Bolt starts his football career in Australia

The 31-year-old Jamaican will take part in training with the Australian first division club Central Coast Mariners for an indefinite period of time. The club announced this on Wednesday. However, it remains unclear whether Bolt's commitment Down Under will actually result in a professional contract.

“I always say that anything is possible and I don’t set myself any limits. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Bolt. “It is my dream to play football professionally and I know it will take hard work and training to play and make a difference in the A-League.”

The Mariners, whose season begins in October, seem to be just as serious as Bolt. “His training program will be structured so that we can see if he can get to a level that warrants a contract,” said general manager Shaun Mielekamp. He did not give a specific time frame. The process could take three weeks, three months, six months or longer.

The eight-time Olympic champion Bolt caused a stir with a PR-effective training session with the Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in March and practiced for a week with the Norwegian first division club Strömsgodset IF in June. However, Bolt does not yet have a longer commitment like the one planned in New South Wales. According to the club, he even plans to live locally.

Bolt ended his athletics career last year. The Manchester United fan's plan to become a serious professional footballer still seems unrealistic. Still, the Mariners don't see working with Bolt as a "gimmick or campaign," Mielekamp said. Although he is “excited to see what this means for our region,” the most important thing is “to take care of an athlete who wants to become a professional.”

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Bolt starts his football career in Australia

Former sprint superstar Usain Bolt has come a little closer to his dream of a career as a professional footballer.

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