Forgotten Arsenal star makes surprise football return with 14th tier minnows
Former Arsenal ace Eduardo da Silva has revealed he is preparing to return to football more than five years after he retired.
The ex-Croatia international has represented his national side at European Championships, while also appeared in the Champions League for multiple clubs. His next footballing adventure is a significant change of pace, given it comes in the 14th tier of English football with Kent County Division Three Central & East side Gillingham Town.
Many fans would have assumed they'd seen the last of Eduardo when he announced he was hanging up his boots in 2018, but the former Shakhtar Donetsk talent is gearing up for a return that few could have predicted. His last taste of English football came all the way back in 2010 while still with the Gunners.
However, his shock return has been inspired by becoming an ambassador for the English minnows and a desire to get involved with grassroots football, something he is well-versed in from his time growing up in Brazil before he took Croatian citizenship.
"My son is at Flamengo's academy but I didn't play for a big club in Brazil," Eduardo told The Sun. "In every community there are hidden gems like me and that's why I was delighted to become ambassador for Gillingham Town and help them recruit sponsors."
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He is not the only ex-Arsenal man that is now an ambassador of Gillingham Town, with fellow former ex-Gunner Denilson also involved. Eduardo has already agreed to take part in a charity fixture and has refused to rule out lining up for the outfit on a regularly basis.
"We've even discussed registering me to play in the league," the former Emirates favourite explained . "I want to play because even though I am retired I still play football with my friends in Brazil."
HAVE YOUR SAY!Could Eduardo have gone on to become an Arsenal legend were it not for injury? Comment below
Eduardo da Silva is an ambassador for Kent County Division Three Central & East side Gillingham Town (@ClubGillingham/Twitter)Eduardo's Arsenal career started to decline after a horrendous injury in the opening exchanges of a 2-2 draw away at Birmingham. Recalling the incident that all but ended his time in the Premier League, the former Gunners talent explained: 'It was a brutal tackle. I cleared the ball and my standing foot was planted on the ground, supporting my body.
"That's when the impact came. I fell to the ground and when I looked at my foot it was pointing sideways. I realised it was bad. I panicked, I was scared, as anyone would be when seeing your foot at a horrible angle. I felt a burning pain. But Gary [Lewin] gave me morphine to kill it. From then on I don't remember too much."
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