Why Victor Wanyama is ‘confused’ about retiring

There is an old saying that even the finest dancer knows the best time to leave the stage. Whether this cliche has ever found its way to Victor Mugubi Wanyama is, at this point, an open question.

Wanyama, Kenya’s most decorated football captain, the first ever East African to play in the prestigious English Premier League, has not kicked a ball in competitive football for nearly two years, nor has he found a new club.

Yet, Wanyama insists he has not officially walked away from the professional game, even as he admits that he cannot tell with certainty whether his last match is already behind him.

On March 28, Wanyama made a brilliant return to action when he featured for Southampton legends against Manchester United legends in a charity game.

Wanyama, who played for Southampton from 2013 to 2016, participated in the special match commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1976 FA Cup final. A few fans were quick to take note of his ‘new-found’ physique, one not familiar to many from his competitive playing days.

At 34 years of age, time seems not to be on Wanyama’s side, with the only clarity being that it’s perhaps time for him to officially announce his retirement, having struggled to find a new club since parting ways with Canada’s Montreal FC.

Since parting ways with CF Montréal in November 2024 after five seasons in the Major League Soccer, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton FC midfielder has remained a free agent, as he continues to look for new clubs, but the phone, it seems, has not rung with the urgency one might expect for a man of his pedigree.

His recent appearance on a podcast hosted by Chacha Moroga offered a glimpse into that uncertainty.

Wanyama was asked if he had seen the last of his days as a professional footballer, a question that appeared to have caught him off guard.

“At the moment, I’m not entirely sure whether I will keep playing or retire. I’m a bit confused, but I’ll be making an announcement very soon,” he said.

If all had gone well last year, Wanyama would have returned to Scotland in March 2025. In 2021, Scotland offered him a pathway to the English Premier League when he signed with Celtic, and went on to become one of the club’s cult heroes. He won the league title in each of his two seasons at Celtic, with one of his best performances coming in a 2-1 victory over giants Barcelona in their 2012 Uefa Champions League group stage win at home.  Wanyama headed in the opening goal in the match played in November 2012.

Rescue mission 

His return to Scotland to join Dunfermline Athletic was an unlikely rescue mission that came as a surprise to many, as the club was fighting relegation in the Scottish Championship, the country’s second-tier competition.

Eight points from the last seven games were enough to see off the threat of relegation, although Wanyama's influence in the team was limited by a red card picked up on his debut against Ayr United Football Club. He ended up leaving the club still battling to survive the relegation drop.

“I had plans of staying with Dunfermline, but unfortunately, we couldn’t agree on terms for my stay. I am now looking for a new club,” Wanyama said when he appeared on NTV’s Sports Show SportOn! in August 2025.

Whatever comes next, as Wanyama is yet to make up his mind on whether to announce his retirement after 19 years of playing professional football, he is already thinking about a coaching career, having already taken up coaching courses.