Quick Facts
Biography
David Miquel Mendes da Silva Gonçalves (born 4 August 1982) is a Dutch footballer of Cape Verdean descent who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie.
His former teams are Red Bull Salzburg, AZ, Sparta Rotterdam, Ajax and NAC Breda. He is a very versatile player who can play all over midfield and in defence. He is known for his dribbling and technique as well as his tackling.
Club career
He started his career at Sparta Rotterdam in 1999 signed a professional contract, withdrawing in 2004 and was for a time on loan at Ajax (2003), without, however, to measure formal involvement with the jersey.
The next stop in his career was the NAC Breda, that signed Mendes da Silva in summer 2004 in a four-year deal, where he made 56 appearances scoring five goals. Two year later he was signed by AZ Alkmaar in a five-year deal,where he made 119 appearances scoring 11 goals in all competitions.
In 2010 transferred to Red Bull Salzburg. Salzburg coach Huub Stevens signed his No.1 transfer target after completing a move for AZ Alkmaar midfielder David Mendes da Silva. He signed a Salzburg signed a three-year contract with the Austrian side. The 27-year-old arrives for an undisclosed fee having been a regular at AZ for four seasons which included a Dutch title triumph in 2008/09. The right-sided player previously worked with Stevens' assistant Ton Lokhoff during a spell at NAC Breda. Mendes after his transfer stated : "I admit that the Austrian league is not very well known, but I'm very happy with this transfer. Red Bull are the reigning champions and play Champions League football next term. I'm looking forward to a new challenge," to Voetbal International.
On 20 October 2009, Mendes da Silva scored a stunning 93rd-minute equaliser against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League to give his team somewhat of a historic result after Arsenal had led through Cesc Fàbregas's first half goal. There he stayed until February 2013.
On 4 July 2013, the Dutch international footballer signed for Greek club Panathinaikos on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. With his new team Panathinaikos he won the Greek Cup in the 2013/14 season against PAOK with the score of 4-1 and after finishing first in the Super League playoffs he played in the 3rd and playoff rounds of the UEFA Champions League. After advancing in the 3rd round of the CL competition and elimination in the playoff round of CL the team and Mendes participated in the Group Stage of the 2014/15 UEFA Cup Competition. The Greek side is managed by former Roda JC, and Ajax striker Giannis Anastasiou.
International career
He made his international debut for Netherlands on 7 February 2007. Mendes has 7 Netherlands caps to his name, with his last appearance for the Oranje back in 2009, coming on in the 84th minute of a 0-0 draw with Australia. He also played for Dutch U-20s team at 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, which lost to Egypt in the quarter-finals.
Honours
Club
AZ
- Eredivisie: 2008–09
- Johan Cruijff Schaal: 2009
Red Bull Salzburg
- Tipp 3 Bundesliga: 2011–12
- ÖFB-Cup: 2011–12
Panathinaikos
- Greek Cup: 2014