Tiago Silva (footballer, born 1979)

Tiago Silva dos Santos (born 4 April 1979) is a former footballer who played as a defender. Born in Brazil, he played for the Bulgaria national team once in a friendly.

Club career
Tiago Silva joined CSKA Sofia from PFC Litex Lovech in 2005. He has also previously played for Palmeiras, with whom he has won the Copa Mercosur and Copa Libertadores trophies.

He signed a three-year contract with Belgian First Division Club Racing Genk on 18 July 2007.

International career
Tiago Silva made one appearance with the Bulgaria national football team in a 3–1 friendly win against Turkey on 17 August 2005.

However, Tiago Silva had already been capped for the Brazilian Youth team in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, so FIFA refused the request for a change of association.

Although FIFA loosened the nationality transfer of uncapped players and players with multi-nationality in 2009, it has not benefited Tiago Silva, because he did not hold multi-nationality when he represented Brazil. He is still eligible to play for Brazil.