Following a two-month job search on social media, 32-year-old Steven Caulker, a former centre-back for Liverpool, Spurs, and England, found a new club in Turkey. Caulker had been out of football since leaving Spanish FIFTH division side Malaga City in May; after finding no takers, he advertised himself as a free agent on the website LinkedIn, and Turkish second tier outfit Ankara Keciorengucu made their move. The terms of the contract have not been disclosed, but the club released a statement on X stating simply: “Ankara Keciorengucu has reached an agreement with Steven Caulker.”
We are happy to have Steven join our team and wish him many success wearing our purple-white uniform.
In July 2017, Rodgers extended an offer to the defender to join the champions, but Caulker, who had collaborated with the Irishman while on loan at Swansea City, turned down the chance to play for Queens Park Rangers.
Even though the player had acknowledged to having a gambling and alcohol addiction that had put a stop to his career in the English premier league following stints at the White Hart Lane club and the Merseyside giants, the Hoops manager had made his move.
As reported by CQN at the time, the previously highly-regarded pivot acknowledged that he regretted abandoning Rodgers and stated: “It came close.”
“I declined an opportunity to attend Celtic.” I was just starting to recuperate, and I thought London had the best support system.
“A few months later, I was no longer a member of the QPR squad, and we mutually ended my contract.
“At that point, naturally, I believed that I ought to have attended Celtic.”
Amazingly, Caulker did go to Scotland following his departure from the Loftus Road team when, in February 2018, he signed an 18-month contract with Dundee.
Six months after his arrival on Tayside, Caulker triggered a release clause in his contract and moved to Turkish side Alanyaspor. He also played in the country for Fenerbahce, Gaziantep and Fatih Karagumruk.
He last played in the UK for Wigan when they were in the Championship. The defender signed in January last year, but he was heading for the exit before the end of the season after the hard-up club had failed to pay their players on time on four occasions.
Caulker accused the owners of lying and “absolutely scandalous” behaviour.
He moved to Málaga City as player-manager on Christmas Eve 2023 and left five months later.
Now he’s back in Turkey as his trek through football continues to take unexpected turns.
Caulker only played once for England and scored in a 4-2 friendly defeat to Sweden in 2012.
He now represents Sierra Leone at international level and has played 30 times for his adopted nation. He was able to make the switch because his only appearance for the country of his birth had been a non-competitive match.
