When a cohort of 22 WAGs descended on the quaint Black Forest town of Baden Baden in 2006, it was without doubt the peak of the ‘Footballers Wives’ era, with pop stars Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham, Queen Bees Colleen Rooney and Alex Gerrard, and model Abbey Clancy leading the way.
And it appears the era of glamorous WAGs who are already very happy in the limelight is back, with various members of the England squad linked to glamour actresses and Instagram stars ahead of the 2024 Euros.
The stereotype associatied with the WAGs – namely fake tan, big eyelashes and even bigger egos – had started to look a bit dated in recent years, and rather than marry a budding starlet, or an established celebrity, a lot of England footballers have been choosing more low key partners.
Rather than someone with one eye on a sure fire way to fame and lucrative brand deals of the back of their fame, many of the players in squads throughout the 2010s stopped seeking out models and instead married their childhood sweethearts – with Harry Kane and Harry Maguire tying the knot to wives they met as teens.
Model Iris Law and footballer Trent Alexander-Arnold were spotted strolling through London together
Marcus Rashford’s new love interest has been revealed as Colombian-born model Erica Correa after he was spotted on a cosy night out with her in Manchester
MailOnline exclusively revealed that Mason Mount’s mystery female companion is McDonalds worker turned top model and TikTok star Freya Tidy
But now, Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all in relationships with glamorous stars, begging the question: is the super WAG back?
Katie Kane met her England Captain husband Harry at school. They are married with four children, with Katie shunning the spotlight and staying out of the public eye.
The team’s number two Harry Maguire also met his wife Fern Hawkins as a teenagers. The brainy science graduate has a first class degree in physiotherapy and like Katie isn’t one to chase fame, staying off social media completely.
But as the England squad approach the 2024 Euros, it appears new players are again finding love with models, actresses and popstars.
When Harry moved to Germany, the couple were expecting their fourth child. Harry was born shortly after the move
Loved-up: The footballer and his wife officially said their vows at Crewe Registry Office in May and enjoyed lavish stag and hen parties in Portugal and Spain
Vanessa Peroncel, Carly Zucker, Cheryl Tweedy and Victoria Beckham watch England’s ill-fated quarter-final match in July 2006
The latest superstar to join the chorus of WAGS is Iris Law. The daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost was pictured this week with Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold strolling through Notting Hill.
Decked out in sporty but chic clothing, Iris, 23, was making the most of the spring sunshine wearing a long aqua coloured trench coat and baggy jogging pants. Trent, 25, complemented her look in a grey hoodie, dark green track suit bottoms and white trainers.
An onlooker said: ‘They looked very relaxed and happy and were just strolling around like two ordinary young people having a nice time. You’d never have thought that they are very rich and famous, and most people didn’t even spot them.
‘They popped into a café to get their drinks and as it was a nice day, were just having an enjoyable walk.’
Katie shares snippets of her life with Harry Kane on Instagram including trips taken on private jets
It is not known how Iris and Trent met, but the footballer is believed to be on celebrity dating app Raya, which has been described as ‘The Soho House of dating apps’ because of its exclusive clientele.
Iris is Jude and Sadie’s middle child, and she also has an elder brother, Rafferty, 27, and younger one named Rudy, 19. The couple married in 1997, but divorced in 2003.
Iris’s down-to-earth look for her Portobello Road outing with the Liverpool star was in stark contrast to her regular job as a model for some of the world’s leading fashion brands.
She is beauty ambassador for Dior and has also featured in campaigns for Marc Jacobs, JW Anderson, Miu Miu and other illustrious names. She has also appeared on the catwalk at some of the world’s leading fashion shows.
She has already appeared on the cover of British Vogue and also featured in the magazine while a toddler. Kate Moss is her godmother. She has been described as one of fashion’s ‘It girls’ and is considered one of the industry’s most influential figures, enjoying a lavish, jet set life.
Iris Law, pictured at a party hosted by Frieze and Versace in London in October 2021
Freya, from Essex, worked in McDonalds as a teenager before enrolling in dance college and quickly gained a TikTok following after sharing a slew of dance and lip sync videos
One of her hit videos last year showed her taking on the #UnapproachableMakeup trend on TikTok, which saw women show off their very bold makeup looks as a way to ‘put off men’
Earlier this year, she put on a racy display as she showed off her nipple clamps within a slew of Instagram snaps for her 755,000 followers. The model slipped into a risqué lace dress as she posed for the jaw-dropping photos.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford – who split with his childhood sweetheart and fiance Lucia Loi last year – has recently been linked to Colombian-born model Erica Correa after he was spotted on a cosy night out with her in Manchester.
