Toni Silva

Toni Brito Silva Sá (born 15 September 1993) is a Bissau-Guinean professional footballer who plays as a winger for FC Taraz in the Kazakhstan Premier League.

Not to be confused with Tony Silva, Anthony da Silva, or Tony Sylva.
This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Brito and the second or paternal family name is Silva Sá.

Toni Silva
Silva in action for CSKA Sofia in 2013
Personal information
Full name Toni Brito Silva Sá
Date of birth (1993-09-15) 15 September 1993
Place of birth Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Taraz
Number 15
Youth career
2006–2007 Real Massamá
2007–2009 Benfica
2009 Chelsea
2009–2011 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Liverpool 0 (0)
2012 → Northampton Town (loan) 14 (1)
2012–2013 Barnsley 1 (0)
2013 → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 4 (0)
2013–2015 CSKA Sofia 42 (8)
2015–2016 Şanlıurfaspor 7 (2)
2016 União Madeira 14 (3)
2016–2018 Levadiakos 31 (6)
2018 Mamelodi Sundowns 7 (1)
2019 Al Ittihad 7 (0)
2019 Astra Giurgiu 1 (0)
2020– Taraz 17 (4)
National team‡
2009–2010 Portugal U17 5 (0)
2010 Portugal U18 2 (0)
2016– Guinea-Bissau 10 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:27, 22 December 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 December 2020

Career

Early years

Silva kicked off his career with the youth academy of Real Sport Clube in 2007, and joined Benfica's junior team a season later. He made 7 appearances for the junior team before having a short stint with Chelsea reserves between 2008 and 2009. Then he joined Liverpool still with the reserves before getting a professional contract in 2011.[1][2]

Northampton Town (loan)

Silva joined Northampton Town on a one-month youth loan on 14 February 2012[3] making his debut the same day against AFC Wimbledon. Only a few hours into his time with Northampton he came on as a 74th-minute substitute for Adebayo Akinfenwa. Dribbling past three Wimbledon players his shot was parried and followed in by Luke Guttridge for the winning goal in a 1–0 win.[4] Northampton manager Aidy Boothroyd after the match said; "We don't want to get excited too soon, but he's got Premier League quality", and added "He's dribbled past two or three people and he has got a great goalscoring record".[5] On 22 February 2012, his loan with Northampton was extended until the end of the 2011–12 season.[6]

On 13 March, he scored his first senior goal when he scored the only goal as his loan club won away at Dagenham & Redbridge.[7] At the end of his loan spell he had played 15 times.

Barnsley

On 23 July 2012, Barnsley signed Silva from Liverpool on a free transfer on a two-year deal.[8] After his move, Silva was given number 20 shirt. Manager Keith Hill comment on Silva saying; "He's left-footed and likes playing on the right," and added "He's quick with and without the ball, he's young and enthusiastic. There's a lot of development we've got to put into this player to make him into a £3 million player and I believe we will be able to do that."[9] Ahead of the start of the season, Silva suffered an injury on his hamstring during a friendly match against Doncaster Rovers and would be out of action for three months.[10] After four-month lay-off, Silva finally made his debut, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Matt Done, in a 0–1 loss at Hull City. Since then, Silva was barely used in the first team. However, on 25 January 2013, the Barnsley Chronicle published an article saying he was still in David Flitcroft's plans but is currently working hard in the under-21s to try and force his way into the team by improving his game when he is not in possession.[11]

On 27 March 2013, he was loaned to Dagenham & Redbridge until 23 April.[12] He played four League Two matches for the East London side, and in June, he was released from Barnsley.

CSKA Sofia

On 17 December 2013, Silva signed a six-month contract with Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia, after a successful one-month trial period with the club. He marked with a goal his league début on 24 February 2014 against Chernomorets Burgas at Lazur Stadium in a 2–1 win; he came on as a substitute and scored the opening goal in the 72nd minute. A week later, Silva scored his second goal in a 3–0 home win over Slavia Sofia. After the fantastic start with the club, on 7 March 2014 his contract with CSKA was extended till June 2017. Silva finished the 2013–14 season with three goals in 15 games.

