Fabio Da Silva: " Cardiff City / Ole Gunnar Solskjaer "
Tue Dec 22, 2020 10:41 am
Fabio Da Silva: " Cardiff City / Ole Gunnar Solskjaer "
And a Message to Cardiff Fans
By Glen Williams
Tuesday 22nd December 2020
Fabio reveals that in September 2013, then Manchester United manager David Moyes came to him with the offer of a new contract, but Fabio wanted to create a new path, for himself and his family, away from Old Trafford, the place he had called home for six years.
Fabio Da Silva:
"Moyes came to me, he wanted to speak to me in September, but he never picked me," he says. "And he spoke with me and said, 'Sir Alex has spoken with me and actually we want you to re-sign with a new contract for two years.'
"And I straight away said, 'No, no, no. I never play. I know you like me but I want to be happy. I want to play football.'
"I was 24 years old and I just wanted to play football."
That's when Cardiff, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, came calling. The Norwegian has gone down as arguably City's worst manager in recent times, but Fabio is naturally defensive when it comes to someone with whom he shares such a close bond.
The Brazilian believes that Solskjaer just needed more time, but admits the manager struggled to adjust to the very different challenges Championship football represented.
"You need time," he says of Solskjaer's ill-fated spell as manager. "He stayed there for seven or eight months.
"He came to manage a Premier League team and, in the Championship, it's tough. It's a different type of football that you play.
"I always think that in the Championship you need more experienced players, like [Neil] Warnock when he did a fantastic job at Cardiff.
"I played in the Championship for three or four years and these type of managers are always going to do well. They know the football, how to play in the Championship and it's very important."
Solskjaer has faced heightened scrutiny in his current role as Manchester United manager, with many Cardiff fans playing the "I told you so" card in tongue-in-cheek fashion after particularly poor spells.
But, at time of writing, United are in a sweet spot, having just beaten Leeds United 6-2 and shot up to third in the table with a game in hand.
And Fabio, though he concedes he holds a bias, insists Solskjaer is the man to steer United back to their former glories.
"Everyone is going think I am saying this because he is my friend, but I definitely think he is the man for the job," he laughs.
"He knows the club, he has worked with the youngsters. Of course, he has had some bad games, but Sir Alex, when he started, he had some bad games as well.
"I don't compare him with Sir Alex, but he is working now. He is doing a great job."
In contrast to Solskjaer, Fabio grew to become a fan favourite, a cult hero figure, during his time at Cardiff City Stadium.
His scrappy nature and tenacity really resonated with Bluebirds supporters and he created some wonderful memories during his two-and-a-half years in South Wales.
His one and only goal, crowned Goal of the Season, against Middlesbrough in his final year is a moment which sticks in his mind.
"Definitely the best I have scored," he says excitedly. "It was so nice to score that goal, it was a nice hit! It was Goal of the Season and I have the trophy in my home."
But his abiding memory is his tremendous relationship with the passionate Bluebirds fans.
"After we went down [from the Premier League], I kept fighting," he says. "I never let myself down. I worked hard and tried to improve and I really, really liked the way they treated me.
"I put everything on the pitch for them."
He moved on to Middlesbrough in 2016. At Cardiff, he was being paid a pretty penny in the Championship and it seemed good business all round for him to move to a team which had just been promoted to the Premier League.
And after two seasons there, he made the move out to France to join Ligue 1 outfit Nantes.
In fact, just as we speak, he has signed a contract extension with the Brittany club, some more than welcome news in these most troubling times.
"Every contract now is a good one!," he says with a smile.
Message to Cardiff Fans
Fabio Da Silva:
But, importantly, in light of the topics which have dominated our conversation, he has a very poignant Christmas message to Cardiff City fans, one which hits home more this year than any other.
"It's been hard all around the world. I know it's hard in Wales," he says.
"My mum came here [to Nantes] to visit me and she spoke about Brazil and the situation there is devastating, because of the economy there, there are people with no food.
"So, enjoy what you have, I know it's hard, but, sometimes, just try and do what's best with everything you have.
"Enjoy your family, be close with them. That is my message to you; your family is everything."
And a Message to Cardiff Fans
By Glen Williams
Tuesday 22nd December 2020
Fabio reveals that in September 2013, then Manchester United manager David Moyes came to him with the offer of a new contract, but Fabio wanted to create a new path, for himself and his family, away from Old Trafford, the place he had called home for six years.
Fabio Da Silva:
"Moyes came to me, he wanted to speak to me in September, but he never picked me," he says. "And he spoke with me and said, 'Sir Alex has spoken with me and actually we want you to re-sign with a new contract for two years.'
"And I straight away said, 'No, no, no. I never play. I know you like me but I want to be happy. I want to play football.'
"I was 24 years old and I just wanted to play football."
That's when Cardiff, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, came calling. The Norwegian has gone down as arguably City's worst manager in recent times, but Fabio is naturally defensive when it comes to someone with whom he shares such a close bond.
The Brazilian believes that Solskjaer just needed more time, but admits the manager struggled to adjust to the very different challenges Championship football represented.
