Silvestre Varela

Silvestre Varela full name is Silvestre Manuel Goncalves Varela and he is a Portuguese football player who plays for F.C. Porto team as a midfielder in the Portuguese first division. Born in Almada, Portugal, Varela played for major teams like Porto, Pescadores, Sporting CP, Casa Pia, Vitoria, Recreativo, Estrela Amadora and Portugal National Football Team.

He was a product of Sporting Clube de Portugal’s youth system and got loaned to the team Casa Pia A.C. along with Vitoria Futebol Clube as a professional player. However, though he was a regular with the Portugal U-21 team, he thoroughly enjoyed a decent form in most of the matches. But, he didn’t secure a place in the Sporting’s first team, managing two substitute appearances in 2005-06 season.

It was in 2007-08, when along with two former Sporting players, Carlos Martins and Beto, Varela played for Recreativo de Huelva in Spain. Post a disappointing start, he received playing time in La Liga, returning to Sporting in 2008. He instantly got sold to C. F. Estrela da Amadora team.

In March 2009, prior to the end of the season, due to his solid performances at Estrela, Silvestre signed a four year agreement with F. C. Porto starting July 2009 on a free transfer basis. During his first season at Porto, he ranked second in overall goals in the team. The next year, in 2010, he got injured breaking his fibula during a training session, losing for the remainder of the campaign, as Porto finished third.

Because of his performances in the Porto team, he gained his debut full cap for Portugal on 3rd March, 2010, and appeared in the second half of the 2-0 friendly victory with China, played in Coimbra. In Leiria, he made his first goal on 26th March 2011, in a friendly draw against Chile.

=== Career Highlights ===

Whilst with the Porto team, Silvestre along with his teammates won various awards. These include UEFA Europa League 2010-11, the Portuguese League 2010-11, the Portuguese Cup in 2009-10 and in 2010-11, the Portuguese Super Cup in 2009, 2010 and in 2011. Moreover, the team was the runner up team in Portuguese League Cup in 2009-10 and in the UEFA Super Cup in 2011.