Gilberto Silva facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Gilberto Silva

Gilberto Silva in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Gilberto Aparecido da Silva
Date of birth	(1976-10-07) 7 October 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth	Lagoa da Prata, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder Defender
Youth career
1988–1993	América Mineiro
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–2000	América Mineiro	49	(2)
2000–2002	Atlético Mineiro	44	(6)
2002–2008	Arsenal	170	(17)
2008–2011	Panathinaikos	78	(5)
2011–2013	Grêmio	62	(2)
2013–2014	Atlético Mineiro	20	(1)
Total		423	(33)
International career
2001–2010	Brazil	89	(3)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Brazil FIFA World Cup Winner 2002 Korea/Japan FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 2005 Germany Winner 2009 South Africa Copa America Winner 2007 Venezuela Olympic Games Bronze 2008 Beijing
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gilberto Aparecido da Silva (born 7 October 1976) is a Brazilian former professional footballer. He played as a defensive midfielder, which means he helped protect the defense and win the ball back. He is famous for playing with Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro and English club Arsenal. He also played for the Brazil national team. Today, Gilberto is an ambassador for both Arsenal and FIFA.

Gilberto grew up in a poor area in Lagoa da Prata, Brazil. He joined the youth team at América Mineiro when he was young. He started playing professionally as a centre-back in 1998. After helping his club get promoted, he moved to Atlético Mineiro. There, his coach helped him become a defensive midfielder. This new role made him famous, and he was chosen to play for the Brazil national team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Brazil won the tournament, and Gilberto was a key player.

Because of his great performance at the World Cup, Gilberto joined Premier League club Arsenal in 2002. He became known as a top defensive midfielder. He was part of Arsenal's famous Invincibles team, which won the league without losing a single game. He also won two FA Cups with Arsenal. Gilberto scored Arsenal's first goal at their new stadium, the Emirates Stadium. He also scored their fastest goal ever, just 21 seconds into a game! After Arsenal, he played for Panathinaikos in Greece, winning a league and cup double. He returned to Brazil in 2011, playing for Grêmio and then Atlético Mineiro, where he won the 2013 Copa Libertadores before he retired.

Gilberto played for Brazil for nine years. He helped his country win the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He was also a big part of the team that won the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and the Copa América in 2007, where he was even captain. He retired from international football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, having played 89 games for Brazil.

Early Life and First Steps in Football

Gilberto grew up in Lagoa da Prata with his family. His father was a blacksmith, and his mother was a housewife. They lived in a small house, and Gilberto shared a room with his three sisters. Even though money was tight, he remembers a happy childhood playing football in the street.

In 1988, when he was 12, Gilberto joined the youth team at América Mineiro. This was his chance to escape poverty through football. During his time there, he learned how to play as a central defender. When he wasn't playing football, Gilberto learned how to make furniture from his father. In 1991, his father retired, and 16-year-old Gilberto had to help support his family, especially because his mother was unwell.

Because the pay at América Mineiro was very low, Gilberto had to stop playing football for a while. He took different jobs, like being a labourer, a carpenter, and working in a sweet factory. It seemed like his dream of being a footballer might be over.

Club Career Highlights

Starting Out in Brazil

In 1997, Gilberto's friends encouraged him to try football again. He rejoined América Mineiro as a full-time professional player. He was 22 years old and played as a central defender for the main team. In his first season, he was a key player and helped them win the Série B league. This meant the team moved up to the top league, Série A.

In 2000, Gilberto, then 24, joined Atlético Mineiro, a rival club. In his first year, he broke his leg and missed some games. But in his second season, his coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, moved him from defense to a defensive midfield role. Gilberto was excellent in this new position. He scored three goals in 2001 and became a rising star in Brazilian football.

Becoming an Arsenal Star

Gilberto's amazing performances at the 2002 FIFA World Cup caught the eye of many coaches. He wanted to play in England. In August 2002, he joined Arsenal for £4.5 million. Arsenal's manager, Arsène Wenger, liked that Gilberto played simply and effectively.

Gilberto defending a corner for Arsenal at Highbury in April 2006

When Gilberto moved to England, he bought a house in St Albans. He was used to small Brazilian towns, so adapting to London life was a bit hard at first. But on the field, he quickly settled in. On 11 August 2002, he made his Arsenal debut against Liverpool and scored the winning goal! He then set a new record for the fastest goal in the UEFA Champions League, scoring after just 20.07 seconds against PSV Eindhoven on 25 September 2002.

The 2003–04 season was even better for Gilberto. He was a vital part of the Arsenal team that won the Premier League title without losing a single game. This team became known as the "Invincibles." He played in 32 of Arsenal's 38 unbeaten league games. His next season started well too, as he scored the first goal in Arsenal's 3–1 win over Manchester United in the 2004 FA Community Shield.

However, in September 2004, Gilberto suffered a serious back injury. He had to wear a back brace for three months and returned to Brazil for recovery. He worried if he would ever play football again, but he made a full recovery. He returned to play for Arsenal in April 2005. His absence showed how important he was to the team.

