Saido Berahino retires at 33 to focus on coaching Burundi

Saido Berahino has announced his retirement from playing at the age of 33, with the former West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City striker turning his attention to coaching Burundi. BBC Sport reported that the Burundi international confirmed the decision in an Instagram statement, bringing to a close a career that included Premier League football and spells with clubs across several countries.

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In the statement, Berahino said he was ready to stop playing and was proud to be serving his national team as a coach. He described helping Burundi's next generation as a way of giving something back to his country. His announcement presented retirement as a change of role within football, rather than a departure from the sport.

Berahino gave particular thanks to West Brom, the club where he developed as a youngster and established himself in senior football. He scored 36 goals in 121 appearances across all competitions for Albion. His first start brought a hat-trick against Newport County in the EFL Cup in August 2013, when he was 20. The 2014-15 campaign was especially productive, yielding 20 goals across Premier League and cup matches.

Stoke signed him for £12 million in January 2017, but he was unable to reproduce that form. The club subsequently suffered relegation from the Premier League. Berahino scored five times during the 2018-19 season after being given another opportunity by manager Gary Rowett, before falling out of favour again. His contract was ended by mutual consent with three years remaining.

After leaving Stoke in August 2019, he played in Belgium for Waregem and Charleroi. A return to English football followed in August 2021, when former West Brom manager Darren Moore brought him to Sheffield Wednesday. Later stages of his playing career took him to Cyprus, India and Slovenia, alongside his international involvement with Burundi.

Berahino had previously represented England at youth levels through the under-21 side. Roy Hodgson twice called him into the senior England squad, although he did not make an appearance. Looking back in his retirement message, Berahino acknowledged both mistakes and lessons during his career and thanked his family and supporters for staying with him.