Thiago Silva joins legend Stanley Matthews in record books with FA Cup final appearance

Chelsea star Thiago Silva has etched his name into the history books of English football on Saturday, owing to his start in Chelsea’s meeting with Liverpool.

Thomas Tuchel’s troops, of course, are currently locked in action at Wembley.

Amid hopes of salvaging something of a season to forget to date, the Blues have travelled to the English capital for the latest edition of the FA Cup final.

In turn, with little else left to play for over the final weeks of the campaign, it came as little surprise when the starting XI opted for by boss Tuchel proved an altogether strong one:

Here’s your Chels! 👊@ParimatchGlobal | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/bHhiSDMfyV

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 14, 2022

And, as alluded to above, in securing his place in the club’s line-up in London, one member of Chelsea’s squad secured for himself a piece of history.

The player in question? Thiago Silva.

As per statisticians Opta, Brazilian stopper Silva, at 37 years and 234 days of age, has become the oldest player to start an FA Cup final since the legendary Stanley Matthews all the way back in 1953.

37y 234d – @tsilva3 is the oldest outfield player (37 years & 234 days) to start an @EmiratesFACup final since Stanley Matthews in the 1953 final for Blackpool, aged 38. Nous. pic.twitter.com/opzRtocpbo

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 14, 2022

Havertz sits out

Whilst Silva makes history on Saturday, though, another key member of Chelsea’s squad misses out altogether.

After emerging as a surprise omission from the Pensioners’ matchday setup at Wembley, it was subsequently revealed that Kai Havertz had picked up an altogether untimely hamstring injury in training during the week.