90min

Manchester City to Build David Silva Statue Outside the Etihad Stadium

By Ali Rampling

Silva is to be honoured with a statue at Man City
Silva is to be honoured with a statue at Man City / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

Manchester City are to pay tribute to playmaker David Silva by erecting a statue of the Spaniard outside the Etihad Stadium.

Silva called time on his 10 years with City at the end of the 2019/20 season, with the World Cup winner an integral part of the Cityzens' transformation into a Premier League powerhouse.

Silva is a City icon
Silva is a City icon / Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

The midfielder is considered one of City's finest ever players, and the club have announced on their official website that they have commissioned a statue to Silva outside the Etihad, in addition to dedicating a training pitch to him at City's training ground.

The training pitch will come complete with a mosaic in tribute to Silva's astonishing performance during City's famous 6-1 victory over rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The statue will be unveiled alongside one of former captain Vincent Kompany next year.

Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, said: “As with Vincent before him, David’s statue will act as a lasting reminder of the wonderful moments that he gave us, not only as an incredible footballer, but as an inspiring ambassador who represented this Football Club with great dignity at all times.

Silva and Kompany are both being honoured with a statue
Silva and Kompany are both being honoured with a statue / Jan Kruger/Getty Images

"David Silva is a transformational player; a quiet leader who has acted quietly and deliberately and inspired everyone around him, from the youngest academy player to his senior team-mates over the past ten years.

“He has put a stamp on the team, on this Club, its history and even the Premier League as a whole.  In doing so he has been instrumental to the beautiful football philosophy you see today. He was the start of it."

Silva was made aware of the club's planned tribute to him following his final Premier League appearance for the club against Norwich in July.

The 34-year-old made his last outing for City during their Champions League quarter final defeat to Lyon on Saturday.

A European crown is the only trophy that eluded Silva during his time at the Etihad. He won four Premier League titles, five League Cups and two FA Cups during a glittering decade in Manchester.