The saying “Behind every successful man is a strong woman” may seem like a cliché. But when applied to the world of men's football, it is more than appropriate. Over the years, the wives and girlfriends of the England team have often had culture-shaping careers, such as Victoria Beckham and her fashion empire, Peter Crouch's wife Abbey Clancy and her successful career as a presenter, or Coleen Rooney and her super detective investigation skills. .
With Euro 2024 already underway, there is a generation of women behind the men in Gareth Southgate's 26-man England squad, who have successful careers and goals of their own. Find out everything you need to know about them below.
Alison Southgate, wife of Gareth Southgate
Southgate has said his “secret weapon” is his wife Alison, one of the main reasons why the England manager actively encourages his players to prioritize quality time with their families.
Alison, 57, met Southgate when he was a trainee at Crystal Palace when they were both in their twenties.
Alison was working in a clothing boutique in south London when she met the football coach, but has since kept all aspects of her life out of the spotlight and remains focused on supporting him and his family.
In his memoirs published in 2002, Southgate wrote: “On Saturday night our children don't care too much about whether Dad's team has won or lost. Alison doesn't care too much about football either, and that's just the way I like it.
“Regardless of the result, it is up to me to ensure that no one ruins the evening because of things that happened on a football field.”
The couple married in 1997 and a few years later welcomed daughter Mia, 24, and later son Flynn, 20.
Dani Dyer, partner of Jarrod Bowen
Dyer, 27, daughter of British actor Danny Dyer, is an actor and reality TV star. In 2018, she appeared in Survival of the fittestand later that year he won the fourth series of love island with Jack Fincham.
The following year, Dyer and Fincham starred in the reality spin-off. Jack and Dani: life after Love Island.
She and her father have worked together on several projects: they co-hosted the MTV series True love or true liesin addition to hosting the podcast Classified with dyers.
Dyer has appeared as a guest presenter on primetime television programmes, such as the BBC programme. The only show, and launched its range of Vaseline lip products.
He made a guest appearance on the BBC soap opera. EastEnders in 2021, as a taxi driver named Jeanette, acting alongside her father, who plays regular Mick Carter.
She is also the author of a memoir and a self-help guide. What Would Dani Do?: My guide to living your best life, detailing everything from life in the Dyer house to how she blow-drys her eyelashes, as well as her tips on how to be more confident.
Dyer and Bowen, who began dating in late 2021, have twin daughters named Summer and Star. The family also includes Dyer's son Santi, whom she had with ex-boyfriend Sammy Kimmence.
Laura Celia Valk, Jude Bellingham's girlfriend
Laura Celia Valk, Dutch, is an influencer, model and entrepreneur.
He opened his own social media consulting agency, Bobby Rose Agency, after studying creative business at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. His company focuses on helping companies grow by improving their social media output.
Laura, who has over 370,000 followers on Instagram, has modeled for fast fashion brand PrettyLittleThing and often travels the world for work. She is represented by Manchester-based modeling agency The Four Models.
She is reportedly in a relatively new relationship with Bellingham, who flew her to Madrid from where she lives in Amsterdam so they could see each other.
Iris Law, Trent Alexander-Arnold's rumored girlfriend
Model and actress Iris Law, 23, is following in the footsteps of her famous parents Sadie Frost (The Krays, Bram Stoker's Dracula) and Jude Law (alfie, The talented Mr. Ripley).
She got her first job at age 16 and signed with the international agency IMG Models. She has been immersed in the world of fashion since her mother worked as a fashion designer and supermodel Kate Moss is her godmother.
She has appeared in campaigns for luxury fashion brands such as Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney and Versace and became a Dior Beauty ambassador in 2021.
While it is not confirmed whether Law and Alexander-Arnold are officially dating, rumors surfaced when they starred together in a Guess Jeans campaign, with the footballer holding the model on his back in a piggyback pose.
Lauren Fryer, Declan Rice's partner
Lauren Fryer and Arsenal midfielder Rice have been together for eight years after meeting at the school where they grew up in Kingston upon Thames.
The couple welcomed their first child together, a son named Jude, in August 2022, after keeping their pregnancy a secret from the public.
Fryer has been seen attending football matches carrying her baby in a papoose and regularly supports her partner on the field.
Fryer has not publicly shared her ambitions or career goals and maintains a relatively private presence on social media, especially after facing an avalanche of abuse from Chelsea fans who chanted a song about her, which contained three offensive slurs, during a game in April. .
Katie Goodland, wife of Harry Kane
Katie Goodland, 31, is a fitness instructor with a degree in sports science and has dated England striker Kane since they met at school.
Ahead of Euro 2024, she designed a jewelry collection in collaboration with accessories atelier Loquet London, in aid of the Harry Kane Foundation, an organization that aims to help normalize conversations about mental health.
speaking to DonKane said of Katie: “We went to school together, so she's seen my entire career. Of course, it seems a little crazy to her. I think she's even been in the papers a couple of times walking the dogs.
Kane proposed to Katie while they were on holiday in the Bahamas in July 2017, and the footballer got down on one knee on the beach. They married two years later in 2019, and Kane called Katie her “best friend” in a social media post.
The couple have four children: Ivy, seven, Vivienne, five, Louis, three and Henry, 10 months.
Tolami Benson, Bukayo Saka's girlfriend
Tolamni Benson, 23, is Saka's long-term teammate and is regularly seen wearing an Arsenal shirt at matches.
While the couple have not publicly confirmed their relationship, Benson is often seen at matches and has shared photos of herself at the Emirates Stadium alongside partners Arsenal stars Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Ben White.
On the rare occasions when he posts photos with Saka on social media, his face is not seen in the image; On one occasion, her face was completely covered by a mask.
Megan Pickford, wife of Jordan Pickford
Megan Pickford, wife of goalkeeper Jordan, graduated from the University of Sunderland in 2021.
The couple met at school and have reportedly been together since they were 14 years old.
They have a seven-month-old daughter, Ostara, and a four-month-old son, Arlo, whom they welcomed in 2019.
In June 2022 they married in a beach ceremony in the Maldives, which had been delayed two years due to the pandemic.
Megan has often moved around the country with Pickford as he moved clubs throughout his career, and most recently moved to Liverpool when he was signed by Everton.
Aine May Kennedy, Conor Gallager's girlfriend
Aine May Kennedy, 26, is a model and professional dancer from Cork in the south of Ireland.
He has been by Gallagher's side for the past four years, during which time they have moved house seven times.
Kennedy told her Instagram followers that she was in a “strange stage of life not knowing what she wanted to do career-wise” during lockdown, so she decided to take on the project of renovating her home and leading the interior design .
In July 2023, she revealed the results of the transformed home, which features a hallway with a skylight and an extensive spiral staircase, complete with a bold chandelier.
Explaining why she took on the project herself, Aime said: “Apologies for all the house stories. It's been one of those weeks where I screamed 'I made it' into an empty house and cried from pure and utter happiness.
“I started this project three years ago when Conor and I received a quote from an interior designer and I hung up the phone.
“But I am beyond proud of myself for what I have created. “I think it's very important that we praise ourselves when we fail or succeed because we are all here doing the best we can.”
Celebrating her anniversary in May, she wrote on Instagram: “One more year. My best friend.”
“There is absolutely no one else I can spend every day with laughing, joking and arguing about cleaning (not to mention always forgetting to take out the bins).”
“We are each other's best friends and have been from the beginning. Fred and I love you CG. Happy Anniversary.”
