- Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has announced his retirement from active football.
- Wanyama confirmed his retirement on April 3, 2026, at the age of 34, as he sets his sights on a coaching career.
- He featured for English Premier League clubs such as Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, and earned 64 caps with Harambee Stars.
Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has announced his retirement from active football.
Wanyama confirmed hanging up his boots on Friday, April 3, 2026, with the 34-year-old stating that he will now fully focus on venturing into coaching.
“Today I announce my retirement from football. Four different countries, six different clubs. A boy from Muthurwa with a big dream, carrying a nation’s pride every time I stepped onto the pitch. To my family, friends, agent, the fans, and the coaching staff who helped me throughout my career, thank you for walking this journey with me. I now take my next step into coaching, where I will be completing my UEFA A license this year,” Wanyama wrote on his social media handles.
Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama officially retires from football
Wanyama is one of the most decorated players Kenya has ever produced, and he bows out having achieved a great deal in his career while also making a significant impact with the national team.
His accomplishments stretch far beyond East Africa. Wanyama left Kenya for Europe in 2007 when he joined Helsingborg in Sweden. Less than a year later, he moved to Belgian side Beerschot AC, where he made 56 appearances before a switch to Glasgow Celtic in July 2011.
He won the league title in his first season in Scotland before boosting his reputation further in 2012/13 with 49 appearances as Celtic clinched the SPL and Scottish Cup double.
Wanyama netted nine goals in that campaign, including the opener against Barcelona in a famous 2–1 win in the Champions League at Parkhead, as they went on to reach the knockout stages. His performances earned him the SPL’s Young Player of the Year award.
He then made a move to the English Premier League, joining Southampton from 2013 to 2016, where he became the first ever East African player to feature in the EPL.
At Southampton, he helped the club finish in their best position of sixth. His displays then attracted Tottenham Hotspur, who scooped him from the Saints.
He joined Spurs in 2016 and spent four years there, where the popular midfielder made 97 appearances for them in all competitions and scored seven times, including the opening goal in their final game at White Hart Lane.
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Also known as the Lion of Muthurwa, Wanyama then moved on for a fresh challenge in the MLS with Montreal.
He won the Canadian Championship in 2021 and made 133 appearances in four years before returning to Scotland for a brief stint at Dunfermline last season.
He retires from professional football after being out for at least two years, and his latest kick of the ball was just this March when he featured among the players on March 28. Wanyama made a brilliant return to action when he played for Southampton legends against Manchester United legends in a charity game.
He took part in the special match commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1976 FA Cup final.
After 19 years of playing, Wanyama has achieved what many could only wish for, and venturing into coaching could bring him even more recognition and help the growth of football in general.
