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The Team GB side that faced Uruguay at London 2012. (Image: Getty)
It should have been a unique opportunity for Britain’s best young footballers to win a precious Olympic gold medal, but instead, it ended with a tame quarter-final exit to South Korea. The London 2012 Team GB football team never properly caught the imagination of the public, with manager Stuart Pearce seemingly missing an opportunity to ignite interest and publicity by refusing to select an available David Beckham.
The hosts beat UAE and Uruguay in their group, and a draw against Senegal set up a clash with the Koreans in Cardiff. But after a drab contest had finished goalless after extra time, a certain Daniel Sturridge crashed a spot kick against the bar as Team GB went out on penalties.
Under tournament rules, only players under-23 were eligible, with three exceptions. And Express Sport looks at where each of the squad members that seemingly represented the future of British football are now…..
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Tipped as a future England No.1, Butland never quite matched up to expectations despite winning nine caps. He did however, cement a reputation for being a reliable Premier League keeper during a seven-year stint at Stoke, and at 31, is now first choice at Rangers in Scotland.
Jason Steele
Steele is about to head into his seventh season as a Premier League goalkeeper - but only in the last two has he enjoyed proper game time. At Middlesbrough when he was picked by Team GB, moves to Blackburn and Sunderland followed before he joined Brighton in 2018.
His first four years with the Seagulls though, yielded just four club appearances. But Roberto de Zerbi’s two-year stint saw him play 43 times, as the Italian rotated the 33-year-old and Bart Verbruggen.
The then Swansea left-back would go on to also represent Aston Villa and Middlesbrough before retiring in 2022. But his standout career moment came in Euro 2016, scoring his only international goal as Wales beat Russia en route to the semi-finals.
He’s now tackling one of the more intriguing management combinations. The 35-year-old is combining his role as Wales Under-21 assistant with managing UAE First Division side Gulf United FC.
Ryan Bertrand
Bertrand retired from football in 2023 after tasting Premier League relegation with Leicester, but only after some unforgettable experiences on and off the field. The defender won 19 England caps and lifted the Champions League, Europa League, and FA Cup with Chelsea before spending eight years at Southampton.
Ryan Bertrand was a Champions League winner a year after London 2012. (Image: Getty)
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Despite since being out of work, the 34-year-old is sitting pretty financially having co-founded Fintech brokerage firm called Silicon Markets back in 2015. The company was eventually sold to a Malaysian firm, but only after Betrand and co had made a success of it.
Steven Caulker
A centre back at Tottenham when the games came around, the highly rated Caulker never truly fulfilled his potential as he became something of a journeyman. In fact, his time in the Premier League was best summarised by signing for Liverpool on loan, only to be deployed as an emergency late striker by Jurgen Klopp.
But at 32, he’s still going having just signed a one-year deal with Turkish team Keciorengucu. And he’s playing internationally too, winning a sole England cap in a friendly against Sweden in 2012 before switching his allegiance a decade later, now representing Sierra Leone.
Craig Bellamy is now in charge of Wales. (Image: Getty)
Craig Dawson
Another defender who’s had his share of clubs, Dawson joined Wolves from West Ham two seasons ago and has since become a vital squad player. The 34-year-old played 25 times in the Premier League last season, and still has a year to run on his contract.
James Tomkins
Olympic selection never materialised into England caps for James Tomkins, but the 35-year-old is still technically a Premier League performer. Nine years at West Ham has been followed by eight season with Palace, although he made just five club appearance in the 2024/25 campaign.
Micah Richards
One of Pearce’s overage picks, Richards went to the Olympics a Premier League champion seemingly with a big future ahead of him. But injury problems would plague his potential before his career petered out at Aston Villa, eventually retiring in 2019.
He remains relevant though, a popular pundit with Sky Sports. And his double act with Roy Keane has produced some amusing television moments for viewers.
Danny Rose
Whatever the former England left back is doing now, it doesn’t involve international football. Frozen out at Tottenham by Jose Mourinho, Rose joined Watford in 2021 in a bid to revive his career.
However, his return to Vicarage Road lasted just 12 months, and only yielded nine appearances. His contract was terminated prematurely and despite only being 34, he’s yet to find a new club since.
Joe Allen joined Liverpool straight after the Olympics. (Image: Getty)
Tom Cleverley
A Premier League winner with Manchester United, injury ended Cleverley’s time as a player at Watford last year. However, the ex-midfielder now now found himself in the most notorious hot seat in football.
Having immediately gone into coaching with the club, the 34-year-old has been named manager at Vicarage Road following the sacking of Valerien Ismael. Given it’s Watford, expect him to be out of work by the time he’s 35.
Joe Allen
Joe Allen has gone full circle since the Olympics. Than a combative Swansea midfielder, he duly joined Liverpool after the Olympics before a stint at Stoke.
Having also feature in both the 2016 Euros and 2022 World Cup with Wales, the 34-year old is back as a combative midfielder with Swansea. The ‘Welsh Xavi’ was out of contract this summer, but was handed a new one-year deal.
Ryan Giggs
To say Ryan Giggs is simply retired probably glosses over some important facts. Pearce’s second overage pick became manager of Wales in 2018, and briefly enjoyed hero status in his homeland after leading the country to Euro 2020 qualification.
It was eventual penalty heartbreak for Daniel Sturridge in London. (Image: Getty)
Jack Cork
After seven years at Burnley, the one-cap international left the club this summer following their relegation from the Premier League. At 35, the midfielder is now back on the market as a free agent, and is reportedly not ready to retire.
Aaron Ramsey
After winning three FA Cups with Arsenal and a Serie A title with Juventus, Aaron Ramsey is still an active player for club and country. When he’s fit that is.
The 33-year-old is back at Cardiff but injury problems restricted him to just 13 appearances in the Championship last season. He remains available for Wales too, but missed the play-off defeat to Poland that cost the Dragons a spot at Euro 2024.
Scott Sinclair
Moved to Manchester City after the Olympics, and was probably left wishing he hadn’t. To be fair to the winger, he did resurrect his career at Celtic before returning to England and is now back where it all began at Bristol Rovers.
At 35, Sinclair remains a key player for the Gas, scoring four times last season. And his form has been rewarded with a new one-year deal.
Daniel Sturridge
Like Micah Richards, injury prevented Daniel Sturridge from truly fulfilling his youthful promise. But he still carved out a career that saw him score 112 goals in 328 club games, and strike eight times for England, before his time as a player ended at Perth Glory two years ago.
Marvin Sordell was at Bolton when called up by Stuart Pearce. (Image: Getty)
And also like Richards, the 34-year-old is now working as a pundit for various broadcasters. His analysis however, has had mixed reviews from viewers.
Craig Bellamy
Joined Richards and Giggs as the third wildcard player, and has now also joined Giggs on the list of players to manage Wales. After working under Vincent Kompany at Burnley, the 45-year-old was confirmed as Robert Page’s successor this month, and given his history of volatile behaviour the apppoitment has raised an eyebrow or too.
Marvin Sordell
Fans could be forgiven for not being instantly able to recall the career of Marvin Sordell. At Bolton when selected, he also played for England under-21s but then moved to a string of clubs before retiring at just 29 five years ago, citing mental health struggles.
