Usain Bolt’s trial with Australian football club Central Coast Mariners has come to an end.
Efforts to secure a “commercial solution” to keep Bolt at the club had failed, the Mariners said on Friday.
Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth thanked Bolt for his eight-week trial, describing it as a success.
“Despite the fact that we could not come to an agreement that would continue Usain Bolt’s football journey with the Central Coast Mariners, we’ve been thrilled to have the Olympic champion sprinter and world record holder as part of our Club for these past eight weeks,” he said in a joint statement with Bolt.
The 100m and 200m world record holder has described it as his “dream” to play professional football.
“I would like to thank the Central Coast Mariners owners, management, staff, players and fans for making me feel so welcome during my time there,” he said on Friday.
The 32 years old sprinter retired from athletics in 2017, has previously trained with Borussia Dortmund, South African club Mamelodi Sundowns and Norway’s Stromsgodset.
