oh, thiago silva.
 |
| photo from @ChelseaFC on X |
Silva finished off a spectacular four years in London following Chelsea's final game of the season, a 2-1 win over Bournemouth at the Bridge. Silva was presented with a guard of honour after the game, and gave a speech to the fans alongside his wife Belle and his two children.
What I think made Silva such a special part of Chelsea history over the last few years was his sheer ability at such a late stage in his career. Even approaching 40 years old, Silva is still an active, able, and at certain times, a crucial part of the Chelsea defense.
He scored the most goals out of any Chelsea defender this season, with four in all competitions, his best return as a Chelsea player. What I loved most was his determination, always appearing in the tricky moments and putting in the vital tackle.
But as one of the oldest players in the Premier League, many are still completely flabbergasted that a player of Silva's age can still compete at the highest levels with such ease.
An interview published by Sky Sports last week showed Silva at his home, demonstrating his investments into several rehabilitation machines and other health-based purchases.
It's something that Silva says that many young players should consider investing in, as the benefits have shown, and it means that his career has potentially been elongated for a few years longer, with a move back to Flumineze in Brazil set to occur this year, where Silva believes he will stay for at least one or two years.
It's a fascinating and personal interview, and one that made me slightly emotional, especially towards the latter half where Silva reflects on his time at Chelsea, the impact he has made on the young players, the highs of winning a Champions League with the club followed by a darker period of uncertainty. Football is his whole life, as he says:
"This is my life. And I know what Thiago represents, and Thiago knows what it means to wear a Chelsea shirt, you know?"
His love of football is plain to see - there's been photos of Silva hard at work at a desk with a managers whiteboard, with the Brazillian admitting that his time at Chelsea is not finished, promising the Blues that he will be back some day, possibly hinting at a coaching role at the club.
In a squad that has been loaded up with young, future talents, and one of the youngest in the league, Thiago held an important role as a veteran, an older figure who could give advice in training as well as in match situations. You could imagine the situation at the club if someone like Silva was not there to add that much needed experience, and as he mentions, having that balance is crucial:
"A team shouldn't be made of only young players or just experienced players, you need the mix. It can either lack intensity because the team is too old, or lack experience, because the team is too young. If you don't have it, at some point you will suffer."
What I think is so heartwarming, is how open Silva has been to Chelsea. Many Chelsea fans will know that his wife Belle is incredibly passionate and vocal on social media about the success of the team, and will make her point known whenever the club is not on the right track. His two children both have entered the club at youth level, and as mentioned in his farewell speech, Silva hopes they will both make an appearance for the club professionally one day.
Even those moments from the sidelines, or during periods of injury, where his passion was truly undeniable. This moment from the Champions League quarter-final game against Atletico Madrid, where Silva goes wild to celebrate a late goal and a 2-0 win - even from high up in the stands, you can still feel the excitement and joy from the players:
He's a footballer that you just cannot hate, one of my all time favourite Chelsea players, and I wish him all the best for the future.
Once a Blue, forever blue.