Remember Saido Berahino? Well, he has just ended a pretty big goal drought, scoring his first goal in over two years at club level.
In Slovenia. In the second division.
Berahino was tipped for a big future after a brilliant breakthrough as a youngster at West Brom – he’s now plying his trade in the second tier of Slovenian footballGetty Berahino celebrates opening his account for new Slovenian team NK Tabor SezanaInstagram: @nktaborsezanaThe former Premier League ace scored six minutes from time to help seal a 2-0 victory for NK Tabor Sezana over Triglav Kranj – marking his first goal in Slovenia and his first in professional football since February 19, 2023.
It’s been quite the career for the former West Brom starlet who, ten years on from his infamous transfer saga with Tottenham Hotspur, now plays for NK Tabor Sezana.
Based in a small town near the Slovenian border with north-eastern Italy, the 31-year-old competes in the Slovenian Second Football League after zig-zagging between clubs in England and wider Europe, and even a short spell in India.
Having played for England at Under-21 level, Berahino was tipped for a senior Three Lions call-up after his impressive breakthrough at the Hawthorns, before his career started to spiral.
Interest from Spurs soured his time with the Baggies. Tottenham offered £15million when West Brom valued him at £25m – Berahino would later blast Daniel Levy’s transfer tactics as ‘unacceptable’.
The player attempted to force through the move, leading to a falling out with manager Tony Pulis and the club’s chairman.
He was dumped out of the first-team for over a month. Although he eventually reconciled with the boss, Berahino’s form was severely affected and ended his spell with the club amid a goal drought which totaled 913 days.
During that time period – February 2016 to August 2018 – he left West Brom to join Stoke.
His £12m move was a disaster. He served a six-week ban for failing a drugs test in 2017, although he claimed it was due to his drink being spiked.
He was later arrested for drink-driving in 2019 and was suspended without pay by the Potters, with his contract eventually terminated.
Berahino’s career in English football didn’t work out as many expected after failed spells at Stoke and Sheffield WednesdayGetty Images - GettyYears later, he would come to blows with a former teammate – England defender Glenn Johnson – who launched an extraordinary attack over his conduct at the Bet 365 Stadium during an interview with talkSPORT.
Although, there was a high point in his career in the same year as he captained the country of his birth – Burundi – the in 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
Moves to Belgian clubs Zulte Waregem and Charleroi followed before a return to English football in 2021 with Sheffield Wednesday.
He was released after just one season in League One and then sealed a move to Cypriot club AEL Limassol, where he started in only 16 of his 44 games for the side, managing four goals and one assist.
Then came a move to the second tier of Indian football with Rajasthan United, which proved short-lived. Club officials say Berahino was sidelined with an injury he suffered in an unspecified ‘accident’.
His contract was terminated and he swiftly returned to European football, in the second tier in Slovenia, which brings us back to his goal drought – this time ending a run of 789 days without finding the back of the net.
Berahino made the move to Slovenia in MarchInstagram: @nktaborsezana On signing for the club, Berahino declared he wanted to help them gun for promotion to the Slovenian first divisionInstagram: @nktaborsezanaIt was his first strike since joining NK Tabor Sezana at the beginning of March, and reports from local media say he has been making a marked improvement – although he is yet to start a match for the second tier side.
Berahino recently opened up on his career regrets and explained how his lack of support system around him affected his life on and off the pitch.
“I one hundred percent have career regrets,” he told SportsBoom.
“If I could roll back the years, I would have listened more to the people around me, especially my handlers.
“Sometimes I would take their advice, sometimes I couldn’t. Lack of a support system to guide me didn’t help my case as well.
“Footballers should shun the culture of cutting through the corners. Young players should be encouraged to trust the process and build their careers day by day.”
Berahino also explained why his spell in India didn’t work out, and how his international ambitions were behind his latest move – as he hopes this could be a turning point.
“I would have loved to play football in India and serve Rajasthan well,” he said.
“However, my family was not comfortable at all. I say this with a lot of respect for India and their people. It is not a bad place, but my wife and kids could not stay.”
The Burundi international added: “Once you hit 30, it is difficult to return to the top level, especially if you have been out of touch for some time.
“I am, however, training hard with a club that understands me well. The goal is to captain my national team again and help qualify for the AFCON.
“I would love to wear the Burundian kit again and take part in World Cup qualifiers.”
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