Euro 2016: Shakira, Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy lead international wives and girlfriends pack


June 8, 2016
© Photo: Rex

Coleen Rooney and Wayne Rooney:

One of the most famous of footballers' wives, 30-year-old Coleen started dating her now husband Wayne, who captains England and Manchester United, when both were 12. Now mother to their three sons – Klay, six, Kai, three, and Kit, four months – fashion fan Coleen has made her own successful career, with clothing ranges for online store Littlewoods.

Shortly to celebrate her and Wayne's eighth wedding anniversary, she recently revealed the secret to their happiness: "It's just about being as strong individually as we are together."

© Photo: Getty Images

Rebekah Vardy and Jamie Vardy:

Rebekah, 34, will be making her debut as an England footballer's wife at Euro 2016 after marrying Leicester City striker Jamie, 29, at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire last month. The lavish wedding, which was covered exclusively in HELLO!, put the seal on their relationship, which began when Rebekah was hired to organise Jamie's birthday party in January 2014.

The couple have a 19-month-old daughter, Sofia, and Rebekah has two more children – Megan, 11, and six-year-old son Taylor – from previous relationships. Their marriage followed former factory worker Jamie's breakthrough year with the Foxes, which saw them defy expectations to win the Premier League title, while the hotshot centre-forward's 27-goal tally for the season earned him an England call-up – and a planned movie about his life.

Speaking about her husband on their wedding day, Rebekah said: "I'm so proud of him and of what he's achieved, but most of all I'm proud of the man he is."

© Photo: Getty Images

Shakira and Gerard Pique:

Football tournaments hold fond memories for Colombian singer Shakira; it was while she was making the music video for Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), the official song of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, that she met and fell in love with Spanish player Gerard Piqué.

Despite their ten-year age gap, the relationship between Shakira, now 39, and the 29-year-old Barcelona defender is going strong and they are proud parents to sons Milan, three, and Sasha, one. "He's a generous man and very kind. He takes a lot of good care of my children and me," said the Hips Don't Lie star.

© Photo: Getty Images

Emma Rhys-Jones and Gareth Bale:

Emma has been with Wales winger Gareth since they were at school together in Cardiff. The couple, both 26, shun nightclubs in favour of spending time at home in Madrid, where Gareth plays for European champions Real, with dayfgters Alba, three, and three-month-old Nava.

Former hairdresser Emma relocated to Spain with her man, who became the world's most expensive player in 2013 with his £85million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur. In March the couple announced the birth of Nava on Twitter: "Delighted to welcome another beautiful baby daughter into our family today. Nava Valentina Bale."

© Photo: Getty Images

Claudine Keane and Robbie Keane:

Claudine seems to be enjoying life in Los Angeles after her Ireland and LA Galaxy striker husband transferred there in 2011 from Tottenham Hotspur. The former beauty pageant contestant, 33, and Robbie, 35, who have two sons together, have become regulars on the LA social scene, being seen at many gigs and parties.

They married in their native Ireland in 2008 and Eire skipper Robbie has said he doesn't miss the UK: "England was never my home. I had a home there but Dublin is my home, so leaving Ireland was the hardest thing I had to do."

© Photo: Rex

Kimberly Crew and Joe Hart:

Beautician Kimberly, 32, and England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe, 29, will celebrate their first wedding anniversary this month. The couple, who have been together for seven years and have a 22-month-old son, Harlow, tied the knot in a 13th century castle on the outskirts of Florence.

The guests, among them some of football's biggest stars, had been asked to save a space in their diaries, with the exact location of the big day kept under wraps until shortly before the three-day celebration. These days the pair shun late nights out at star-studded venues in favour of cosy nights in.

© Photo: Instagram

Andriani Michael and Jack Wilshere:

Andriani is preparing to become a fully-fledged member of the wives and girlfriends squad after her England and Arsenal midfielder beau Jack popped the question at her 25th birthday party in May. The daughter of 24-year-old Jack's barber, she said yes after the player, who has two children – Archie, four, and Delilah, two – from a previous relationship, got down on one knee at a London restaurant in front of 200 guests.

© Photo: Instagram

Polly Parsons and Thomas Vermaelen:

English TV presenter and model Polly, 32, splits her time between Britain and Spain, where her 30-year-old boyfriend Thomas plays for Barcelona. The couple met in 2012 during the Belgium defender's time at London club Arsenal. Polly, who was once engaged to EastEnders actor Sid Owen, has since juggled her career with raising her sons with Thomas – Raff, two, and baby Ace Roman.

Barcelona are Spanish champions and Belgium are among the favourites at Euro 16 but the centre-back is said to be contemplating a return to an English club – so we may soon be seeing more of the family.

© Photo: Getty Images

Ana Ivanovic and Bastian Schweinsteiger:

Ana is perhaps the only wife or girlfriend whose earnings almost outstrip those of her footballer partner. The Serbian tennis player, 28, a French Open winner in 2008, has estimated career earnings of more than £10million. She began dating Germany captain and Manchester United midfielder Bastian, 31, in 2014 and he has often watched her play, taking a seat for her games at last year's Wimbledon.

