Darío Silva will remember 25 September 2006 for the rest of his days. The 34-year-old former Uruguayan international was driving in Montevideo when he lost control of his car and crashed into a lamppost. Silva and his two passengers were taken to hospital with the one-time Cagliari Calcio, Málaga CF and Sevilla FC striker in a critical condition. Doctors had to amputate his right leg to save his life. Six weeks on, uefa.com spoke to Silva at his home in the Uruguayan capital.
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uefa.com: It is sad that a disaster like this has to happen for people in Europe to get news of you.
Darío Silva: Well, that's normal because I wasn't playing in Spain any more. But I think that when I was there, everyone knew me because of my personality and that means something.
uefa.com: Did you have any projects planned before the accident?
Silva: Well, to play in the league where I started out. I had returned home and I wanted to finish my career at the places where I first made my name in the game and to go out on a high.
uefa.com: You are giving interviews and seem to be very calm about what has happened to you.
Darío Silva: Well, when I woke up after the accident and realised I was in hospital, I looked under the sheets and saw that my right leg was missing. I started to panic a bit, but ten minutes later, when the doctors explained what had happened, I started crying.
uefa.com: Tears of gratitude, rather than sadness?
Silva: Of course, because I had come back to life. My family and friends have been a great support to me. And even the general public. That has been important to me because everyone wants to see you do well.
uefa.com: Was it particularly hard to explain your condition to your children, Elina (nine) and Diego Darío (three)?
Silva: My son is still very young. When I play football with him, he laughs because I can't kick the ball with my right foot. My daughter is more intelligent and she knows what's happened.
uefa.com: They say that those who have overcome a serious accident see life with different eyes.
Silva: That's right, you have to realise how important life is. I only used to think about football and my family because I never thought something like this could happen to me. Life is to be lived as it is, and I will adapt to the way I am now.
uefa.com: Have you been touched by the reaction from the football community?
Silva: Yes, I have received quite a few calls. The one that impressed me most was the one I received from Diego Maradona. I knew him, but not well enough for him to phone me. That was the most important one because he is one of my idols.
uefa.com: Is it true you will be going to Italy to get an artificial limb fitted?
Silva: They are working on it, but I still don't know exactly where I'll go. First I want to stay in Uruguay and then I'll see if I go to Europe. Then I will have to adapt to the prosthesis and visit my friends in Europe.
uefa.com: Knowing you, I'm sure you are still thinking about playing again?
Silva: I wish. I do think about it, even though it wouldn't be as a professional. In fact I know an incredible case. I had a friend in Italy I used to play football with every Monday with the kids. He always wore trousers so I never noticed anything strange. But months later I realised he had an artificial leg. I couldn't believe it. When he showed it to me, I said: "How can you run and jump as if nothing has happened?" That was ten or eleven years ago.
uefa.com: Has being in the news like this opened any new doors to you?
Silva: I have had offers to work in television and even to sing with some people that I know in the business. I have my doubts about singing, and I'm not sure about working in TV because there are other things that are much more important to me. For example, I breed Arab horses.
uefa.com: Do you ride too?
Silva: I breed them more than ride them. I have young horses to sell and for exhibitions. It has always been a great passion of mine.
uefa.com: Finally, when will we be seeing you in Spain again?
Silva: As soon as I start walking again, I'll be there. If not, I'll be there anyway.
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uefa.com: It is sad that a disaster like this has to happen for people in Europe to get news of you.
Darío Silva: Well, that's normal because I wasn't playing in Spain any more. But I think that when I was there, everyone knew me because of my personality and that means something.
uefa.com: Did you have any projects planned before the accident?
Silva: Well, to play in the league where I started out. I had returned home and I wanted to finish my career at the places where I first made my name in the game and to go out on a high.
uefa.com: You are giving interviews and seem to be very calm about what has happened to you.
Darío Silva: Well, when I woke up after the accident and realised I was in hospital, I looked under the sheets and saw that my right leg was missing. I started to panic a bit, but ten minutes later, when the doctors explained what had happened, I started crying.
uefa.com: Tears of gratitude, rather than sadness?
Silva: Of course, because I had come back to life. My family and friends have been a great support to me. And even the general public. That has been important to me because everyone wants to see you do well.
uefa.com: Was it particularly hard to explain your condition to your children, Elina (nine) and Diego Darío (three)?
Silva: My son is still very young. When I play football with him, he laughs because I can't kick the ball with my right foot. My daughter is more intelligent and she knows what's happened.
uefa.com: They say that those who have overcome a serious accident see life with different eyes.
Silva: That's right, you have to realise how important life is. I only used to think about football and my family because I never thought something like this could happen to me. Life is to be lived as it is, and I will adapt to the way I am now.
uefa.com: Have you been touched by the reaction from the football community?
Silva: Yes, I have received quite a few calls. The one that impressed me most was the one I received from Diego Maradona. I knew him, but not well enough for him to phone me. That was the most important one because he is one of my idols.
uefa.com: Is it true you will be going to Italy to get an artificial limb fitted?
Silva: They are working on it, but I still don't know exactly where I'll go. First I want to stay in Uruguay and then I'll see if I go to Europe. Then I will have to adapt to the prosthesis and visit my friends in Europe.
uefa.com: Knowing you, I'm sure you are still thinking about playing again?
Silva: I wish. I do think about it, even though it wouldn't be as a professional. In fact I know an incredible case. I had a friend in Italy I used to play football with every Monday with the kids. He always wore trousers so I never noticed anything strange. But months later I realised he had an artificial leg. I couldn't believe it. When he showed it to me, I said: "How can you run and jump as if nothing has happened?" That was ten or eleven years ago.
uefa.com: Has being in the news like this opened any new doors to you?
Silva: I have had offers to work in television and even to sing with some people that I know in the business. I have my doubts about singing, and I'm not sure about working in TV because there are other things that are much more important to me. For example, I breed Arab horses.
uefa.com: Do you ride too?
Silva: I breed them more than ride them. I have young horses to sell and for exhibitions. It has always been a great passion of mine.
uefa.com: Finally, when will we be seeing you in Spain again?
Silva: As soon as I start walking again, I'll be there. If not, I'll be there anyway.
