Where are they now? The Team GB Olympics squad from London 2012
Throughout the history of the Olympics, only twice has men’s football not been a feature of the games – the last of which was in Los Angeles way back in 1932.
In the years since the inaugural Olympic games in Athens in 1896, only three nations have won gold on more than three occasions; they are the United States of America on four, and Hungary and Great Britain on three apiece.
If you’re struggling to remember seeing a Team GB football side with gold medals around their necks, you’d be forgiven, as the last time they won it was back in 1912, following on from their triumphs in 1908 and 1900.
After winning the competition in 1912, Team GB competed in six further Olympics up until 1964, but after failing to qualify for the subsequent three games, the team was disbanded; a decision that looked final over the ensuing decades.
That was until the London 2012 Olympic games arrived and, after a 48-year absence, Team GB entered a football team packed full of the best up-and-coming talents in the British game, managed by former England defender Stuart Pearce.
Given the quality within their ranks and the fact they were effectively playing at home, Team GB were tipped as one of the favourites to win the competition outright, but despite not losing once in 90 minutes, they exited at the quarter-final stage.
There was no Team GB football side at Rio 2016 and it looks unlikely there will be another for some time including this summer in Tokyo, so what happened to the last players to represent the four nations eight years ago?
Jack Butland
Nationality: English
Age: 28
International apps (including Team GB): 14
Current club: Crystal Palace
The only teenager in Great Britain’s squad, Butland took a while to establish himself at Stoke City before enjoying an exceptional 2015/16 season. Persistent ankle injuries would subsequently stunt his progress, though, between 2013 and 2020, he did make more than 150 appearances for Stoke City, and another 51 during various loan spells. In 2020, Butland signed with Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee, and has made just two appearances for the club.
Neil Taylor
Nationality: Welsh
Age: 32
International apps: 48
Current club: Middlesbrough
Taylor established himself as a first-choice start for Wales after competing for Team GB, and performed for years in the Premier League with Swansea prior to dropping into the Championship to join Aston Villa in January 2017. The left-back ultimately featured 103 times for the Villans, though he fell down the pecking order toward the end of his tenure. On 18 November 2021, Taylor joined Middlesbrough in the Championship on a short-term contract until the middle of January. He’s made one appearance for the club thus far.
Ryan Bertrand
Nationality: English
Age: 32
International apps: 23
Current club: Leicester City
As one of the most consistent left-backs in the Premier League during his peak years with Southampton, Bertrand was named in the 2014/15 PFA Team of the Year, and included in England‘s Euro 2016 squad, where he played once. A Champions League winner with Chelsea, Bertrand remained with the Saints until 2021, helping them to a League Cup final in 2016/17. In July 2021, On 15 July 2021, Bertrand joined Leicester City on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract.
Danny Rose
Nationality: English
Age: 31
International apps: 33
Current club: Watford
Rose was named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2015/16 and 2016/17, while his form led to him starting three of England‘s four games at Euro 2016. Rose sustained a knee ligament injury in January 2017 and underwent surgery over the summer. His return to action saw him struggle to re-establish himself in the Spurs XI. He completed a loan move to Newcastle United in 2020, and was not allocated a squad number by Tottenham for the 2020/21 season In the summer of 2021, Rose joined Watford on a free transfer, and signed a two-year contract.
Steven Caulker
Nationality: English
Age: 29
International apps: 6
Current club: Gaziantep (on loan from Fenerbahçe)
Once regarded as one of Tottenham and England‘s finest defensive talents, Caulker’s reputation suffered following failed loan spells at Southampton and Liverpool, for whom he was Jurgen Klopp‘s first signing.
And having only made two starts for Championship club QPR, Caulker left by mutual consent, before signing with Scottish Premiership side Dundee. After the Scottish side rejected a £2m offer for the defender from Rosenborg Caulker left the club by triggering a clause in his contract. He initially joined Turkish Super Lig side Alanyaspor, before moving on to Fenerbahçe, who’ve since loaned him out to Gaziantep, also of the Turkish Super Lig.
Craig Dawson
Nationality: English
Age: 31
International apps: 3
Current club: West Ham United
Yet to receive a call-up for the senior England squad despite proving to be a safe pair of hands at club level for several years. Although naturally a central defender, Dawson can also play as a full-back and contributes with the odd goal here and there. He was surprisingly kept on by the Baggies after their relegation to the Championship. He later joined Watford, with whom he scored twice in 31 appearances in all competitions. In October 2020, the Hornets sent him out on loan to West Ham United. After scoring four times in 24 appearances for the Hammers, Dawson made his West Ham move permanent in the summer of 2021.
Tom Cleverley
Nationality: English
Age: 32
International apps: 18
Current club: Watford
Injuries and a loss of form culminated in Cleverley’s departure from boyhood club Manchester United, and he moved to Everton via a loan spell at Aston Villa. He signed for Watford on a permanent basis in 2017 after failing to impress then manager Ronald Koeman at the Toffees. He has made 118 appearances in all competitions for the Hornets.
