007
Clubs3:Provincial Osorno (loan)
Caps3:33
Goals3:1
Years4:2013–2015
Clubs4:Osasuna
Caps4:47
Goals4:1
Years5:2014–2015
Clubs5:Club Brugge (loan)
Caps5:11
Goals5:0
Years6:2015–2016
Clubs6:Chiapas
Caps6:28
Goals6:0
Years7:2016–2018
Clubs7:Cruz Azul
Caps7:54
Goals7:7
Years8:2018–2019
Caps8:10
Goals8:0
Years9:2019–2021
Clubs9:Universidad Católica
Caps9:17
Goals9:0
Years10:2024–
Clubs10:Deportes Limache
Caps10:0
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:336
Totalgoals:14 -->
Nationalyears1:2007–2018
Nationalteam1:Chile
Nationalcaps1:37
Nationalgoals1:0
Pcupdate:8 January 2024

Francisco Andrés 'Gato' Silva Gajardo (born 11 February 1986), known as Francisco Silva, is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Deportes Limache in the Primera B de Chile. He is considered one of the greatest Chilean defensive midfielders of all time. His winning penalty in Copa America Centenario gave Chile their second consecutive Copa America title.

Club career

Born in Quillota, Silva joined Universidad Católica's youth setup in 2000, aged 14. In 2005, he made his senior debuts, while on loan at lowly Deportes Ovalle, and appeared twice for the first-team in the following year. In 2007, he joined Osorno, also on loan, where he was ever-present in the promotion campaign.

After his return, Silva established himself as a regular for the UC, and scored his first goal on 7 November 2009, in a 4–1 home routing over Universidad Concepción.

Lecce

In the 2010 summer Silva was linked to Lecce, but due to reductions in the non-EU registration quota (two for one during the summer)[2] the deal collapsed, as the club already signed Rubén Olivera.[3]

CA Osasuna

On 22 January 2013 Silva was loaned to La Liga strugglers CA Osasuna until June.[4] He made his debut abroad on 2 February, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 home win over Celta de Vigo.[5] On 8 March Silva netted his first goal for Osasuna, but in a 1–2 loss at Real Betis;[6] on 4 June the Navarrese side exercised the buyout clause, paying 1.2 million for his services.[7] He featured regularly for the club during the 2013–14 campaign, which ended in relegation.

Club Brugge

On 29 August 2014 Silva was loaned to Club Brugge KV, in a season-long deal with a buyout clause.[8] On 13 July of the following year he was transferred to Chiapas.[9]

Retirement and return to play

In September 2021, Silva announced his retirement while he was a player of Universidad Católica after suffering a tibia-fibula fracture.[10] In 2024, he returned to play by signing with Deportes Limache for the 2024 season in the Primera B de Chile.[11]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Universidad Católica2008Primera División of Chile?100?1
200936100361
20102920072364
201135241130523
201226041131432
Total1266820033316711
Osasuna (loan)2012–13La Liga16100161
Osasuna2013–14La Liga31030340
2014–15Segunda División100010
Total320300000350
Club Brugge (loan)2014–15Belgian Pro League1103070210
Chiapas2015–16Liga MX28000280
Cruz Azul2016–17Liga MX25671327
2017–1829151342
Total5471220000669
Career totals267142640040333321

International career

Silva made his main squad debut on 22 January 2011, starting in a 1–1 draw against United States at Home Depot Center.[12]

Silva was not initially named in Chile's 2015 Copa America squad but was added to the team due to an injury to Edson Puch.[13]

Silva scored the winning goal in the 4-2 penalty shoot-out win against Argentina in the Copa América Centenario Final on 26 June 2016.[14]

Honours

Provincial Osorno

2007

Universidad Católica

2011

Club Brugge
Independiente
Chile

Runner-up 2017

Notes and References

  1. News: Francisco Silva. Estadísticas Francisco Sival. 2 December 2019.
  2. News: Foreign player cap for Serie A. Sky Sports. 3 July 2010. 4 July 2010.
  3. News: Rebus Genoa: Felipe c' è, ma spunta Eduardo. Genoa: Felipe it is, but take a look at Eduardo. La Gazzetta dello Sport. it. 4 July 2010. 8 July 2010.
  4. Web site: Francisco Silva llega cedido hasta final de temporada . Francisco Silva arrives on loan until the end of the season . es . Osasuna's official website . 22 January 2013 . 17 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140317225228/http://www.osasuna.es/noticia/_/6174/22-01-2013-francisco-silva-llega-cedido--hasta-final-de-temporada.html . 17 March 2014 . dead .
  5. Web site: Armenteros fires Osasuna to win . . 2 February 2013 . 17 March 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140417222010/http://espnfc.com/en/report/348308/report.html . 17 April 2014 .
  6. Web site: Betis fly up to fifth . ESPN FC . 8 March 2013 . 17 March 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140417222008/http://espnfc.com/en/report/348266/report.html . 17 April 2014 .
  7. Web site: Osasuna ejerce la opción de compra por el 'Gato' Silva . Osasuna exercises the buyout clause for 'Gato' Silva . es . . 4 June 2013 . 17 March 2014.
  8. Web site: Gato Silva jugará cedido en El Brujas. Gato Silva will play on loan at Brugge. Osasuna's official website. es. 29 August 2014. 30 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140831125258/http://osasuna.es/noticia/_/7555/29-08-2014-gato-silva-jugar-cedido-en-el-brujas.html. 31 August 2014. dead.
  9. Web site: Traspaso de Gato Silva al Chiapas FC. Transfer of Gato Silva to Chiapas FC. Osasuna's official website. es. 13 July 2015. 13 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714090427/http://www.osasuna.es/noticia/_/8350/13-07-2015-traspaso-de-gato-silva-al-chiapas-fc.html. 14 July 2015. dead.
  10. News: Silva se retira del fútbol . 8 January 2024 . . 4 September 2021 . es.
  11. News: Vera . Pablo . Limache remece a la B con un bicampeón de América y un ex Independiente . 8 January 2024 . . 8 January 2024 . es.
  12. Web site: U.S. Men's National Team Opens 2011 With 1–1 Draw Against Chile . US Soccer . 22 January 2011 . 17 March 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110903063252/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2011/01/US-MNT-and-Chile-Draw-1-1-at-The-Home-Depot-Center.aspx . 3 September 2011 .
  13. News: Soccer-Chile's Puch out of Copa America, replaced by Silva. 17 November 2015. sports.yahoo.com. 5 June 2015.
  14. Web site: Argentina 0 Chile 0 (Aet, 2-4 on penalties): Defending champs sink Messi and Co. Again. 27 June 2016.