It was a close run thing whether she could return the favour at the Euros, with "Basti" recovering from injury just in time to make Germany's squad.

© Photo: Getty Images

Anna Lewandowska and Robert Lewandowski:

The captain of Poland’s team, striker Robert Lewandowski, is married to a gorgeous medal-winning karate champion. His wife of three years, Anna, has 37 medals to her name at national, European and international level. She also has a cheeky side, ribbing defenders that her husband has been on such good form recently that his goals against them are getting “pretty boring”, and adding: "Don’t ask what I gave Lewy for breakfast today – it’s top secret."

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Sara Carbonero and Iker Casillas:

He just became a father for the second time with his Spanish sports journalist wife, but that won’t stop Iker, who is goalkeeper for Portuguese club Porto, from representing Spain on the pitch this summer as they seek a third successive Euro crown in France following triumphs in 2008 and 2012.

The couple, who welcomed their first son, Martin, in 2014, tied the knot this year in a private ceremony with just two witnesses and one very special guest, little Martin.

© Photo: Getty Images

Pilar Rubio and Sergio Ramos:

The Spanish bombshell has a successful career as a TV presenter, not to mention being a blogger for HELLO!’s sister publication HOLA ! Pilar has two children with her partner; Sergio Jr, born in 2014, and Marco, who came along in November last year.

She is usually one of the first fans to rush down and congratulate the prolific Real Madrid goal scorer. Watch out for her giving him a heart-melting on-pitch kiss, as she did after the recent Champions League final, where she and their elder son cheered him on.

© Photo: Instagram

Erika Choperena and Antoine Griezmann:

The home nation will be hoping that 25-year-old Atlético Madrid star Antoine – a potential top goal-scorer at the tournament – will help France to victory this summer. But the striker already has plenty to celebrate on the home front after his girlfriend Erika, 25, gave birth to their first child, daughter Mia, in April.

The Basque-born fashion blogger met Antoine in San Sebastián in 2011 while he was playing for local team Real Sociedad and they moved together to the capital. If transfer rumours are to be believed, they may be soon heading to England and the Premier League.

© Photo: Getty Images

Helena Seger and Zlatan Ibrahimovic:

Theirs was an unlikely match. She isfrom well-heeled Swedish stock, while he is 11 years her junior and from ahumble family of Yugoslav immigrants. The confident young football star pursuedHelena, a high-flying marketing executive, until he won her over.

Together fornearly 15 years now, the couple have travelled across Europe for his career andhave two sons; Maximilian, born 2006, and Vincent, born two years later. Hedescribes his partner as "classy", saying : "She taught me stuff, like whatfish knives look like and how to drink wine!"

© Photo: Getty Images

Ludivine Sagna and Bacary Sagna:

This photogenic French duo live an Instagram-worthy lifestyle, with their two young sons Elias and Kais. Ludivine is a model as well as being a TV presenter and owner of a children’s clothing line – and, unsurprisingly given her killer curves, is an undisputed star of red carpets such as at Cannes.

Since 2014, she and her husband have been based in Britain, where he is one of the stars of Manchester City. But they enjoy regular holidays in Portugal and Miami as well as trips back to their native France.

© Photo: Getty Images

Raquel Mauri and Ivan Rakitic:

Ivan met his wife on the night before he signed to play for her home city Seville’s team. Unable to sleep before the all-important meeting with the side’s management, the Croatian mid-fielder went down to the cafe of his hotel, where Raquel was working. He told his brother, who was with him: "I'm going to marry that waitress." Then, despite not being able to speak a word of Spanish, he set about courting her.

"George Clooney couldn’t have done it better," he likes to say proudly. Two wedding ceremonies and a Maldives honeymoon later, they couldn’t be happier.

© Photo: Getty Images

Emily Jubb and Adam Lallana:

Emily and Adam fell in love in 2006, before the England and Liverpool midfielder's meteoric rise. One of the longest-serving members of the wives and girlfriends squad, Emily keeps a low profile and is no doubt hoping that this year's tournament doesn't disrupt her life quite as much as 2014's World Cup did.

In anticipation of 28-year-old Adam getting a call-up, the couple brought forward their wedding, which had been scheduled for June 2014, to December 2013. They are parents to sons Arthur, three, and Albie, who turned one at the beginning of June.

© Photo: Getty Images

Sandra Evra and Patrice Evra:

Sandra met Senegal-born Patrice at school and left their native France for Italy with him when he pursued his career on the field, so there’s no doubt the blonde beauty will be close by to watch her husband defend their country at the Eurocup.

The couple, who have two children, son Lenny and daughter Maona, live in Italy, where it seems they will be based for a while – Patrice, who speaks five languages, has just signed a contract extension with Serie A winners Juventus, which will keep him at the club until June 2017.

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