Victor Wanyama, the former captain of the Kenya national football team, has publicly shared the rationale behind his decision to retire from the sport after an illustrious 19-year career, which has seen him journey from Kenya to various leagues in Europe.
The 34-year-old announced his retirement in an emotional social media post, expressing gratitude for living out his dream and acknowledging the support he received along the way.
“Today, I announce my retirement from football,” Wanyama stated in his social media announcement.
The news of Wanyama’s retirement, a move he made after departing Kenya for Europe in 2007 to join Helsingborg in Sweden, elicited mixed responses among fans and stakeholders alike.
Some believed that the former midfielder for Tottenham made a sound choice to end his playing career, while others argued that he still had more to offer on the pitch.
Wanyama, who clinched the Scottish Premiership title in his first season with Celtic, elaborated on his decision, citing a persistent knee injury as the primary reason for stepping away to avoid further stress.
‘I had to endure pain’
“I’ve been managing this injury for quite a while, and I felt it was time to step away and not add to my stress,” Wanyama remarked, as reported by the Daily Mail.
“I’ve had to deal with significant pain over the years due to my playing position and my physical style of play. Now, I’m eager to learn new things.”
When questioned about any regrets regarding his early retirement, Wanyama replied: “I feel fortunate to have managed my knee injury for six years before retiring, and I have no regrets whatsoever.”
While confirming his retirement, Wanyama hinted at the possibility of pursuing a coaching career. When asked if he would consider coaching in Kenya or Africa, he replied: “Coaching in Kenya and Africa isn’t part of my immediate plans.”
“I’ve already had discussions with clubs in London. I have my foundation here in Nairobi, where I work with the youth and train daily. I see collaborating with the younger generation as my first step forward.”
“My dream is to coach in Europe; that’s my ultimate goal.”
During his time at Spurs, Wanyama is fondly remembered for his stunning equalising goal in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in 2018, an effort that earned him the Premier League Goal of the Month accolade.
Wanyama also made history as the first Kenyan player to score in the Champions League when he netted the opener in Celtic’s 2-1 triumph over Barcelona in 2012.
In 2013, he transferred to Southampton for £12.5 million, making him the most expensive player sold by a Scottish club at that time, surpassing the £9.5 million fee that Russian club Spartak Moscow paid for Aiden McGeady in 2010.
Wanyama became the captain of the Harambee Stars in 2013 and represented Kenya in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Egypt.
He has earned over 60 caps for Kenya since making his international debut at just 15 years of age in May 2007.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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