Mauro Silva

Mauro da Silva Gomes (born 12 January 1968 in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo), simply Silva, is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

A workhorse with incredible stamina, as well as tackling and leadership skills, he was best known for his 13-year spell with Deportivo de La Coruña, also being part of Brazil's World Cup-winning squad in 1994.

Football career

After started playing with Guarani Futebol Clube, Silva moved to Clube Atlético Bragantino in 1990, where he spent the following two seasons. Subsequently, he was snapped by Spain's Deportivo de La Coruña, for 250 million peseta (approximately €1.6 million), arriving at the same time as countryman Bebeto.

With the Galicians, Silva was an everpresent fixture, only suspensions and injuries preventing him from being cast into the starting XI (in 1994–95 he only appeared in six league matches and, already 36, was limited to 20 in his final year), as he helped the club to one league, two cups and three supercups, adding to this the club's five participations in the UEFA Champions League, reaching the semifinals in 2003–04: after a 0–0 draw at F.C. Porto, he missed the second leg due to suspension, and Depor lost 0–1.

On 22 May 2005, after 13 years with Deportivo, Silva was replaced by longtime understudy Aldo Duscher during a 0–3 home loss against RCD Mallorca, bidding farewell to the club and football (in the same match as another club legend, Fran). With Brazil, he collected...
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