Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Tiago Silva reflects on his memorable 2019–2020 season at the City Ground, calling it the best year of his career. He recalls the trust of coach Sabri Lamouchi, the challenges of adapting to life in England, and admits he regrets leaving the club despite being offered a renewal.

Tiago Silva’s journey through English football may have lasted only one season, but it left an imprint that the Portuguese midfielder still carries vividly.

His time at Nottingham Forest, during the 2019–2020 campaign, coincided with one of the club’s most competitive Championship runs in recent years a season that came agonizingly close to promotion and that saw Silva become one of the team’s most reliable creative outlets. Reflecting now, years later, his tone is a mix of pride and melancholy: the satisfaction of having thrived in a demanding league, and the lingering regret of leaving too soon.

“Looking back, that year at Forest was probably the best of my career,” he admitted in an interview reflecting on his experience in England. “I loved the club, I loved everything about the atmosphere, the stadium, the fans. The City Ground has something special you feel the weight of history every time you walk out there. It was my first experience abroad, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to grow as a player.” Silva featured in 47 games across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing several assists while playing as a central playmaker under French manager Sabri Lamouchi. His technical ability, vision, and work ethic made him a fan favorite among supporters who appreciated his intelligence and discipline in midfield.

He credits much of that success to the trust and environment created by Lamouchi and his staff. “I was lucky to have a coach who believed in me and gave me freedom to express myself,” Silva said. “Sabri Lamouchi understood what I could bring to the team balance, creativity, and tempo control. And having Bruno Baltazar, a Portuguese assistant coach, helped a lot. He understood how I thought and made the adaptation easier. The Championship is tough the travel, the rhythm, the physicality but inside that club, I felt comfortable and valued.”

Off the pitch, however, things were more complex. “The city was beautiful but a little cold in more than one sense,” he reflected with a smile. “People were polite but distant, and my wife struggled to adapt. That was hard on me because I wanted her to feel at home. Sometimes that side of life influences your decisions more than you realize. That’s one of the reasons I asked to leave when maybe I shouldn’t have.”

Silva admits he regrets how quickly he made that choice. “The president wanted me to renew, but I asked to leave, and today I really regret it,” he confessed. “I was living the best experience of my life in an incredible league. Every match felt like a battle stadiums were full, fans were passionate, and the pace was unbelievable. At that time, I didn’t realize how much I would miss it.”

The 2019–2020 season ended dramatically for Forest. After spending most of the year inside the playoff positions, a final-day collapse against Stoke City saw them fall out of the top six on goal difference. For Silva, it was a crushing blow but also a moment of growth. “That last game was heartbreaking. We were so close. But those experiences shape you. You learn what pressure really feels like, what it means to give everything and still fall short.”

During his time in Nottingham, Silva was part of a small Portuguese community at the club. Alongside Tobias Figueiredo, Yuri Ribeiro, and João Carvalho, he helped create a sense of camaraderie far from home. “Having those guys made everything easier. We spoke the same language, shared meals, supported each other when things got tough. It felt like a little family inside the club.”

Years later, Silva even became an informal ambassador for Nottingham Forest when his then-teammate at Vitória Guimarães, Jota Silva, signed for the English side. “I told him about how big the club is the history, the fans, the feeling when you wear that shirt. But I also warned him about the city: it’s quiet, and there’s not much to distract yourself with. It’s a place to focus on football. But his situation was very different he joined in the Premier League after a major transfer. He’s an investment for the club and someone who will continue to grow,” Tiago added, speaking proudly of his compatriot.

Now 31, Tiago Silva can look back on his single season in England with the wisdom of perspective. What once felt like an adventure that ended too early has become a cherished chapter a lesson about patience, gratitude, and how personal circumstances can shape professional choices. “Sometimes in football you only understand later what you had,” he reflected. “Forest gave me one of the best years of my life. If I could go back, I’d have stayed longer.”