Former PL and Mariners defender Kalifa Cisse announces shock retirement

Defender Kalifa Cisse’s short and inglorious playing career at the Mariners is over – but the 35-year-old isn’t leaving the club.

Kalifa Cisse crunches Bruno Fornaroli. Picture: Getty

Defender Kalifa Cisse’s short and inglorious playing career at the Mariners is over – but the 35-year-old isn’t leaving the club.

The former Reading centreback, sent off twice this season after joining seven months ago, has told teammates he is retiring with immediate effect to take up a coaching role with the Mariners’ academy.

Brought in to add leadership to the Central Coast defence by incoming coach Mike Mulvey, Cisse has struggled to impose himself on the A-League and hasn’t played since being sent off against Sydney FC on January 4.

Kalifa Cisse crunches Bruno Fornaroli. Picture: Getty

But Cisse is highly regarded by club officials for his manner in the dressing room, and has said he will take on club ambassadorial duties as well as junior coaching, with his family having settled well on the Central Coast.

His exit opens up both a visa spot and space in the salary cap, adding to the money freed up by Ross McCormack’s early return to Aston Villa.

It’s the second departure of a defender from the Mariners within 24 hours, after Antony Golec’s exit to join Wellington, but it’s believe the club will bring in two new signings at least before the transfer window closes at the end of Thursday.

Kalifa Cisse is sent off against Sydney FC. Picture: AAP

Academy graduate Josh Nisbet has also agreed professional terms after making his first team debut, one of the few bright spots in a season featuring just one win and which has the Mariners marooned at the bottom of the table on just six points from 16 games.

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