"You need time," he says of Solskjaer's ill-fated spell as manager. "He stayed there for seven or eight months.
"He came to manage a Premier League team and, in the Championship, it's tough. It's a different type of football that you play.
"I always think that in the Championship you need more experienced players, like [Neil] Warnock when he did a fantastic job at Cardiff.
"I played in the Championship for three or four years and these type of managers are always going to do well. They know the football, how to play in the Championship and it's very important."
Solskjaer has faced heightened scrutiny in his current role as Manchester United manager, with many Cardiff fans playing the "I told you so" card in tongue-in-cheek fashion after particularly poor spells.
But, at time of writing, United are in a sweet spot, having just beaten Leeds United 6-2 and shot up to third in the table with a game in hand.
And Fabio, though he concedes he holds a bias, insists Solskjaer is the man to steer United back to their former glories.
"Everyone is going think I am saying this because he is my friend, but I definitely think he is the man for the job," he laughs.
"He knows the club, he has worked with the youngsters. Of course, he has had some bad games, but Sir Alex, when he started, he had some bad games as well.
"I don't compare him with Sir Alex, but he is working now. He is doing a great job."
In contrast to Solskjaer, Fabio grew to become a fan favourite, a cult hero figure, during his time at Cardiff City Stadium.
His scrappy nature and tenacity really resonated with Bluebirds supporters and he created some wonderful memories during his two-and-a-half years in South Wales.
His one and only goal, crowned Goal of the Season, against Middlesbrough in his final year is a moment which sticks in his mind.
"Definitely the best I have scored," he says excitedly. "It was so nice to score that goal, it was a nice hit! It was Goal of the Season and I have the trophy in my home."
But his abiding memory is his tremendous relationship with the passionate Bluebirds fans.
"After we went down [from the Premier League], I kept fighting," he says. "I never let myself down. I worked hard and tried to improve and I really, really liked the way they treated me.
"I put everything on the pitch for them."
He moved on to Middlesbrough in 2016. At Cardiff, he was being paid a pretty penny in the Championship and it seemed good business all round for him to move to a team which had just been promoted to the Premier League.
And after two seasons there, he made the move out to France to join Ligue 1 outfit Nantes.
In fact, just as we speak, he has signed a contract extension with the Brittany club, some more than welcome news in these most troubling times.
"Every contract now is a good one!," he says with a smile.
Message to Cardiff Fans
Fabio Da Silva:
But, importantly, in light of the topics which have dominated our conversation, he has a very poignant Christmas message to Cardiff City fans, one which hits home more this year than any other.
"It's been hard all around the world. I know it's hard in Wales," he says.
"My mum came here [to Nantes] to visit me and she spoke about Brazil and the situation there is devastating, because of the economy there, there are people with no food.
"So, enjoy what you have, I know it's hard, but, sometimes, just try and do what's best with everything you have.
"Enjoy your family, be close with them. That is my message to you; your family is everything."
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: Fabio Da Silva: " Cardiff City / Ole Gunnar Solskjaer "
Tue Dec 22, 2020 10:56 am
The first and I would hazard a guess at, the only, Brazilian to grace the colours of our magnificent club.
Until Neymar gets the urge to spend the last few years of his career in sunny, tropical South East Wales of course.
Until Neymar gets the urge to spend the last few years of his career in sunny, tropical South East Wales of course.
Re: Fabio Da Silva: " Cardiff City / Ole Gunnar Solskjaer "
Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:03 am
Met Fabio on many many occasions, a gent and a really genuine person and for me quality and City pushed him out.
Re: Fabio Da Silva: " Cardiff City / Ole Gunnar Solskjaer "
Tue Dec 22, 2020 1:17 pm
Forever Blue wrote:Met Fabio on many many occasions, a gent and a really genuine person and for me quality and City pushed him out.
Annis,
He was indeed a very nice person and a player who always gave 100% which is all we City fans ever ask for from a player.
Ole was also extremely pleasant and it's a shame that things didn't work out for him here and he more often than not looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights!
And whereas Fabio will probably be the only Brazilian to play for Cardiff I would think that Ole will be the only ex-manager of ours who will go on to manage Manchester United unlee of course they're quietly sounding out Russell Slade in case they have to give Ole the hook!
Re: Fabio Da Silva: " Cardiff City / Ole Gunnar Solskjaer "
Tue Dec 22, 2020 2:23 pm
Interesting comments there.
Especially at the beginning.
Sounds like Sir Alex was still pulling the strings at Old Trafford, even when Moyes was manager.
Especially at the beginning.
Sounds like Sir Alex was still pulling the strings at Old Trafford, even when Moyes was manager.
Re: Fabio Da Silva: " Cardiff City / Ole Gunnar Solskjaer "
Wed Dec 23, 2020 3:34 pm
He always worked hard for us always gave 100% and was the nicest guy you could meet not just a nice footballer lol he always spent time having photos with supporters and always spoke with the kids he had so much time for them .
My grandsons still hold him dear as he spent so much time chatting to them not just pictures .
My grandsons still hold him dear as he spent so much time chatting to them not just pictures .