Usain Bolt is giving up on football

The eight-time Olympic gold medallist has given up on his dream to become a professional football player. He said that life as a sportsman is over.

In November 2018, Bolt gave himself a two-week deadline to find a new soccer team or retire from the sports. 

Last year after a trial he was unable to agree on a contract with the Australian side Central Coast Mariners. 

Two months later Bolt confirmed that he will put end to his professional football career. 

Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for Laureus

Not good enough

In September he made his debut for the Mariners, and Bolt scored twice. One goal was well taken, but the second one was a tap into an empty net. 

But still, there were serious questions raised about whether Usain Bolt could turn into an elite athlete in a second sport. 

Bolt turned down a $150,000 offer from Maltese club Valletta. The club could not afford his wage demands. The same Australian A-League club hosted Bolt’s professional debut as part of a two-month trial. 

The offer fell through because both sides “had been seeking a commercial partner to increase the amount of the offer.” But they decided that they couldn’t do so shortly. 

Bolt doesn’t regret anything

After Usain Bolt retired from athletics in 2017, he still holds the 100m and 200m world records. Bolt doesn’t regret trying to become a professional football player. He also won Olympic sprint gold medals in Beijing, London, and Rio. 

He told that it was fun for him to play football, but now it’s over. 

“You live and you learn. It was a good experience, I enjoyed just being in a team.”

Usain Bolt now will focus on his business ventures. He is doing many different things. Sports life for him is over, now he is moving into different businesses. 

Ex-football players now will try to be businessmen.

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