Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11:38 / Updated Saturday, January 31, 2026 11:38
Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt has hinted that he is ready to become a footballer. The legendary Jamaican sprinter has said he is open to a return to the pitch, this time with a veteran squad that includes several former Premier League players.
The fastest man in history tried to become a professional footballer after retiring from athletics in 2017, and now, at 39, he seems tempted to return to the idea of playing the king's sport.
Usain Bolt, ready to return to football
After dominating the world sprint events, Bolt followed his passion for football. He had training courses at Borussia Dortmund and Stromsgodset, and in Australia he played for the Central Coast Mariners, where he even managed to score two goals in a friendly match.
Usain Bolt in action, dueling with Danny Dier // Photo: Imago Images
Although the attempt to turn professional did not materialize, Bolt did not completely abandon the idea. This time his name is linked to Wythenshawe Vets, a Cheshire Veterans Football League team renowned for its squad full of big names.
Wythenshawe Vets have attracted attention after signing several top ex-footballers, including:
Asked by talkSPORT if he would agree to play alongside them, Bolt didn't hesitate.
“Listen, I'm ready. I'm ready. If I'm fit, I'm ready to play“said the Jamaican.
Usain Bolt: “If others can play football, so can I”
Many believed that Bolt's extraordinary speed of 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 seconds in the 200m world records would have given him a major advantage on the football field.
However, Bolt admits that certain decisions made then were not the most inspired: “I thought if some players, I won't name names, you know them, can play football, probably I can too. It was a great experience, I definitely enjoyed it“.
The Jamaican sprinter also explained why he chose Australia over Europe:
“When I decided to do it, I said to myself: 'I don't want to stay in Europe'. Because of who I am, all the attention would have been on me. I decided to go as far as possible, but I think the right thing would have been to stay in Europe, where there were much better teams,” said Bolt, according to the quoted source
