Saido Berahino retires at 33 to begin coaching career with Burundi

Former Premier League striker Saido Berahino has retired from professional football at the age of 33 to focus on his coaching role with the Burundi national team, bringing an end to a career that took him from West Bromwich Albion to clubs across Europe and Asia.

The Burundi international announced his decision in an emotional statement titled A Letter To The Game, published on Instagram, reflecting on his journey from a young refugee to a Premier League forward and international footballer.

Berahino, who previously represented England at various youth levels, including the under-21 team, was twice called up to the senior squad by then manager Roy Hodgson but never made an appearance.

He has since represented Burundi at senior level and is now turning his attention to developing the country’s next generation of footballers.

West Brom years defined his rise

Berahino rose to prominence at boyhood club West Bromwich Albion, where he established himself as one of English football’s promising young forwards.

His finest season came in 2014-15, when he scored 20 goals across Premier League and cup competitions. His performances attracted significant attention and strengthened his reputation as a forward capable of making an impact at the highest level.

He scored 36 goals in 121 appearances across all competitions for the Baggies, including a hat-trick against Newport County in the EFL Cup in August 2013, when he made his first start for the senior team at the age of 20.

Reflecting on his time at The Hawthorns, Berahino said: “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. There were highs and lows, mistakes and lessons. I learned that the game can lift you up and test you at the same time.”

Stoke move failed to revive his career

Berahino joined Stoke City for £12 million in January 2017, but the move proved a difficult chapter in his career.

Having already experienced a decline in form towards the end of his West Brom spell under Tony Pulis, the striker struggled to reproduce his earlier performances at Stoke.

The club suffered relegation from the Premier League in April 2018, and Berahino’s attempts to re-establish himself yielded limited success.

He received another opportunity under then manager Gary Rowett and scored five goals during the 2018-19 campaign. However, he subsequently fell out of favour again, eventually leaving by mutual consent in August 2019 with three years remaining on his contract.

Career took him across Europe and Asia

After leaving Stoke, Berahino continued his career in Belgium, playing for Zulte Waregem and Charleroi before returning to England in August 2021.

Former West Brom manager Darren Moore brought him to Sheffield Wednesday, offering the forward another opportunity to rebuild his career.

Berahino later played in Cyprus, India and Slovenia, extending a professional journey that took him well beyond English football.

Despite the challenges he encountered at club level, his international career also entered a new phase when he began representing Burundi, the country he described as having made him.

‘This is not goodbye to football’

Berahino expressed gratitude to his family, supporters and the people who helped shape his career, while explaining why he had decided to step away from playing.

“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.”

He added: “To my family – you have been my strength. To the fans who stayed with me through every chapter – I will never forget your support. This is not goodbye to football. It is simply the end of one story and the beginning of another.”

Berahino also reflected on how the sport had transformed his life, from his early days in Burundi to playing in England’s top flight and pursuing opportunities around the world.

“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.”

His retirement closes a career marked by early promise, difficult setbacks and a journey across several countries, while opening a new chapter in which he hopes to make an impact from the touchline with Burundi.