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England head coach Thomas Tuchel has voiced his backing for Raheem Sterling, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving offenses last month and currently remains a free agent.
The 31-year-old departed Chelsea by mutual agreement in January and spent the latter portion of last season with Dutch outfit Feyenoord. During his time there, Sterling made eight Eredivisie appearances without finding the net and was not kept on past the summer.
No club has signed him since, and Sterling's troubles have extended well beyond the football pitch.
In May, he crashed his Lamborghini into a metal gate following an incident on the M25 and M3. At the scene, Sterling was found in possession of six nitrous oxide canisters, and bodycam footage released by police in September — after he entered a guilty plea — showed him attempting to move them to the back seat.
He has faced intense scrutiny in the wake of the incident, but a familiar ally has come out publicly in his corner in the form of Tuchel, who urged Todd Boehly to make Sterling a priority signing at Stamford Bridge back in 2022.
Tuchel Backs Sterling to Overcome 'Downward Spiral'
Even Tuchel would acknowledge that Sterling's move from Man City to Chelsea marked the beginning of his decline. The winger, who rose to prominence at Liverpool before joining the Citizens in a $75 million deal in 2014, flourished into a top-level star under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, registering five straight double-digit-goal Premier League campaigns between 2017–18 and 2021–22.
"I have a great deal of sympathy for him, and I feel he has struggled ever since leaving Man City when he was at the very peak of his powers," Tuchel told reporters on Friday.
Sterling netted 13 goals in his final season with the Citizens before completing his move to the Blues in 2022. Although his time working under Tuchel was brief, the Englishman was fairly productive during his opening two seasons in west London, contributing 24 Premier League goal involvements.
Things unraveled after that, and a loan spell at Arsenal did little to revive his fortunes. He had no place in Chelsea's plans under Enzo Maresca, spending much of his time among the Italian's fringe players, before eventually parting ways with the club earlier this year.
At Feyenoord, he was met with ridicule and jeers from his own fanbase. Then came the Lamborghini incident.
"It's difficult to see someone struggle like this, because he was a devoted father and a family man — a genuinely pleasant person to have around," Tuchel added.
The England manager believes Sterling can reverse his "downward spiral" and rebuild his career, but given his performances on the pitch over the past few years — a shadow of the Man City star who shone on the grandest stages for England — the question remains: who will be willing to take a chance on the 31-year-old now?
Is Raheem Sterling's Career Over?
For the typical professional yet to reach their 32nd birthday, few would consider them past their best. Not in the modern era. Players are sustaining longer careers, with Luka Modrić, Cristiano Ronaldo and Thiago Silva — extraordinary exceptions, admittedly — either still competing at the elite level or making headlines well into their 40s.
Some manage to defy the aging process, but those who burned brightest in their youth appear less likely to follow Tom Brady-style trajectories deep into their later years. Sterling was 17 when he made his Premier League bow for Liverpool, and as a teenager, he was a pivotal figure in the side that came agonizingly close to the title in 2013–14.
His finest years came under Guardiola at Man City, and the underwhelming stints at Arsenal and Feyenoord mean Sterling now has over 600 senior club appearances to his name. Crucially, he has managed to stay largely clear of serious injuries — unlike the likes of Michael Owen and Eden Hazard, fellow teenage prodigies whose careers were curtailed or hampered by physical setbacks.
Sterling may believe he still has something to offer, but as he awaits sentencing for dangerous driving and possession of nitrous oxide — a substance he admits he has a "problem" with — the prospect of another opportunity at the highest level seems increasingly remote.