Odds Against Usain Bolt Joining a Pro Soccer Team by November 30
- Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt has long expressed his desire to pursue a second career in soccer
- After his recent trial in the Australian A-League ended, he’s given himself until the end of the month to decide his future in the sport
- Can Bolt sign a deal with a pro team or have we seen the last of him on the pitch?
Today’s world is a place where you can dare to dream to be anything. For eight-time Olympic sprinting gold medalist Usain Bolt, that dream in his post-sprinting career has been to become a professional soccer player.
Bolt joined the Central Coast Mariners of the Australian A-League back in August on a trial basis. With that trial ending, Bolt has now set a self-imposed deadline on his potential future as a footballer of November 30.
Odds Usain Bolt Agrees to Join Pro Team By Nov. 30th
| Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +200 |
| No | -300 |
Bolt doesn’t need to play for the money—he still earned over $30 million last year despite being retired from athletics.
That being said, financial terms have been reported as the sticking point in Bolt actually fulfilling his dream of becoming pro.
The Central Coast Mariners did offer Bolt a contract which the two sides were unable to come to terms on. The deal worth a reported $150,000, was far below the original $3 million that was discussed back in May. Additionally Maltese club Valetta FC offered the 32-year-old Jamaican a two-year contract last month which was also turned down.
Usain Bolt says a decision on his football career will be made by the end of the month… ⚡️
What will it be? ? pic.twitter.com/w2ga6pjSSx
— Goal (@goal) November 15, 2018
Listen to Mariners’ coach Mike Mulvey and the reality of Bolt who’s been playing as a winger, of going pro sound rather bleak.
“But you have a look at our frontline today and you wonder if he could get into any of those positions, wouldn’t you?” ~ Mariners’ coach Mike Mulvey
“I do appreciate how important this story is for the rest of the world,” Mulvey said. “But you have a look at our frontline today and you wonder if he could get into any of those positions, wouldn’t you?”
The reviews aren’t much better from A-League commentator Simon Hill.
“I think it’s great that he’s brought publicity to the league, but if anybody is seriously trying to tell me that Usain Bolt can break into that Mariners team, they are having a laugh,” said Hill.
Is The Dream Still Alive?
Bolt was able to find the scoresheet by scoring twice against non-A-League side Macarthur South West United in his first start. Though one was basically a walk-in as a result of a defensive error.
Watch Usain Bolt score TWICE in his first pro soccer game pic.twitter.com/tDsnUepnNw
— Tomthunkit™ (@TomthunkitsMind) November 13, 2018
Previously Bolt has also trained with South African club Mamelodi Sundowns and Norway’s Stromsgodset. While netiher of those clubs move the needle, he did train with Borussia Dortmund which is a top club in Germany.
If you’re thinking his time on the pitch may be over, you may be right. He could be moving on to new pursuits having just opened a restuarant in London.
Usain Bolt opens restaurant in #London – It may be owned by the fastest man alive, but speed is not of the essence at Tracks & Records . Quite the opposite, in fact. #Shoreditch #restaurant with #Jamaican and #Caribbean flavours https://t.co/pXVSsqb2T8 pic.twitter.com/cZQi4oYU37
— Discover London (@365Disc_London) November 15, 2018
However, Bolt claims he has several offers on the table. If that’s true and he truly wants to play, surely someone in some country will at least make him a respectable offer for publicity’s sake.
Take a shot with the plus-money and bet YES +200.
Ryan is SBD's resident soccer pro, though his repertoire is by no means limited to a single sport. His articles have been published by the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Kitchener Rangers, and outlets like SportsXpress and Shredthespread.com
