Matías Agustín Silvestre (born 25 September 1984) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Matías Silvestre
Silvestre training with Inter in 2012
Personal information
Full name Matías Agustín Silvestre
Date of birth (1984-09-25) 25 September 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Mercedes, Argentina
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
1992–1994 Club Mercedes
1994–2003 Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2008 Boca Juniors 63 (6)
2008–2011 Catania 118 (7)
2011–2012 Palermo 29 (5)
2012–2014 Inter Milan 9 (0)
2013–2014AC Milan (loan) 4 (1)
2014–2018 Sampdoria 124 (1)
2018–2020 Empoli 34 (2)
2020 Livorno 5 (0)
2020–2021 Mouscron 24 (3)
2021–2022 Entella 20 (0)
Total 430 (25)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 April 2022

Club career

edit

Boca Juniors

edit

Silvestre began his career with Argentine club Boca Juniors, where he would go on to make his league debut on 23 March 2003 in a 3–1 win over Lanús. Silvestre soon was inserted into the Boca Juniors starting line-up and between 2003 and 2007, he went on to make 63 league appearances, scoring six goals. He was used as both a central defender and a right full-back during his spell with the club. Following an impressive 2007 season of the club, Silvestre was transferred to Catania in the Serie A.

Catania

edit

During the 2008 January transfer window, Silvestre transferred to Sicilian club Catania on loan.[2] His first six months at Catania was not so great as he was not part of then-coach Silvio Baldini's starting team, making just 11 appearances, just five as a starter. However, his loan was nonetheless made permanent in the summer of 2008 for €2.043 million[3] after Walter Zenga was appointed head coach, following the sacking of Baldini. He soon became an instrumental part of Catania's first team and was a major influence on their fairly successful 2008–09 season as the club avoided relegation for the third consecutive season.

Silvestre continued to shine during his third season in Sicily as the defender went on to make more appearances than any of his teammates during the 2009–10 campaign. He formed a solid defensive line-up with the likes of Pablo Álvarez, Nicolás Spolli, Christian Terlizzi and Ciro Capuano as Catania recorded their record-breaking points total in Serie A, finishing in 13th place with just 45 goals conceded in 38 matches. During the 2010–11 Serie A campaign, Silvestre earned captaincy at the Sicilian club, following the sale of Giuseppe Mascara to Napoli on 31 January 2011. He has made 116 total appearances for his club, scoring seven goals, six of which have come during the 2010–11 Serie A season, a season which recorded a third consecutive record points total for the Sicilian club. On 9 July 2011, Marco Biagianti was assigned captaincy of the club for the 2011–12 Serie A season.

Palermo

edit

On 8 August 2011, Silvestre moved to Palermo for €7 million in a four-year contract, with Davide Lanzafame moving in the opposite direction in co-ownership deal for €1 million.[4][5] Silvestre debuted for the Rosanero on 11 September 2011 in the 4–3 victory against Internazionale, on the second day of the season (the first was postponed). He scored his first Palermo goal in a 3–1 win over Bologna on the 11th matchday of Serie A, making the score 2–0.

On 19 February 2012, in Palermo's 4–1 win over Siena, Silvestre suffered an injury to his right thigh, forcing him to leave the match. Nearly two months later, on 22 April, Silvestre returned to the pitch in Palermo's 2–2 draw with Cesena. In the second-last match of the Serie A season, on 6 May, Silvestre scored in Palermo's 4–4 draw with Chievo. He finished the season with 4 goals from 28 appearances.

Inter

edit

On 6 July 2012, Palermo loaned Silvestre to Inter Milan for €3 million (paid via the 50% registration rights of goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano), with an obligation to purchase outright for €6 million.[6][7] Silvestre was issued shirt number 6.

Silvestre made his Nerazzurri debut in the third qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League against Hajduk Split, a 3–0 away win.[8][9] On 28 April 2013, in Inter's 1–0 defeat to Palermo, Silvestre incurred an injury to his right thigh, prematurely ending his season, making 20 total appearances.[10]

Loans to Milan and Sampdoria

edit

On 30 July 2013, Silvestre was loaned for one year to Inter's rivals Milan for €1 million,[11] with an option to purchase him outright at end of the loan for €4 million.[12][13] Silvestre chose to wear shirt number 26. He made his Rossoneri debut on 19 October in the 1–0 home victory against Udinese, and in the next round, a 3–2 defeat away to Parma, he scored his first goal with Milan.[14] After four appearances and one goal with Milan, he returned to Inter as Milan declined to exercise its option to purchase Silvestre.

