Mauro Silva

Mauro Silva was one of the greatest midfielders in Brazilian football history, a World Cup champion in 1994 as an undisputed starter for the Brazilian National Team. Discreet off the pitch and impeccable on it, he built a career based on positioning, tackling and consistency. Discovered at Guarani de Campinas, he gained national prominence at Bragantino under Vanderlei Luxemburgo, where he won the São Paulo State Championship in 1990 and finished as runner-up in the Brazilian Championship in 1991. His fine form took him to Spain, where he became an eternal idol at Deportivo La Coruña. At the Galician club, he played for 13 seasons (1992 to 2005) and was a key piece in the historic 1999-2000 Spanish title, the first in Deportivo's history, as well as victories in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. In the National Team, he paired with Dunga in the midfield during the four-time world championship in the United States in 1994.