Matt Silva (soccer)

Matt Silva
Silva playing for York9 in 2019
Personal information
Full name Matthew Manuel Silva[1]
Date of birth (1991-03-28) March 28, 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Loyola
Number 1
Youth career
Toronto Lynx
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Le Moyne Dolphins 70 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Toronto Lynx 7 (0)
2011 SC Toronto
2012–2013 Toronto Lynx 12 (0)
2014 North York Astros
2015 Kaya 1 (0)
2016–2017 Bodens BK 42 (0)
2018 Österlen FF 26 (0)
2019 York9 1 (0)
2020–2021 Valour FC 4 (0)
2022 United City 2 (0)
2022–2023 Bruno's Magpies 3 (0)
2023–2024 Espinho 1 (0)
2024 United City 3 (0)
2024– Loyola 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 March 2024

Matthew Manuel Silva (born March 28, 1991) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Philippines Football League club Loyola.

College career

Silva spent four years playing college soccer at Le Moyne College, where he was the starting keeper for the Dolphins.[2] In his first season, he was named Northeast-10 Conference rookie of the year[3] and would go on to earn conference all-star honours three times.[2]

Club career

Semi-pro career

In 2010, Silva played in the USL Premier Development League with the Toronto Lynx, making seven appearances that season.[4]

In 2011, he played in the Canadian Soccer League with SC Toronto, before returning to the Lynx in 2012, where he made five appearances that season and seven the following season.[4][5]

In 2014, Silva played for North York Astros in the Canadian Soccer League.[6]

Philippines

Silva signed his first professional contract with Kaya of the United Football League on January 21, 2015.[7] That season, Kaya captured the UFL Cup, defeating Ceres in the final.[8]

Sweden

In February 2016, Silva joined Swedish Division 2 club Bodens BK.[9]

In January 2018, Silva signed for Swedish Division 2 club Österlen FF.[10] After the season, he trialed with Trelleborgs FF,Mjällby AIF and Mjällby AIF.[11]

Canada

Silva returned to Canada and signed for Canadian Premier League club York9 on February 1, 2019.[12] He made his debut for the club on July 17 against Pacific FC. York9 secured a 2–1 victory.[13] Though expected to be the starting goalkeeper when he signed, Silva spent most of the 2019 season backing up first choice goalkeeper Nathan Ingham, and his debut against Pacific turned out to be his only game of the season.[14] On November 15, 2019, the club announced that Silva would not be returning for the 2020 season.[15]

On June 16, 2020, Valour FC announced they had signed Silva to a deal.[16] He did not make an appearance in the shortened 2020 season, but was still re-signed for 2021.[17] In 2021 he finally got to see the pitch for Valour, but was still the firm second choice goalkeeper behind Jonathan Sirois. Still, Silva wanted and believed he was capable of being a starting goalkeeper. However, all clubs in the CPL already had a set first choice keeper, so he decided he would have to leave Canada. In January 2022, Valour declined Silva's contract option for 2022.[18]

Return to Philippines

In 2022, he joined Philippines Football League club United City.[19] With United City he featured in the AFC Champions League, where he made one of the top five saves of the group stage. However, his team was a heavy underdog and was eliminated in the group stage. Despite this, he also experienced success with United City, featuring twice in the club's cup run that saw them win the Copa Paulino Alcantara for the first time in club history. Although happy with the trophy win, Silva would move on from the Philippines shortly after.[20]

Gibraltar

Shortly after departing United City, he signed with Gibraltarian side Bruno's Magpies, who were competing in the 2022-23 Europa Conference League.[21] He participated in the European tournament and played in both matches against Crusaders.[22][23]

Portugal

On August 1, 2023, he joined Portuguese side Espinho on a free transfer.[24]

Philippines

Silva returned to his former club United City for his third run in the Filipino circuit for the 2024 season.[25]

In October 2024, he signed with Loyola.[26]

Honours

Kaya

United City

Bruno's Magpies

Individual

References

  1. ^ Matt Silva club profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
  2. ^ a b c "Matt Silva '14 signs professional contract with Kaya Futbol Club". Le Moyne Dolphins. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  3. ^ Tait, Ed (April 10, 2021). "Matt Silva's teary childhood journey to goalkeeping, Valour FC: 'If I cry, I'll never play net again'". Valour FC.
  4. ^ a b "Matthew Silva Statistics". Soccer Stats US. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  5. ^ "Hot Strikers in Contention for CSL's MVP – Annual Awards Sunday". Canadian Soccer League. November 8, 2011.
  6. ^ "Kingston Reserves win Second Division - Flurry of transfer activity leading to CSL Roster Freeze and the Playoffs". Canadian Soccer League. September 21, 2014.
  7. ^ Juzenas, Frank (January 21, 2015). "Silva turns pro". Brampton Guardian.
  8. ^ a b Olivares, Rick (August 30, 2015). "Deja vu all over again: Kaya crowned UFL Cup champs". The Philippine Star.
  9. ^ "Matt Silva '14 signs professional contract with Boden BK". Le Moyne Dolphins. February 16, 2016.
  10. ^ Orrenius, Joachim (March 14, 2018). "Nytt avstamp för Österlen FF i motig försäsong" [New starting point for Österlen FF in a difficult pre-season]. Österlensport (in Swedish).
  11. ^ Bergström, Jonas (November 27, 2018). "Kanadensare kan bli lösning i målvaktsfrågan" [Canadians can be the solution to the goalkeeper issue]. Trelleborgs Allehanda (in Swedish).
  12. ^ "York9 FC adds Michael Cox, Matt Silva and Munir Saleh to inaugural season roster". Canadian Premier League. February 1, 2019.
  13. ^ "Valour FC re-signs goalkeeper Matt Silva". Canadian Premier League. March 18, 2021.
  14. ^ Jacques, John (2019-10-20). "Brennan Heralds Fresh Start For York9 FC". Northern Tribune.
  15. ^ Jacques, John (November 15, 2019). "York9 FC Parts Ways With Six Players, More Likely To Come". Northern Tribune.
  16. ^ "Valour FC inks Canadian goalkeeper". Valour FC. June 16, 2020.
  17. ^ Tait, Ed (2021-05-18). "Valour FC camp report: Who is Winnipeg's no. 1 goalkeeper?". Canadian Premier League.
  18. ^ Jacques, John (January 28, 2022). "Valour FC Announces Player Departures". Northern Tribune.
  19. ^ Jacques, John (March 14, 2022). "Matt Silva Returns To Play In The Philippines". Northern Tribune.
  20. ^ Jacques, John (July 6, 2022). "Matt Silva Continue Journey Abroad in Gibraltar". Northern Tribune.
  21. ^ Jacques, John (July 6, 2022). "Matt Silva Continues Journey Abroad In Gibraltar". Northern Tribune.
  22. ^ "Matthew Silva - Magpies - UECL". UEFA.com. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Crues progress amid drama as Reds and Larne exit". BBC Sport. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  24. ^ Proença, Manuel (3 August 2023). "Muitas caras novas e um treinador inglês na apresentação dos tigres" [Lots of new faces and an English trainer at the Tigers presentation]. Defesa de Espinho (in Portuguese). Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  25. ^ Jacques, John (12 March 2024). "Matt Silva Completes United City Return". Northern Tribune. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  26. ^ Jacques, John (October 20, 2024). "Matt Silva Stays In Philippines With Loyola FC". Northern Tribune.