Tony Mario Sylva (born 17 May 1975) is a Senegalese former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper. He spent the vast majority of his 16-year professional career in France, playing in 157 Ligue 1 games during eight seasons and representing in the competition AS Monaco FC, Monaco and Lille OSC, Lille. Sylva appeared with Senegal national football team, Senegal in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2002 World Cup and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He is the current goalkeeping coach of Senegal, appointed by Aliou Cissé in 2015.

Club career

Born in Guédiawaye, Sylva spent nearly a decade at the service of AS Monaco FC, but featured mainly for the reserve team during his spell, being successively backup to Fabien Barthez and Flavio Roma in the main squad. He made his debut in Ligue 1 on 12 September 1999 in a 1–2 away against Stade Rennais F.C., Stade Rennais FC, contributing with six appearances as the club 1999–2000 French Division 1, won the national championship; he also served loans at Gazélec Ajaccio, SAS Épinal and AC Ajaccio before leaving in 2004, the latter two sides competing in Ligue 2. Sylva subsequently signed for Lille OSC on a Free transfer (association football), free transfer, never appearing in fewer than 30 league games in his four years and helping his team to the second position in 2004–05 Ligue 1, 2004–05. He retired in June 2010 at the age of 35, after two seasons in Turkey with Trabzonspor; although his contract with the former was due to expire in June 2009, according to Webster ruling, Article 17 of FIFA's regulations for the status and transfer of players he was allowed to leave the club.

International career

Sylva earned 83 Cap (sport), caps for Senegal national football team, Senegal, during nine years. His debut came on 6 June 1999, in a 2–2 draw in Burkina Faso national football team, Burkina Faso for the 2000 African Cup of Nations 2000 African Cup of Nations qualification, qualifiers. Sylva's was his country's first-choice at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, helping the Lions of Teranga to the quarter-finals in their first appearance in FIFA World Cup, the competition.

Honours

Club

Monaco *Ligue 1: 1999–2000 French Division 1, 1999–2000 *Coupe de la Ligue: 2003 Coupe de la Ligue Final, 2002–03 Lille *UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup, 2004 Trabzonspor *Turkish Cup: 2009–10 Turkish Cup, 2009–10

Country

*Africa Cup of Nations: Runner-up 2002 African Cup of Nations, 2002

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sylva, Tony 1975 births Living people Senegalese footballers Association football goalkeepers Ligue 1 players Ligue 2 players Championnat National players AS Monaco FC players Gazélec Ajaccio players SAS Épinal players AC Ajaccio players Lille OSC players Süper Lig players Trabzonspor footballers Senegal international footballers 2002 FIFA World Cup players 2002 African Cup of Nations players 2004 African Cup of Nations players 2006 Africa Cup of Nations players 2008 Africa Cup of Nations players Senegalese expatriate footballers Expatriate footballers in France Expatriate footballers in Monaco Expatriate footballers in Turkey Senegalese expatriate sportspeople in France Senegalese expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Association football goalkeeping coaches