Former sprinter Usain Bolt has registered to play for ninth-tier English football team Wythenshawe Vets, eight years after his previous attempt to forge a career in the professional game.
The 40-year-old Jamaican, who holds the 100m and 200m world records, is listed as a registered player on the Football Association's Full-Time website as final paperwork gets underway for the south Manchester club.
The registration follows comments made by Bolt in January, when he mooted joining the non-League side during an interview with radio station talkSPORT. Asked if he would sign for the club, Bolt said: "Listen, I’m ready. I’m ready. If I get into some shape, I’m ready to go."
Star-studded non-League lineup
Wythenshawe Vets field an over-35s team based in south Manchester that has built a national profile by assembling a squad filled with former Premier League players.
The team includes former England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, former Everton striker Oumar Niasse, former Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia, and former Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse.
The roster also features former Manchester City midfielders Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha, as well as Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater. Other players involved with the squad include George Boyd, Tom Rodgers, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Neil Chappell, Owen Trainor, Ben Jackson, and Rory Fallon.
The club has expanded rapidly through social media promotion, attracting several hundred spectators to its home matches at Hollyhedge Park.
Giving former professionals a venue to play
Stephen Ireland, who has been a mainstay in the team over recent years, previously spoke about what the non-League side means to the former professional players involved.
Speaking last November, Ireland said: "We're all retired and it's nice to get together to continue to play football, keep fit and also from the mental health side of things."
"A lot of lads can feel a bit stranded and alone when they come out of football. We all live in the same area so help each other," Ireland added. "We're not here to take advantage of any standard around, this is purely to get some enjoyment and fitness. Hopefully the opposition see the positives in it as well."
Previous attempts in professional football
Usain Bolt is a dedicated Manchester United fan who regularly attends matches at Old Trafford. He previously attempted to establish a professional football career following his retirement from athletics.
In 2018, the eight-time Olympic champion spent two months training with Australian side Central Coast Mariners. During his trial, Bolt scored two goals on his first start for the Mariners in an October 2018 friendly against Macarthur South West, celebrating with his trademark lightning bolt pose.
Bolt left the Australian club after they failed to find financial backing for a professional contract. He also turned down an offer from Maltese club Valletta because the team could not meet his wage demands, and previously spent time training with Norwegian team Stromsgodset and German side Borussia Dortmund.
Reflecting on his professional football pursuit, Bolt said: "It was fun while it lasted. I don't want to say it wasn't dealt with properly, but I think we went about it not the way we should."
Bolt added: "You live and you learn. It was a good experience - I really enjoyed just being in a team."
