Paulo Silva (soccer)


Paulo Silva is a former Brazilian footballer and manager who played in Brazil, Canada, and managed at the professional level with the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League.

Football career

Silva began playing in Brazil with Cruzeiro in 1986, and signed with Democrata Futebol Clube in 1987. He was awarded the Best Player Award in 1987, and was selected State All-Star Goalkeeper. In 1990, Silva went overseas to Canada to sign with the Scarborough Astros of the Canadian National Soccer League. During his tenure with the Astros he was awarded the CNSL Goalkeeper of the Year within three years from 1990, 1991, and 1993. In 1995, he helped Scarborough finish first in the Umbro Cup standings, and reach the cup finals where they faced the St. Catharines Wolves, where the match went into a penalty shootout and lost to a score of 3-0.
In 1996, he signed with Toronto Supra, and helped the Supra reached the postseason. In the postseason the club faced St. Catharines, and were eliminated from the completion by losing 2-1 on goals on aggregate. In 1999, Silva retired from active soccer and was appointed the goalkeeper coach and assistant coach for the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League under head coach Peter Pinizzotto. In 2001, he came out of retirement to play to newly expansion franchise the Brampton Hitmen of the Canadian Professional Soccer League. Silva would also make an appearance in 2003 with the North York Astros on September 10, 2003 in a match against Toronto Croatia. After a year absence in 2004, Silva was re-appointed the Lynx's goalkeeper coach under Hubert Busby Jr.