Spain and Manchester City Legendary playmaker, David Silva has announced his retirement from professional football aged 37, days after suffering a long term knee injury.

The former Valencia midfield maestro had planned to continue playing but an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury picked up in preseason threatened to keep him out for most of next season and pushed him to change his plans.

“Today is a sad day for me,” said Silva in a video message posted to social media.

“Today is a time to say goodbye to what I have dedicated my whole life to. I’m going to miss you. Thank you for making me feel at home.” He announced.

Silva was a crucial part of the City side that lifted the club’s first 2011-12 Premier League title on the final day of the season. He won three further Premier League titles at City, the final two coming under Pep Guardiola.

He also made his mark at international level, playing an important part in the legendary Spain squad that won the 2010 World Cup, as well as back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

Silva also won the spanish cup with real sociedad after returning to spain from his trophy laden years at Manchester City in 2020.