Mauro da Silva Gomes, known as Silva, is a Brazilian retired 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 spell with Deportivo. He amassed competitive totals of 458 games and one goal over 13 La Liga seasons, winning six major titles. Silva represented Brazil at the 1994 World Cup and two Copa América tournaments, winning the former tournament.
Club career
Silva was born in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo. After starting playing with Guarani Futebol Clube he moved to Clube Atlético Bragantino in 1990, where he spent the following two seasons. Subsequently, he was acquired up by Spain's Deportivo de La Coruña, for 250 million pesetas, arriving at the same time as countryman Bebeto. Silva was an everpresent fixture with the Galicians, only suspensions and injuries preventing him from being cast into the starting XI – in the 1994–95 campaign he only appeared in six La Liga matches and, already 36, was limited to 20 in his final year – as he helped them to one league, two cups and three supercups, adding to this the team's five participations in the UEFA Champions League, reaching the semi-finals in 2003–04: after a 0–0 away draw against FC 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 Estadio Riazor and football in the same match as another club legend, Fran. In December 2016, as Deportivo celebrated its 110th anniversary, Silva was chosen by club fans as the best players in its history.
International career
With Brazil, Silva collected 59 caps over ten years, making his debut in 1991. He played in every match and minute in his nation's victorious campaign at the 1994 FIFA World Cup; in the same year, he was named by FIFA as the ninth best player in the world. According to the organisation, the lack of attacking play in the final of the tournament against Italy was in part down to strongholding midfield play by Dino Baggio for Italy, and Dunga and Mauro Silva for Brazil; following a 0–0 draw after extra-time, Brazil won the match in a penalty shoot-out.