Joe Allen
Nationality: Welsh
Age: 31
International apps: 74
Current club: Stoke City
Named in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament for Euro 2016 after delivering a series of fine displays during Wales‘ run to the last four. Allen enjoyed an excellent season in 2016/17 after switching Liverpool for Stoke City. He was one of the Potters’ more consistent players – despite suffering the ignominy of relegation – missing only two league matches, and starting 36 times. He’s since made another 153 league appearances for Stoke in the Premier League and the Championship.
Daniel Sturridge
Nationality: English
Age: 32
International apps: 31
Current club: Perth Glory
The Liverpool striker scored twice at London 2012, including a trademark chip.
Sturridge’s record in his career since then has been mightily impressive. However, chronic injury problems have prevented him from maximising his potential for club and country.
Klopp took charge of the Reds in 2015 and the striker found it difficult to force his way into Liverpool’s starting XI on a consistent basis. In search of more playing time ahead of the approaching 2018 World Cup, Sturridge opted for a loan spell to West Brom, but after just three appearances he suffered a hamstring injury.
He left Merseyside permanently in the summer of 2019 for Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, but that partnership ended several months later after he received a four-month worldwide ban for breaching betting rules. Sturridge last played in Turkey in 2020, and headed down under, to Perth Glory of Australia’s A-League, in October 2021. He’s made a single appearance for the side.
Craig Bellamy
Nationality: Welsh
Age: 42
International apps: 83
Current club: Retired
Wales‘ third-most capped player in history, Bellamy hung up his boots in 2014 after suffering relegation from the Premier League with Cardiff City. These days, Bellamy can be seen managing Anderlecht’s Under-21 team after following ex-Man City teammate Vincent Kompany to the Belgian club. He also runs a charitable foundation in Sierra Leone.
Ryan Giggs
Nationality: Welsh
Age: 48
International apps: 68
Current club: Retired
Manchester United’s all-time appearance record-holder on 963 games, Giggs finally retired from the game in 2014. He briefly managed the Red Devils’ first-team and was then assistant manager before leaving shortly after Jose Mourinho’s appointment. Giggs has since been appointed the national team manager Wales, whom he represented on no fewer than 64 occasions between 1991 and 2007.
James Tomkins
Nationality: English
Age: 32
International apps: 2
Current club: Crystal Palace
Another who’s yet to represent his country at senior level, Tomkins has nevertheless been a reliable Premier League performer for a number of seasons initially with West Ham and now at Crystal Palace.
Jack Cork
Nationality: English
Age: 32
International apps: 5
Current club: Burnley
Cork excelled on a consistent basis for Swansea City in the Premier League, after joining from Southampton in 2015, as he mustered 80 league matches for the Swans. He has since been signed by Sean Dyche for Burnley, and become an integral part of the Clarets midfield. Cork’s fine form earned him a first senior call-up to the national side in November 2017, and he made his England debut as an 86th-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw against Germany.
Micah Richards
Nationality: English
Age: 33
International apps: 18
Current club: Retired
Surprisingly included as one of three overage players at the 2012 Olympics (at the expense of David Beckham, no less), Richards’ career didn’t take off as expected, and in July 2019 announced his retirement after last playing for Aston Villa, these days he can be seen on TV in his role as a pundit.
Aaron Ramsey
Nationality: Welsh
Age: 30
International apps: 76
Current club: Juventus
Ramsey showed his top form for Wales at Euro 2016 by registering four assists and scoring once to earn a well-deserved place in the competition’s Team of the Tournament. He left Arsenal for Italian giants Juventus in 2019, following a decade-long association with the Gunners. He’s made 70 appearances across all competitions for Juventus, scoring six goals.
Scott Sinclair
Nationality: English
Age: 32
International apps: 4
Current club: Preston North End
A transfer to Manchester City shortly after the Olympics proved to be a disastrous career move but Sinclair steadily rebuilt his career at Celtic under Brendan Rodgers, scoring 39 league goals in 95 appearances for the Bhoys, before joining Championship outfit Preston North End in 2020.
Marvin Sordell
Nationality: English
Age: 30
International apps: 3
Current club: Retired
Failed to settle at Bolton Wanderers after joining in a £3m move from Watford in 2012, Sordell has played for a variety of clubs in recent years, but is now retired having last turned out for Burton Albion of League One. Sordell is now a prominent mental health campaigner and runs a production company.
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Jason Steele
Nationality: English
Age: 31
International apps: 1
Current club: Brighton & Hove Albion
Steele made just shy of 150 appearances for Middlesbrough, but after slipping down the pecking order he moved to Blackburn Rovers on a permanent basis in 2015 to secure regular first-team football. Sunderland signed him in the summer of 2017, though he struggled for the Black Cats as they suffered back-to-back relegations. He joined Brighton in 2018 and is yet to make a league appearance for the club.
Team GB’s London 2012 Olympics football squad | In full
- Jack Butland
- Jason Steele
- Neil Taylor
- Ryan Bertrand
- Steven Caulker
- Craig Dawson
- James Tomkins
- Micah Richards
- Danny Rose
- Tom Cleverley
- Joe Allen
- Ryan Giggs (captain)
- Jack Cork
- Aaron Ramsey
- Scott Sinclair
- Daniel Sturridge
- Craig Bellamy
- Marvin Sordell
