Man City legend Silva wastes no time embarking on new career after retirement
As a player, he was known as 'El Mago' – the magician – for his wizardry on the pitch.
Now retired, former Manchester City playmaker David Silva is bringing the same magic and style to his new career – as a winemaker. Forced to end his playing career last month following a serious knee injury, Silva – now 37 - is putting all of his energy and focus into his successful winery in his native Gran Canaria.
Situated high in the hills of the volcanic island, Silva's Bodegas Tameran vineyard produces critically-acclaimed wine that is exported all over the world – just four years after it started. Silva's vineyard, 700 metres above sea level, produces six varieties of wine under the guidance of experienced winemaker Jonatan Garcia, who has a successful winery in Tenerife.
“I got into wine through my former team-mate and good friend, Sisi, at Valencia,” said Silva, who mucks in with the harvest, picking grapes in the vineyard with family and friends. “I drank wine, but not the typical wines. Then I started to buy wines from Madrid that I got sent over to Manchester.
“Then I met Jonatan and from that moment on it was like 'Wow' – from that day my mind was like 'it's amazing to discover this wine world'. I bought the vineyard four years ago, but back then I didn't have the cellar. It was only the vines. Then we built the cellar.”
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Silva and Garcia met when the former made contact on Twitter, although the latter was so stunned to hear from such an iconic player, he was convinced it was a hoax.
“He sent me a message in 2019, when he was playing for City,” said Garcia. “He congratulated me about one of my wines he was drinking. I was so shocked, I thought it must be a fake account! But we talked and that's when our friendship developed and we started working together.”
The Man City legend is now producing critically acclaimed wineSilva, who left City in 2020 after 436 appearances, had one more year left on his Real Sociedad contract, but when he suffered an ACL injury in pre-season, he was forced to retire.
“I wanted to play for one more year, because I felt well last season,” said Silva. “Then I got the injury and I realised I couldn't play anymore. But I'm okay with it. All of the people around me are more sad than me that I can't play, but life is like this.
“When I started playing, I couldn't imagine that I would win so many titles. The aim was only to play at the highest level possible.
“My village, Arguineguin, is only small, so to get out of there and to play at the level I did, I couldn't dream of that, you know? So I'm more than happy with what I achieved in my career.
“I miss playing and I miss playing for City. It's my club. I spent 10 years of my life there, so I have very good memories of being there.
“I went back to Manchester with Real Sociedad last season, when we played United at Old Trafford and won 1-0. But I want to go back there with my family, maybe next year.”
David Silva’s vineyard ‘Bodega Tameran’ in Gran Canaria
Silva ended his playing career with Real SociedadSilva will be forever indebted to City and Guardiola for the support they showed him when his son, Mateo, was born prematurely at just 25 weeks, back in December 2017. City allowed Silva to fly back and forth to Valencia to be with his partner Yessica, as their son fought for his life, eventually pulling through after spending his first five months in hospital.
“He's doing good now,” said Silva. “He's five-and-a-half – in December he will be six. We also now have a daughter, Adriana, who has just turned one. They keep me busy. I prefer to train - that was easier!”
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Now the wine harvest is done for the year, Silva will go with his family to San Sebastian later this month, where he will visit a knee specialist and recover from his career-ending injury.
“I will go to San Sebastian, to live there for one year, to do my rehab,” said Silva. “My son will go to school there and the family will be there, then we will return to Gran Canaria.”
For now, wine is Silva's new passion. But he has not ruled out going into management after a break from football, although not as soon as his ex-City team-mate Vincent Kompany, now at Burnley.
“Maybe one day I will become a coach, “ said Silva. “But not just yet. Right now I'm enjoying the break and focusing on the wine.”
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