Usain Bolt’s football dream shattered, trial ends without contract

Olympic legend Usain Bolt has completed his football trial at A-League outfit Central Coast Mariners and will part ways with them after failing to agree on commercial terms, the club said on Friday. The Jamaican was keen on becoming a professional footballer after a glorious career in athletics the mission was to secure a contract in Australia. However, starting as a professional footballer at the age of the 32, the odds were stacked against him.

“Despite the fact that we could not come to an agreement that would continue Usain Bolt’s football journey with the Central Coast Mariners, we’ve been thrilled to have the Olympic champion sprinter and world record holder as part of our Club for these past eight weeks,” Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth said in a joint statement with Bolt.

Bolt too thanked the club for the opportunity they had provided him with and wished them well for the new season. “I would like to thank the Central Coast Mariners owners, management, staff, players and fans for making me feel so welcome during my time there. I wish the club success for the season ahead,” the retired sprinter said.

Bolt recently made the headlines when he scored a brace for the Central Coast Mariners in a friendly. However, his two goals and the eight-week trial was not enough to convince the club to sign him as a professional. Apart from the Central Coast Mariners, the eight-time Olympic gold medallist has previously trained with Bundesliga outfit with Borussia Dortmund, South African club Mamelodi Sundowns and Norwegian side Stromsgodse.