Who is Anthony da Silva, the new coach of Mali?

On May 24, the Malian Football Federation (FEMAFOOT) unveiled its short-list of selected candidates for the position of coach. Florent Ibengue, Mohamed Magassouba, Badou Zaki, Antonio Conceiçao and Anthony da Silva were the finalists. Finally, it was the last appointee who had the favor of the ad hoc commission set up to choose the new selector. Who is this coach?

Former PSG player career between Portugal and Romania

Anthony da Silva was born on 20 December 1980 in Saône-et-Loire, France. Product of the PSG training centre, a club with which he was a finalist in the Gambardella Cup in 1999, he launched his professional career in Portugal. Not selected by the Parisian club, he joined Os Sandinenses in 1999 where he spent two seasons.

Da Silva signed next at Deportivo Chaves (2001-2005) and Estrela da Amadora (2005-2007). In this club, the Portuguese was impressive, designated best right-back of the Portuguese championship in 2005. In 2007, he took over the direction of Romania where he joined CFR Cluj. He had the best hours of his career there, playing in the Champions League and the Europa League. That’s not all. He won several trophies including the Romanian Championship (2008, 2010), the Romanian Cup (2007, 2008, 2010) and the Romanian Supercup (2009, 2010). In 2008, 2009 and 2011, Anthony da Silva was named best right-back of the Romanian championship.


In 2011, Anthony da Silva returned to Portugal. He played for Vitória Guimarães (2011-2012), Paissy de Ferreira (2012-2014) before finishing his career at FC Penafiel in 2015.

Coaching career just after his playing career

Anthony da Silva did not take long before embracing his coaching career. He ended his career in 2015. The same year, he launched his new career path, becoming the assistant of Ricardo Chéu at Optique de Viseu. With the same club, he acted as interim manager in 2016 for two matches before leaving. 

Anthony da Silva has had a long career in Portugal as a coach. He continued his apprenticeship with a new assistant status at SC Freamunde (2016-2017) and a brief stint at AD Oliveirense as head coach in 2017. Between 2017 and 2018, he was the head coach of GD Bragança for a record of 8 wins, 12 draws and 9 defeats. The following season, he was on the bench at GD Vilar de Perdizes. In 2019, he put his experience to work for young people. He coached the U19 for GD Chaves.

Between 2019 and 2022, Anthony da Silva had his first experience in Africa. He was the assistant coach of the Cameroon Indomitable Lions under Antonio Conceiçao. This duo allowed the Cameroonian selection to finish third at home in the 2021 AFCON. After the Africa Cup of Nations, the technical staff was dismissed by Samuel Eto'o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation. 

A year after leaving Cameroon, da Silva resumed his career as a coach. He relaunched in 2023 at Paissy de Ferreira as an assistant. During the 2023-2024 season, he was on the bench of CDC Montalegre for 9 wins, 10 draws and 7 losses. 

Having played in Romania as a player, Anthony da Silva returned to the country as a coach. Over the past two years, the Franco-Portuguese technician has coached a club: FC Politehnica Iași in 2024 (19 wins, 5 draws, 12 losses).

Anthony da Silva does not have many great references as a coach. But his profile caught the eye of the Malian Football Federation. The 45-year-old technician is here to do a real groundwork to revive Malian football. "Fully meeting the main technical criteria defined by the ad hoc committee and having presented a particularly convincing case, Mr. Anthony da Silva was selected to meet a triple imperative: renovation, performance and long-term work", reported the FEMAFOOT. There he is, now thrown into the deep end.