The Manchester United player, 26, has been single since parting ways with his childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi in the summer of 2023.
However, it seems Erica, 29, has caught the eye of the professional footballer after they were seen looking loved-up on Sunday evening.
Erica – whose full name is Erika Alejandra Correa Uchima – moved to Marcus’ team’s rival city, Liverpool, when she was five years old from Colombia.
She previously reveals she travels back to her native Colombia regularly and she describes both the South American country and Liverpool as ‘home’.
However, it seems Erica, 29, has caught the eye of the professional footballer after they were seen looking loved-up on Sunday evening
Erica – whose full name is Erika Alejandra Correa Uchima – moved to Marcus’ team’s rival city, Liverpool, when she was five years old from Colombia
Erica pictured celebrating her 29th birthday in April
Erica told the Liverpool Echo: ‘I have so much Scouse in me from my surroundings and upbringing, but my first language was Spanish and my Latin culture is deeply embedded into who I am.’
She was scouted in the city centre when she was just 13 years old by a modelling agency and asked to walk in a fashion show at the Anglican Cathedral.
Erica recalled ‘falling in love’ with the experience and claimed she knew immediately that it was the career she wanted to pursue.
She has since travelled all over the world with the job and has spent time in India, Greece, Milan and Los Angeles working on campaigns.
Erica’s career credits including featuring top magazines including GQ, Grazia, Harper’s Bazaar and Women’s Health.
She has fronted skincare, make-up and clothing campaigns, working with household names such as ASOS, JD, Next, Revolve and Puuma.
Erica has also worked with NARS, Miss Selfridge, Nabla Cosmetics, Pinko and Philip Lim.
In 2018, Erica appeared in Tom Grennan’s music video for his song, Sober, where she played his love interest
Tom Grennan pictured in his music video for the song Sober
In 2018, Erica appeared in Tom Grennan’s music video for his song, Sober, where she played his love interest.
She will also be recognisable for her work with online fashion retailers, Misspap, PrettyLittleThing, Boohoo, Misguided and I Saw It First.
Speaking on her dreams to the publication, Erica said: ‘Honestly my aspiration in life is to be settled and happy. I always wanted a job where I got to do something different every day. I have that and that was my biggest goal.
‘My biggest modelling dream was to walk for Victoria’s Secret but of course the show is no longer so I think to walk a huge runway show would always be top of my list.’
If she wasn’t working as a model, Erica revealed she would write a book or return to studying.
It is not known how long Erica and Marcus had been dating before they were spotted at late-night bar BLVD Manchester.
The pair are believed to have finished the evening in the bar’s VIP area at the Slow Jam Soiree – an R&B night at the venue – with Rashford’s entourage said to be shielding the couple from prying eyes as they enjoyed an intimate conversation.
A spokesperson for Rashford confirmed to the Sun that the player had enjoyed an evening with friends at the nightclub.
A source told the publication: ‘Whatever his form on the pitch, off of it Marcus is delivering the goods.
‘He looked like the cat that got the cream on Erica’s arm. They were having a ball.
‘Marcus and Erica were tactile and clearly enjoying each other’s company.’
Laura continuously shares bikini snaps when she flutters in between Spain and France throughout the year and has also been ranked as one of the 500 hottest women in the Netherlands
Laura, who studied creative business at Amsterdam University of Applied Science, is represented by top modelling agency The Four Models, based in Manchester
Jude Bellingham’s new girlfriend Laura Celia Valk has jetted BACK to Madrid to spend time with her new flame after it was revealed she is ‘completely smitten’ with the footballer
Meanwhile, Mason Mount‘s mystery companion has been revealed as model and TikTok star, Freya Tidy.
The Manchester United midfielder, 25, was spotted with the beautiful blonde, 21, on a stroll around Altrincham in Wednesday, with the pair later driving off together in his £120,000 modified Land Rover Defender model.
MailOnline exclusively revealed that Freya is no stranger to the limelight as a social media star who boasts 287,000 Instagram followers and 761,500 TikTok followers.
Freya, from Essex, worked in McDonald’s as a teenager before enrolling in dance college and quickly gained a TikTok following after sharing a slew of dance and lip sync videos.
One of her hit videos from August last year showed her taking on the #UnapproachableMakeup trend on TikTok, which saw women show off their very bold makeup looks as a way to ‘put off men.’
The nature of Mason and Freya’s relationship is unclear. MailOnline has contacted their representatives for comment.
In 2022, Mason confirmed his split from his model girlfriend Chloe Wealleans-Watts after five years together.
Speaking to Tatler he added that he has been going on dates ‘sometimes’ since his break up but only ‘when he comes up to London’.
