Former Tottenham star who scored on England debut switched countries to play at AFCON

Former Tottenham defender Steven Caulker scored on his England debut against Sweden but later switched international allegiance to Sierra Leone, competing in AFCON 2021

Steven Caulker, the England star who netted a goal in his solitary appearance for the Three Lions, later switched his international allegiance to compete in AFCON. Caulker, who turns 34 today (Monday, December 29), made his senior England debut under Roy Hodgson in 2012 during the notorious 4-2 friendly loss to Sweden.

The former Tottenham centre-back converted a Steven Gerrard free-kick from close range before being substituted in the 74th minute, with England leading 2-1 at that point. However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic went on to score three additional goals for Sweden - including a memorable long-range strike past Joe Hart.

This defeat marked Caulker's only outing for England as his career trajectory waned, moving to Cardiff City and spending three years at QPR before an unexpected short-term loan to Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, where he was occasionally utilised as a substitute striker.

Despite representing England at U19 and U21 levels, and featuring for Team GB at the 2012 Olympic Games, Caulker was eligible to change his national allegiance.

Through his grandfather William, Caulker was eligible to represent Sierra Leone. He was approached by former West Ham star Carlton Cole - whose mother hails from the West African nation - on behalf of their football association.

He was also eligible to represent Scotland through his grandmother Jessie, but confirmed he would file an application with FIFA to switch his international allegiance to Sierra Leone, a nation he visits frequently.

In a previous interview with the Athletic, Caulker explained: "It is a country that is close to my heart, and somewhere I've always been made to feel welcome. Visiting my grandfather's village was an incredible, humbling experience.

"The football federation reached out through Carlton [Cole], whose mother is from Sierra Leone, after qualifying for their first Africa Cup of Nations in 25 years and were hoping I could add some experience to their group.

"They're in a growing process and have aspirations to qualify for the World Cup.

"For me, this is an unbelievable opportunity and more than about just playing football. Representing Sierra Leone would be something I can be proud of when I look back over my career. I'll have to earn my place in the team, but it's an exciting prospect and something I can't wait to be a part of."

Caulker received approval to feature in the 2021 AFCON and appeared in all three of Sierra Leone's group fixtures, earning plaudits for his performances in their draws against reigning champions Algeria and Ivory Coast.

Following an impressive debut display and a crucial goal-line clearance in a 0-0 stalemate against Algeria, he then provided a 93rd-minute assist to secure a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast.

Sierra Leone suffered a 1-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea and ended up in third place in their group with two points, which meant they didn't advance to the knockout stage. The Leone Stars were unsuccessful in qualifying for the 2023 or 2025 tournaments.

After stints in Turkey, Caulker is currently playing for Stjarnan, in Iceland's top-division.