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Former Sierra Leone national team captain Steven Caulker has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 33, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than a decade across multiple countries.
Caulker confirmed his decision on Friday, December 19, describing it as the right moment to step away from playing.
“It’s time to announce my official retirement from my playing career,” Caulker said. “I had a good taste of Premier League football, played and scored for England, captained Sierra Leone, played in the Olympics, spent time as a player-coach, and met some incredible people along the way.”
The former defender made a major career decision in 2021 when he switched international allegiance to Sierra Leone after being approached by the Leone Stars. He went on to earn over 17 caps, including appearances at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.
Caulker quickly became a key figure in John Keister’s squad, valued for his leadership and experience, and was later named captain of the national team in the years following the AFCON tournament.
Explaining his decision to represent Sierra Leone, Caulker said it was driven by a desire to give back to the country of his heritage, noting that his grandmother is Sierra Leonean.
At club level, the former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur defender enjoyed a diverse career, playing in England, Spain, Turkey and Iceland, most recently turning out for Icelandic top-flight side Stjarnan, where he featured earlier this year.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 30: Steven Caulker of Liverpool in action during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on January 30, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Reflecting on his retirement, Caulker expressed gratitude to those who supported him throughout his career and revealed that his focus will now shift fully to coaching.
“I look forward to now focusing full-time on my coaching,” he said, adding that he hopes to play a role in guiding and developing the next generation of footballers.
