Former Sheffield Wednesday striker announces retirement four years on from Owls exit
Saido Berahino has decided to bring the curtain down on his playing career.
Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Saido Berahino has announced his retirement from football at the age of 33.
The Burundi international, who came through the ranks at West Bromwich Albion, made the announcement on his Instagram account on Sunday, revealing that the time had come for him to embark on a new chapter in his life.
Berahino joined Wednesday in August 2021, reuniting with former West Brom boss Darren Moore at Hillsborough. He spent just one season with the Owls, making 36 appearances in all competitions and scoring nine goals.
His standout moment in a Wednesday shirt came in March 2022, when he scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 victory over Cambridge United at Hillsborough. Berahino scored eight goals in 29 League One appearances as the Owls’ hopes of securing an immediate return to the Championship were ended by Sunderland in the play-offs.
Following the play-off semi-final defeat to the Black Cats, Berahino left Hillsborough at the end of the 2021/22 season. After his stint in S6, he had spells in Cyprus and India before joining Slovenian outfit NK Tabor Sežana in March last year.
Berahino has been working as a coach with the Burundi national team since the summer and has confirmed that he will now focus on that role following his decision to hang up his boots.
Announcing his retirement, Berahino said: “A Letter to the Game. 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. 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.
“To every teammate, coach, and supporter who shared the journey — thank you.
“There were highs and lows, mistakes and lessons. I learned that the game can lift you up and test you at the same time. Through it all, football remained my constant.
“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.
“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.
“With love and gratitude, Saido Berahino.”