On 29 August 2014, Silvestre joined Sampdoria on loan from Inter.[15] He chose the number 26 shirt he previously wore at Milan. Two days later, he made his Blucerchiato debut after appearing as a substitute for Gianluca Sansone in the 1–1 away draw with former club Palermo. Silvestre made 30 appearances for Sampdoria and became unattached at the end of the 2014–15 season following the expiration of his contract with Inter.

Sampdoria

edit

On 9 July 2015, following his release from Inter, Silvestre returned to Sampdoria, signing a two-year contract.[16]

Empoli

edit

On 6 August 2018, Silvestre signed with Serie A club Empoli a 1-year contract.[17]

Livorno

edit

On 6 February 2020, he joined Serie B club Livorno.[18]

Mouscron

edit

On 20 July 2020, he moved to Belgium and signed with Mouscron.[19]

Entella

edit

On 2 September 2021, he returned to Italy and signed with Entella in Serie C.[20]

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of match played 27 February 2022[21][22]
Club Season League League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Boca Juniors 2002–03 Primera División 5 1 3[a] 0 8 1
2003–04 4 0 2[b] 0 6 0
2004–05 10 0 5[a] 0 15 0
2005–06 21 4 2[a] 0 23 4
2006–07 21 1 8[b] 0 29 1
2007–08 2 0 2 0
Total 63 6 0 0 20 0 83 6
Catania 2007–08 Serie A 11 0 2 0 13 0
2008–09 36 0 3 0 39 0
2009–10 35 1 1 0 36 1
2010–11 36 6 2 0 38 6
Total 118 7 8 0 0 0 126 7
Palermo 2011–12 Serie A 29 5 0 0 29 5
Inter Milan 2012–13 9 0 2 0 9[c] 0 20 0
Milan 2013–14 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 1
Sampdoria 2014–15 29 0 1 0 30 0
2015–16 25 0 0 0 2[c] 0 27 0
2016–17 36 0 2 0 38 0
2017–18 34 1 3 0 37 1
Total 124 1 6 0 2 0 132 1
Empoli 2018–19 Serie A 34 2 1 0 35 2
Livorno 2019–20 Serie B 5 0 5 0
Mouscron 2020–21 First Division A 24 3 1 0 25 3
Entella 2021–22 Serie C 19 2 19 2
Career Total 429 27 32 0 31 0 492 27
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  3. ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

Honours

edit

Club

edit
Boca Juniors

References

edit
  1. ^ https://empolifc.com/prima-squadra/la-rosa height/altezza in his clickable profile
  2. ^ "Silvestre al Catania" (in Italian). Calcio Catania. 28 January 2008. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  3. ^ Calcio Catania S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2008 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  4. ^ Calcio Catania S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2012 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  5. ^ U.S. Città di Palermo S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2012 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  6. ^ U.S. Città di Palermo SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  7. ^ Inter, riscattato Silvestre dal Palermo Tuttomercatoweb.com
  8. ^ Pinzolo, 31 nerazzurri in partenza per il ritiro estivo Inter.it
  9. ^ Mazzarri non fa sconti: Silvestre e Schelorro assenti. E Mariga... Fcinter1908.it
  10. ^ "SILVESTRE ALL'INTER" (in Italian). 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Relazione e Bilancio al 31 Dicembre 2013" (PDF) (in Italian). AC Milan. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  12. ^ "Milan reach Matias Silvestre agreement". ESPN FC. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  13. ^ "Milan confirm Silvestre deal". Football Italia. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  14. ^ "Parma-Milan 3-2, Parolo esalta il Tardini – La Gazzetta dello Sport".
  15. ^ "U.C. Sampdoria - Ufficiale: Dall'Inter arriva l'argentino Matias Silvestre". Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  16. ^ "#SilvestreAncoraConNoi: firma su un biennale per il centrale argentino – U.C. Sampdoria". 9 July 2015.
  17. ^ "UFFICIALE: Empoli, dalla Samp arriva Silvestre a titolo definitivo". Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  18. ^ "Matias Silvester Nuovo Acquisto del Livorno" (Press release) (in Italian). Livorno. 6 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Matias Silvestre devrait être le leader de la défense hurlue" (Press release) (in French). Mouscron. 20 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Ufficiale, Matias Silvestre è un nuovo giocatore dell'Entella" (in Italian). Entella. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  21. ^ Matías Silvestre at Soccerway
  22. ^ Matías Silvestre at WorldFootball.net
edit