From the glamorous boxes of the Premier League to isolated hotel rooms in restrictive regimes, the life of a footballer's partner is often portrayed as one of untold luxury. Yet behind the designer handbags and social media smiles lies a stark reality of profound sacrifice, instability, and loneliness.
The Sudden Uprooting: From Manchester to the Middle East
Taylor Ward's world was turned upside down with a single phone call from her husband, Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez. He informed her he was leaving for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, a country where women's freedoms are heavily restricted. Ward was left in tears, with Mahrez's blunt explanation being: 'It's part of the game, innit.'
In the Amazon Prime documentary 'Married to the Game', Ward's struggle is laid bare. She speaks of the challenge of house-hunting and her shock upon learning the hotel pool was 'men only', despite her dislike for swimming. 'I had a bit of a meltdown... it's just the reality check, you're not moving to Spain,' she admitted. The British model and social media influencer, who has three million Instagram followers, found herself starting from scratch, far from her close-knit circle of school friends.
'At Man City we had a box... I'd bring my friends. I better get used to this because I have no mates,' she said, watching matches alone in Saudi Arabia. The couple's daughter, Mila, was just 18 months old during the move, adding another layer of complexity to the sudden relocation.
Long-Distance Love and Public Betrayals
The strain is not unique to moves to the Gulf. Former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock is married to striker Andre Gray. In the past four years, he has played in Greece, Saudi Arabia, Plymouth, and now Turkey. In a good month, they see each other only three times, as Pinnock remains in the UK to focus on her music career and their twin daughters.
Their relationship has survived a very public 'betrayal' early on, which left Pinnock 'heartbroken'. On Paloma Faith's podcast, she spoke of 'not being totally honest and losing trust'. Gray admitted to being 'selfish' and sought therapy, which was enough for Pinnock to forgive him and work on their marriage.
Another Little Mix member, Perrie Edwards, has never lived with her long-term partner, former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, despite them having a two-year-old son, Axel. Their eight-year relationship has been sustained by constant travel. 'When he was playing for Liverpool... it was so easy to do the back and forth but Turkey is a little bit further,' Edwards explained, juggling her solo career with motherhood.
When the Glamour Fades: Isolation and Addiction
For some, the isolation can lead to a dangerous downward spiral. Former England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey revealed the devastating impact of his 18-month solo move to Turkey. Leaving his wife, former S Club Juniors star Daisy Evans, and their three children in the UK, he lived in the cloistered coastal town of Rize.
'I ended up becoming addicted to sleeping tablets because I'd just got home from training and to pass time,' Shelvey confessed on the Under The Cosh podcast. He described taking multiple pills to sleep through the loneliness, a habit that 'destroyed' his relationship with his kids. 'I was never present,' he said, crediting his wife for helping him recover.
Even when families do relocate together, compromises are extreme. When Jordan Henderson moved to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, his family lived over the border in the more liberal Bahrain. An English player in the region told the Daily Mail's Mike Keegan that his partner was hissed at in a mall for wearing shorts and did not stay long.
The ultimate symbol of nomadic sacrifice might be Kim Holloway, wife of veteran manager Ian Holloway. The couple have moved house at least 48 times throughout his career in football.
The promise of a life filled with riches and status for footballers' wives and girlfriends remains, but it is indisputably a double-edged sword. For every glittering event, there is a lonely hotel room; for every Instagram post, a private heartache. Theirs is a world defined by compromise, where thick skin is a far more vital asset than pampered skin, and where 'part of the game' can mean leaving your whole life behind.
