Gilberto Silva has announced his retirement from football at the age of 39.
The Brazilian spent six years at Arsenal between 2002-2008 playing a crucial midfield role in the final seasons at Highbury and the formative years at the Emirates.
A low-key figure who arrived in England with the nickname ‘the Invisible Wall’ after helping Brazil win the 2002 World Cup, he went on to anchor Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’, picked FA Cup medals in 2003 and 2005 and played in the Champions League final in 2006. In total he made 244 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 24 goals.
Quiet but dependable, Gilberto captained his country to Copa America success in 2007 and operated as the Gunners’ vice-captain for two years before moving to Greek side Panathinaikos. In Athens he won the Greek League and Cup.
Gilberto wound down his career back in his homeland, moving first to Gremio before completing a career-long ambition to return to first love Atletico Mineiro. Amazingly, he helped them secure the Copa Libertadores – the South American version of the Champions League – at the age of 37.
A serious knee injury means he’s not played first team football in nearly two years although he always harboured hopes of a return.
On retiring, Gilberto released the following statement: “As of today, I’ve called time on my career as an athlete. It’s a difficult decision.
“Worldwide, we do not ask to be born. When we are born, we do not want to die. I’ve heard a phrase that says footballers dies twice. I disagree. I think the football player dies once, and makes a transition from the field to a new stage. For me, it’s a time of transition, not a first death.
“No matter how painful it may be – it’s a moment that could be seen as a sad, difficult time – but I see it with great joy. I’ve enjoyed 20 years of great joy. That’s what it has been for me and my family.”
“I’ve spent the last two years on the sidelines preparing myself for a new stage of my life and I did not know when the time would come [to retire]. It is time to make the transition.
“These last few weeks I’ve been in London visiting Arsenal, my old club. I realised a nifty way to continue in football in a different way, that is as an international consultant working with clubs and athletes. I will do a job using what I have learned.
“We can all contribute to football. We want a better future for the fans. A lot of people in the game are killing the passion for football, and they need to be punished. Children have to go to matches to cheer and support without being suspicious. I’ve never seen so much corruption in the game as there is today. That has to change and I will never fail to share my opinion.”
Gilberto made an appearance at the Emirates a couple of weeks ago and unsurprisingly, he was given a hero’s welcome.
Everybody at Arseblog News wishes him all the best for the future.
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Further reading:
Great player, key part of the Invincibles, however invisible.
The ‘old Coq’.
Punish them Gilberto!!!!
Should have been captain instead of Gallas
Agree. Even if Wenger was in my living room explaining personally to me why Gallas was appointed Captain, I would still be baffled. Worst. Captain. Ever.
“nifty”!!
A great, understated player. What I wouldn’t give for someone like him at arsenal right now.
Wishing him all the best
Most underrated arsenal player?
I was definitely the most underrated Arsenal player
Ray parlour was more underrated IMHO.
Forgot about Lauren too.
Oh how we could do with someone like him now…
We need a DM
We’re holding out for a DM till the end of the night
He’s got to be strong
He’s got to be fast
And he’s got to arrive by next January
Heroic well played!
The real fighter.the identical brother of Patrick Vieira
His commitment and professionalism are a great example to any young player and a thoroughly nice guy. I wish him well
Nifty.
He was still playing?!? I thought he was dead, I sent a wreath to his funeral.
In all seriousness, what a player. The guy was awesome and I hope he enjoys his retirement, he deserves to.
Wenger, sign him up, wenger wenger sign him up! I hope we utilise him to help coq grow (insert pun here) and help others as I imagine we will get another holding player soon due to arteta and flamini’s age
Always so reliable, always a real mature player who knew the game well. Him and Rosiky for me have been two of the most underrated Arsenal players in recent times. I like arteta and I know he has been with us during very difficult times, but still, Gilberto was better. When you see that ppl only have good things to say about someone, know that that person is class. Thanx Gilberto for lighting up our childhood days of watching Arsenal 🙂
One Brazilian whose passport was not a tad dodgy.
Gilberto Silva, not only the most underrated player to have played for Arsenal, but also its greatest mandolin player !!
Lovely, nifty man.
The invisible legend
For the time we had you at Arsenal, you played your part and now you’ll always be in our hearts.
Wishing you success in cleaning up the game. It’s like being a DM all over again. Doing the dirty work silently. Invisible yet invincible.
May God bless your hardwork
Always present but never there.
Wishing you happy retirement years Gilberto. Football will miss you
What an absolute legend. That midfield though; Vieira, Gilberto, Edu, Ray Parlour. Glad I had the chance to see them.
Probably one of the main reasons I started following arsenal as young lad was seeing this midfield in full flow.My older brother is a Liverpool fan and was always trying to convert me over,but after witnessing those surging runs from viera through midfield,there was nothing going to change my mind
And don’t forget Diaby, he played with him too….
Why did we sell him so early?
Thank you gilberto for your services to Arsenal. Will always appreciate what you did in your time here as an Arsenal player.
I hope he can be a positive influence on Brazilian and South American football. He always seems to be a decent person and after the FIFA arrests, football need people like him to go into the adminstration side.
Hope he has a great post football career. Excellent servant of the club. Maybe he can help us scout good youngsters from Braaaaazillll 🙂
An Arsenal legend, an Invincible, and a real gentleman, graceful and skilful, and a determined defender; we missed him when he left (and we let him go too early). Gilberto would have made a great captain – he was a leader on the field and off it too. One of my favourite players of all the time I’ve been watching and supporting the Gunners (over 40 years now).
Hope to see you around the Arsenal a lot more now, Gilberto. Good and good fortune with your new career.
Scored the first league goal at the Emirates to salvage a point against villa too.
To the tune of Cococabanna
“His names Gilberto,
Gilberto Silva
He’s Arsenal’s Brazilian midfielder”
(Credit to some bloke in the North Bank years ago, who stood up, belted this out once and sat down again like nothing had happened)
Best wishes to a class act and one of our best ever DMs. Hope he has a fantastic second career in football.
Intelligent, humble and mature. Unusual traits for a footballer.
Ironically I didn’t rate him much as a footballer at first, but was delighted to have been proved wrong. And he clearly used his personality and technical traits to great effect for us. Legend.
Another ‘Giant’ kill by Bournemouth.
*coughs*
Absolute disgrace that Wenger made that c**t Gallas captain over him
I suspect Le Prof himself regrets that misjudgement. With hindsight it’s quite clear Gilberto should have been promoted from vice-captain; at the time there were arguments on both sides, and maybe it was not quite so obvious (though many of us Gooners thought it was).
Gilberto for FIFA president. I’d vote for him.
Didn’t he announce his retirement almost exactly 3 years ago?
God bless Gilberto.
He didn’t have a career this long, and still win trophies at 37 by accident. Guys like Gilberto, who use and exploit every single ounce of talent they have until their bodies themselves tell them to fuck off always finish as winners. They change positions, alter they playing styles, learn necessary skills, all to ensure that they win as long as they can. I have nothing but respect for Gilberto, and for players of his ilk like Pirlo, Gigi Buffon, Paolo Maldini, Deco,Tony Adams, etc.
Punish John Terry, Jose Mourinho and Diego Costa Please !!!!!!!!!!!!!