Saido Berahino Hangs Up His Boots to Focus on Coaching Burundi

Saido Berahino, once a Premier League sensation, has decided to retire from professional football at the age of 33. The former striker is now set to transition into coaching, specifically with the Burundi national team. Berahino burst onto the scene with West Bromwich Albion, where he had a standout 2014-15 season, netting 20 goals across all competitions. His success earned him a hefty £12 million transfer to Stoke City in January 2017. However, his time at Stoke was marred by struggles, culminating in the club's relegation from the Premier League in April 2018. After a brief revival under manager Gary Rowett, where he scored five goals in the 2018-19 season, Berahino found himself out of favor again. Eventually, he parted ways with Stoke in August 2019, despite having three years left on his contract. Following his departure, Berahino took his talents to Belgium, playing for clubs like Waregem and Charleroi. He later reunited with former West Brom manager Darren Moore at Sheffield Wednesday in August 2021. His journey then took him to various leagues in Cyprus, India, and Slovenia, while also representing Burundi, where he earned 23 caps and scored twice. Though Berahino was once called up to the England squad by Roy Hodgson, he never made an appearance. He has a respectable tally of 72 goals in European club football. In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, Berahino expressed his gratitude to West Brom for nurturing his talents. "I want to thank West Bromwich Albion for believing in me when I was a boy. Those years at the club, the goals, the fans, the moments, they will always be special," he wrote. He reflected on the ups and downs of his career, acknowledging the lessons learned along the way. "The time has come to hang up the boots. My body and my heart are ready for the next chapter. I am proud and grateful to now serve the Burundi national team as a coach. Giving back to the country that made me, and helping the next generation, feels right." Berahino also expressed deep appreciation for his family's support and the fans who stood by him throughout his journey. "This is not goodbye to football. It is simply the end of one story and the beginning of another. Football has given me everything. From the streets of Bujumbura to The Hawthorns, from the Premier League to places I never imagined I'd play - this game carried a young refugee kid through life."