Saido Berahino retires at 33 and joins Burundi coaching staff

Former West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City forward Saido Berahino has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 33. The player has already begun a new chapter, joining the coaching staff of the Burundi national team.

Reflecting on his journey from a child refugee to the Premier League, the former striker shared an emotional message on social media:

From the Premier League to places I never imagined I would play, this game carried a young refugee through life. This is not goodbye to football. It is just the end of one story and the beginning of another. Saido Berahino

Berahino's story began in Burundi, which he fled at age 10 due to civil war. After receiving political asylum in Birmingham, he joined the West Brom academy in 2004. His breakthrough came during the 2014/15 season, where he scored 20 goals in all competitions, establishing himself as one of England's brightest talents at the time.

Following his peak years at West Brom, Berahino’s career saw him play for clubs in Belgium, Cyprus, India, and Slovenia, as well as Stoke City and Sheffield Wednesday. Internationally, he represented England at youth levels before switching allegiance to Burundi, where he served as captain for their historic debut at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.