Former England defender Steven Caulker has taken to social media to share his struggles with unemployment.
Caulker, who made one cap for England in 2012, retired as a footballer last year and has since pursued a career in coaching.
The former Tottenham and QPR man spent eight months as Turkish club Konyaspor Kulubu Dernegi’s assistant manager until his departure in September, but now he is struggling in his search for a new opportunity.
‘Being unemployed is stressful,’ Caulker wrote on social media platform LinkedIn. ‘I’ve been here many times before, I’m used to the rollercoaster of emotions, but it doesn’t make it easier.
‘Applying for jobs for which I have all the qualifications yet am unable to get even an interview hurts, but that does not mean I should panic.’
Caulker, 34, vowed to stay positive through the challenging period, highlighting the importance of routine as he shared a photo of himself out on a sweat-inducing run.
Stephen Caulker has taken to social media to share his struggles with unemployment
The unemployed former England defender admitted it ‘hurts’ not being able to get an interview
‘Walt Disney was rejected over 300 times; rejection is part of most people’s stories. The bit I find difficult is turning down the jobs that do come my way which are not aligned with my goals,’ he continued.
‘Staying calm and composed during these times is important, and adding some kind of structure to my day certainly helps. I’ve just finished my morning run and feeling pretty good after releasing some endorphins. Have a great Sunday!’
As shown in the experience section of Caulker’s LinkedIn page, he was a player-manager for Malaga City Academy in 2024 and also took on the role of assistant manager at Icelandic outfit Stjarnan between July and November 2025.
Alongside his experience in the dugout, Caulker was a founder at Behind the White Lines until October 2025 and is currently a founder at his own wellbeing consultancy.
Caulker officially announced his retirement as a player in December 2025, calling an end to his storied 16-year career.
During his playing days, the centre-half starred for a remarkable 17 different clubs including Spurs, Swansea, Cardiff, Southampton, Liverpool, QPR and Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
The crowning moment of Caulker’s career came in 2012, when he scored on his England debut against Sweden under Roy Hodgson.
Despite the goal-scoring debut, Caulker never represented England again at senior level and instead carved out a second international career with Sierra Leone, chalking up 18 caps until his retirement in 2024.
