Steven Caulker of Sierra Leone has announced his retirement from international football, after a career that had a major impact on the country’s football revival.
Caulker, who played for England in 2012 before deciding to join Sierra Leone in 2021, was a key player in the Leone Stars’ comeback.
During his three-year tenure, he led the squad to their first berth in the competition in more than two decades, the 2021 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.
Shortly after leaving his position as team captain, the 31-year-old defender, who is renowned for his leadership on and off the pitch, announced his intention to retire.
After Sierra Leone’s national football side failed to qualify for the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, Caulker appeared to have retired.
“It has been a tough decision to retire from international football,” Caulker wrote in a LinkedIn post announcing his decision, reflecting gratefully on his experience.
“I’m honoured to have represented Sierra Leone at the AFCON and to have 20 caps.
“Future players will draw inspiration from the stability and professionalism the former Tottenham, Liverpool, and QPR star brought to the Leone Stars.
Although Caulker’s retirement signifies the end of a chapter in the team’s history, his contributions to Sierra Leonean football will live on as a landmark.
