Ex-West Brom and Stoke City star Saido Berahino lands interesting new job | OneFootball

Saido Berahino, formerly of Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, has landed a new role

Saido Berahino, formerly of West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City, has landed a new role following his unique playing career.

The 32-year-old most recently played for Slovenian second-tier club MND Tabor Sezana, scoring three goals in seven appearances during the 2024/25 season.

His stints in the English game saw him play as a striker for Northampton Town, Brentford, Peterborough United, and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as West Brom and Stoke.

Berahino showed plenty of promise as a youngster, notching 20 goals and five assists across all competitions for the Baggies in the 2014/15 season, but he never fulfilled his potential.

Ex-West Brom and Stoke City ace Saido Berahino lands international coaching role

Berahino left Stoke as a free agent in the summer of 2019, when he joined Belgian outfit Zulte Waregem, who he represented for two years barring a loan spell with Sporting Charleroi.

He went on to sign for Wednesday in 2021, and notched nine goals and four assists in 36 appearances across all competitions for the Owls.

After leaving Hillsborough Stadium a year later, Berahino plied his trade for Cypriot outfit AEL Limassol and, finally, MND Tabor Sezana.

The 32-year-old has now joined the Burundi international team's coaching setup.

He has made 10 senior appearances for Burundi, scoring two goals in the process, having previously represented England at youth international level.

Posting on Instagram on Sunday, the former striker wrote: "It is a profound honour to take on the role of coaching for our national team. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Burundi football federation and (head coach) Sangwa Patrick for this incredible opportunity and the trust they have placed in me. Excited for this new chapter."

Patrick's side face Equatorial Guinea in an international friendly this Thursday, and are searching for their first win since last June.

Saido Berahino may always wonder 'what could have been' following West Brom success

Berahino commands respect as a former Premier League striker, who has also played in other top-flight divisions across Europe and the Championship.

However, having shown plenty of potential at West Brom, the eventual Stoke man saw his career fade away into significantly less prominence.

When Berahino scored 20 goals and registered five assists in the 2014/15 campaign for the Baggies, it appeared as though he would have a long Premier League career, and may have gone on to play for the England senior team.

However, he instead went on to fail to score for Stoke in either the 2016/17 or 2017/18 seasons, which was a contributing factor in their relegation from the top flight.

Berahino then scored just three goals in the 2018/19 Championship campaign for the Potters, prompting them to part company with the striker.

He enjoyed a respectable first season with Zulte Waregem, scoring six goals and producing two assists in just 18 Belgian top-flight appearances, but he subsequently fell out of favour as he was loaned to Sporting Charleroi.

Berahino showed some promise in the 2021/22 season, as his return of eight goals and four assists in the 2021/22 season helped Sheffield Wednesday finish in the League One play-offs.

However, his poor stints with Stoke and AEL Limassol highlighted the fact that the striker never fulfilled the potential his West Brom days showed he had.