Gilberto (right) faces up to ex-Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry

After Patrick Vieira left Arsenal in 2005, Gilberto became a senior player and later the team's vice-captain. He extended his contract with Arsenal until 2009. On 18 October 2005, he captained Arsenal for the first time. He played very well in the UEFA Champions League games against top teams like Real Madrid and Juventus.

For the 2006–07 season, Gilberto was named Arsenal's vice-captain. He scored Arsenal's first ever goal in a competitive match at the Emirates Stadium. He had a fantastic season, scoring 10 Premier League goals, which was very high for a defensive midfielder. He often took penalties when Thierry Henry was injured. Many fans and experts thought Gilberto was Arsenal's best player that season.

In the 2007–08 season, Gilberto faced more competition for his spot. He didn't play as often, which made him feel "totally useless" at times. Despite this, he remained professional and fought for his place. He ended the season with 36 appearances for Arsenal.

Moving to Greece and Back to Brazil

After leaving Arsenal, Gilberto joined Greek club Panathinaikos in July 2008. In his first season, he helped the team reach the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. He then won both the Greek Championship and the Greek Cup in the 2009–10 season. In his final home game for Panathinaikos in May 2011, he scored the winning goal.

On 23 May 2011, Gilberto returned to Brazil, signing with Grêmio. He had always wanted to return to his old club, Atlético Mineiro. On 10 November 2012, his wish came true when he signed a contract to rejoin Galo.

On 9 December 2012, Atlético Mineiro fans warmly welcomed Gilberto back. He hoped to win the 2013 Copa Libertadores title with them. He achieved this dream on 24 July 2013, when Atlético Mineiro won the final against Club Olimpia. On 11 December 2015, Gilberto officially announced his retirement from football. He planned to work as an international consultant for clubs and players.

International Career with Brazil

In October 2001, Gilberto's strong performances earned him a call-up to the Brazil national team. He made his international debut against Chile on 7 October. In 2002, he was a surprise choice for Brazil's 2002 FIFA World Cup squad. He wasn't expected to play much. However, the team captain, Emerson, got injured just before the first game. Gilberto stepped in and played every minute of every match as Brazil went on to win the World Cup! He was praised for his hard work, helping stars like Ronaldo and Rivaldo shine.

Gilberto also played in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, which Brazil won. He was also part of the Brazil team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In June 2007, Gilberto captained Brazil against England at the new Wembley Stadium. He set up Brazil's only goal in a 1–1 draw. Later that summer, he captained Brazil again in the 2007 Copa América tournament. Brazil beat Argentina 3–0 in the final, winning the trophy.

After Brazil won the Confederations Cup again in 2009, Gilberto continued to play for his country. He retired from international football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, having played 89 games for Brazil.

How Gilberto Played

Gilberto was often called "the invisible wall." His style of play was very smart. He would position himself between his team's defenders and the rest of the midfielders. This allowed him to stop opposing attacks before they became dangerous. He was a key part of his team's defense.

Instead of always tackling, Gilberto would often "shadow" opponents, pushing them back and making it hard for them to move forward. Because of this, he had a very clean record for a defensive midfielder. He went 45 games or more without getting a single yellow card twice during his time at Arsenal!

Gilberto was also good at defending against teams that played long passes. He would often mark the opponent's main attacking player, cutting off their passes to the strikers. This forced the other team to play through the midfield, which they weren't good at. Experts said Gilberto was one of the best midfielders in England, playing at a "Champions League level."

Life Outside Football

Gilberto Silva at a photo shoot for The Street League

Gilberto supports The Street League, a charity in the UK that organizes football matches for homeless people and refugees. In 2003, he even traveled to Brazil with 17 Street League players. They visited his hometown and played games against local teams.

Gilberto playing a mandolin

Gilberto enjoys playing the guitar and used to play the mandolin. When he was with the Brazil team, he would often join in music and singing sessions with players like Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos before matches. He also has a giant anteater named after him at London Zoo! Gilberto adopted the animal and called it "my slightly more hairy brother!"

After retiring from playing, Gilberto worked as a football analyst for ESPN during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He also joined the BBC's expert panel for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In May 2016, Gilberto became the technical director for Panathinaikos, his former club in Greece, for seven months. Today, he is an ambassador for both Arsenal and FIFA.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Silva goal.

List of international goals scored by Gilberto Silva

No.	Cap	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	2	31 January 2002	Estádio Serra Dourada, Goiânia, Brazil	Bolivia	2–0	6–0	Friendly
2					3–0
3	4	7 March 2002	Estádio Governador José Fragelli, Cuiabá, Brazil	Iceland	4–0	6–1	Friendly

Trophies and Awards

América Mineiro

• Série B: 1997

Atlético Mineiro

• Campeonato Mineiro: 2000, 2013
• Copa Libertadores: 2013

Arsenal

• Premier League: 2003–04 (The Invincibles season!)
• FA Cup: 2002–03, 2004–05
• FA Community Shield: 2002, 2004

Panathinaikos

• Super League Greece: 2009–10
• Greek Football Cup: 2009–10

Brazil

• FIFA World Cup: 2002
• Copa América: 2007
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005, 2009

See also

In Spanish: Gilberto Silva para niños