Da Silva moved to Spain in late 1982, where he started playing for Real Valladolid and won the Pichichi Trophy (for the league's top scorer) in 1983–84 with 17 goals in 30 matches.

He was only the second club player ever to win the award,[2] and he also help add its first piece of silverware in the same season, the Copa de la Liga; he then represented Atlético Madrid after Hugo Sánchez left for Real Madrid,[3] and netted 21 La Liga goals in two seasons, helping the team to the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España, both in 1985.

[4] Da Silva began working as a manager after retiring, being in charge of Uruguay's youths as well as acting as assistant to the senior team under Víctor Púa.

On 15 December 2010, Argentine Primera División team Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba announced the hiring of da Silva as Omar Asad's replacement.

[7] On 27 February 2012 he left fellow league side Club Atlético Banfield to return to his country and join Peñarol,[8] where he went on to conquer two accolades including the 2013 national championship.