Darío Silva

Dario Debray Silva Pereira (born November 2 1972 in Treinta y Tres, Uruguay), commonly known as Darío Silva, is a former footballer who played as a striker. He represented Uruguay 46 times at the international level, scoring 14 goals, and retired from international football after Uruguay failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Silva began his career in 1991 when he joined Defensor Sporting Club. From there he moved on to play for Peñarol and Cagliari Calcio, where he was nicknamed "sa pibinca", the Sardinian word for nuisance, due to his frenzied attacking style. He then played for RCD Espanyol, Málaga CF and Sevilla FC. After spending two years in La Liga with Sevilla FC, Silva decided to cancel the last year of his contract after discovering he was not in manager Joaquin Caparros's plans for their new campaign. He joined Portsmouth F.C. on a free transfer from Sevilla in 2005, signing a two-year deal. However, the former international failed to make an impact after suffering an ankle injury, and after scoring just three goals in 15 appearances he was released from his contract on February 14, 2006.^[1] His three goals came against Charlton, Sunderland and Ipswich Town.

Car accident

On September 23, 2006, Silva was seriously injured in a car accident in Montevideo. The accident occurred as Silva lost control of his pick up truck and was thrown from the vehicle, colliding with a street light post. In the impact Silva fractured his skull, knocking him unconscious and suffering a compound fracture on his right leg. At the time of the accident Silva was traveling with two other ex-footballers, Elbio Papa and Dardo Pereira who were not seriously injured.^[2] On the day of the accident, a team of 5 made the decision to amputate his leg below the knee, and Silva underwent an operation which lasted for 3 and a half hours. He was put into a medically induced coma for the amputation.^[3] After the operation, there were fears that the amputation would become infected,^[4] however, his condition was declared stable a few days later as he recovered at Montevideo's La Española hospital. Staff at the hospital expected Silva to make a full recovery.^[5] After difficulty with coming to terms with the accident,^[6] Silva left the hospital on October 5 and returned to his home in Montevideo. He plans to receive a prosthetic leg in Italy to help him walk without the aid of crutches.^[7][8]

Coach Job

On October 6 2006, news reports suggested that Silva was offered a job as a football pundit in his native Uruguay. However, pending the success of his prosthesis, he has expressed a desire to return to the game as a football coach.^[9] In November 2006, British newspaper, the Daily Mail reported that Silva aimed to make the 2012 Olympics as a rower.^[10][11]

References

1. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/4709440.stm
2. ^ http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/index/0,2527,122519,00.html?articleid=122519
3. ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/09/25/uruguay.silva/
4. ^ "Silva hurt in Uruguay car crash", BBC Sport, 25 September 2006. Link retrieved 25 September 2006.
5. ^ UPDATE 1-Former Uruguay striker Silva has leg amputated
6. ^ http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,3033_1550891,00.html
7. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/5411746.stm
8. ^ UEFA.com interview with Silva
9. ^ http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=140975
10. ^ Football Gossip, BBC Sport, November 11, 2006.
11. ^ Silva Won’t Let Circumstances Rule

•  • e Uruguay squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Carini • 2 Méndez • 3 Lembo • 4 Montero • 5 García • 6 Rodríguez • 7 Guigou • 8 Varela • 9 Silva • 10 O'Neill • 11 Magallanes • 12 Munúa • 13 Abreu • 14 Sorondo • 15 Olivera • 16 Romero • 17 Regueiro • 18 Morales • 19 Bizera • 20 Recoba • 21 Forlán • 22 De los Santos • 23 Elduayen • Coach: Púa