Silva netted his first goal of the 2014–15 season against Haskovo at Balgarska Armia in a 4–0 win on 10 August 2014. On 25 October he scored his fourth goal in the campaign, opening the scoring in the Eternal derby against Levski Sofia, which CSKA won 3–0. After the winter break Silva and the rest of his CSKA Sofia teammates experienced a significant drop in form, with the team unable to score a goal for 10 consecutive matches. This negative streak was ended after Silva netted an equalizing goal in the 2–3 loss against Botev Plovdiv on 16 May 2015, during the second half of which he also received a red card after an altercation with Daniel Zlatkov and Plamen Nikolov.[13] In April 2015, due to the ultras' disappointment with the team's performances and the lack of goals provided by Silva, the player was subjected to what was perceived to be racist chanting by a small number of the CSKA Sofia supporters.[14]

Şanlıurfaspor and return to Portugal

After a short stint with Turkish team Şanlıurfaspor, Silva signed a ​2 1⁄2-year contract (with the option for an additional year) with LigaPro club União Madeira.[15]

Levadiakos

On 9 September 2016, has signed with Greek Super League club Levadiakos for an undisclosed fee.[16]

Mamelodi Sundowns

In 2018 Silva had a six month spell with South African club Mamelodi Sundowns.[17]

Al Ittihad

In January 2019, he joined Egyptian club Al Ittihad on a ​2 1⁄2-year deal.[17]

Astra Giurgiu

On 30 July 2019, Toni Silva signed a two-year contract with Romanian side Astra Giurgiu.[18]

Taraz

On 17 February 2020, FC Taraz announced the signing of Silva.[19]

International career

Silva was born in Guinea-Bissau, but moved to Portugal as a child. He played for the Portugal U17s, and Portugal U18s.[20] He ended up switching to the Guinea Bissau and made his debut on 4 June 2016, in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification victory over Zambia, wherein he scored his debut goal for the team.[21]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 5 November 2017
Club statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool 2010–11 Premier League 0000000000
2011–12 Premier League 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Northampton Town (loan) 2011–12 League Two 1410000—141
Barnsley 2012–13 Championship 100000—10
Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 2012–13 League Two 400000—40
CSKA Sofia 2013–14 A Football Group 15300——153
2014–15 27511—20306
Total 428110020459
Şanlıurfaspor 2015–16 TFF First League 721100—83
C.F. União 2015–16 Primeira Liga 1430000—143
Levadiakos 2016–17 Super League Greece 23620——256
2017–18 8010—0090
Total 316300000346
Career total 1132052002012022

    International goals
    Scores and results list Guinea-Bissau's goal tally first.[22]
    No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
    1.4 June 2016Estádio 24 de Setembro, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau Zambia3–23–22017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
    2.14 October 2018Estádio 24 de Setembro, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau Zambia2–12–12019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

    References
    1. "Toni Silva profile". Foradejogo. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
    2. "Afcon 2019: Ex-Liverpool player Toni Silva of Guinea-Bissau questions future". BBC Sport. 24 June 2019.
    3. "Cobblers capture Reds starlet". SkySports. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
    4. "Northampton Town vs AFC Wimbledon". Northampton Town. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
    5. "Northampton Town sign Liverpool's Toni Silva on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
    6. "Northampton Town extend loan of Liverpool's Toni Silva". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
    7. "Dagenham and Redbridge 0 – 1 Northampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
    8. "Liverpool winger Toni Silva joins Barnsley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
    9. "Tykes complete Silva signing". Sky Sports. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
    10. "Mido blow for Barnsley". Sky Sports. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
    11. "Silva and Rooney still in Reds' plans". Barnsley Chronicle. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
    12. "Dagenham & Redbridge sign Barnsley's Toni Silva on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
    13. Genova, Marina (16 May 2015). "И "Ботев" не прости на клетите "армейци", които все пак се отпушиха. "Канарчетата" победиха "червените" с 3:2 в Коматево". topsport.bg. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
    14. Tomov, Asen (22 April 2015). "Заради слабата игра, феновете на ЦСКА съблякоха отбора. Агитката скача на Тони Силва с "негър" и "маймуна", той показва средни пръсти". 7sport.net. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
    15. "Тони Силва се завърна в родината си" [Toni Silva returns to his home country] (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
    16. "Πήρε Τόνι Σίλβα ο Λεβαδειακός" (in Greek). www.sport24.gr. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
    17. Phumzile Ngcatshe (18 January 2019). "Mamelodi Sundowns striker Toni Silva joins Egyptian outfit Al Ittihad". goal.com. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
    18. "Zi plină – noutăți peste noutăți" (in Romanian). afcastragiurgiu.ro. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
    19. "Тараз подписал португальского форварда". fctaraz.kz/ (in Russian). FC Taraz. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
    20. http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/u--madeira/detalhe/toni-silva-quero-ficar-em-portugal.html
    21. Football, CAF - Confederation of African (4 June 2016). "CAF - Competitions - Q CAN 2017 - Match Details". www.cafonline.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
    22. "Silva, Toni". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
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