‘Football is my priority,’ he affirmed to the glossy magazine, when asked about his relationship status.
Chloe and Mason were believed to have met in 2017 – when he was 18 – and started dating shortly afterwards, having taken many extravagant trips together.
Dani has been in a relationship with Jarrod since 2021 , after revealing he was the one to slide into her DMs
It was a huge success for Dani Dyer’s beloved boyfriend Jarrod Bowen, both 27, on Monday night as he scored a hat-trick during the game
Dani also shares a son Santiago, two, with her ex-boyfriend Sammy Kimmence (pictured with his twin sisters last year)
In January last year, Mason was said to have signed up to celebrity dating app, Raya.
A source told The Sun: ‘Mason is all about football but is also looking to find the right girl to settle down with.
‘He is looking for a genuine connection and hopes that a few dates in the capital can help him find The One.
‘Mason has taken his time after the break-up but is not going to rush into anything.’
The blonde beauty recently flew to Spain to visit her beau at Real Madrid. The couple enjoyed a stay at the €1,000-a-night Madrid EDITION hotel last month, they now appear to be staying at the five star boutique hotel.
Ticking another stylish hotel off the list, a double terrace suite at the hotel is £1,000 a night and includes access to the Spa, Hammam and gym.
According to The Sun, a source said: ‘Laura has been telling everyone about the relationship.
‘She’s been staying at his place in Madrid over the past few weekends and is completely smitten.’
Laura’s representatives declined to comment when contacted for a comment.
Laura continuously shares bikini snaps when she flutters in between Spain and France throughout the year and has also been ranked as one of the 500 hottest women in the Netherlands.
Poolside fun: Perrie looked every inch the doting mother she is as she shared sweet sun-soaked bikini snaps of herself with ten-month old Axel
Happy family: Pop star Perrie and her Liverpool FC fiance, have been dating for five years and they welcomed baby son Axel in August last year
Beach babe: Earlier this week, Leigh-Anne showed off her incredible figure once more as she slipped into a tiny orange bikini and cosied up to Andre
Celebrations: The Little Mix singer and the footballer, 32, exchanged vows in a secret Jamaican wedding ceremony last month
Laura, who studied creative business at Amsterdam University of Applied Science, is represented by top modelling agency The Four Models, based in Manchester.
She is reportedly the owner of her own social media consultancy agency Bobby Rose Agency.
On her business website, her bio states: ‘With 5.8 years of work experience, she has a strong background in general management and marketing.
‘Laura has also worked as a presenter at RTL and Subdued, gaining expertise in advertising services and business consulting.
‘She has also worked as a model at Above and Beyond and as a marketing consultant at Xerox. Laura’s passion for marketing and her extensive experience make her a valuable asset in the industry.’
Jude was reportedly dating Ghanaian model Asantewa Chitty last year, but she kept the relationship private and never shared photos of the player on her social media pages.
However, the star midfielder was spotted in a series of images on celebrity dating app Raya in June 2023, shortly after announcing his move to Real Madrid.
During the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Posh Spice was often seen pitchside with fellow popstar Cheryl Cole
Vanessa Perroncel, Lisa Roughead, Micheala Henderson-Thynne, Elen Rivas and Carly Zucker are seen in Baden-Baden in 2006
Liverpudlian stunner Abbey Clancy found fame as a lingerie model before marrying Peter Crouch
Ex: She was previously married to footballer Ashley Cole from 2006 to 2010 (pictured together in 2006)
A new WAG who found fame in own right is Dani Dyer, who won Love Island in 2018, before splitting with then boyfriend Jack Fincham.
She’s now loved-up with West Ham player Jarrod Bowen – often sharing shots online supporting him.
The former Love Island star welcomed twin girls, Summer and Star, with the footballer in May 2023.
Dani also shares a son Santiago, two, with her ex-boyfriend Sammy Kimmence.
The daughter of EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, initially thought she was only pregnant with one child when she found out the news before being told it was twins during a scan on November 29.
Meanwhile, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards, both former members of Little Mix, have also found love with footballers.
Perrie is engaged to England star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with the couple sharing son Axel, two, with the couple often described as the ‘new Posh and Becks’.
Perrie soared to fame on The X Factor in 2011 when Little Mix were formed and the group went on to achieve 19 top ten singles and five number ones on the UK Singles Chart, before going on hiatus in 2022.
Given Perrie’s success in Little Mix, Alex previously she is well-known wherever they go, saying: ‘People recognise her and know who she is. It’s not like when we’re back home or in France or Italy or other countries, but she’s definitely known out here (in Turkey where he plays).
Kane was famously pictured with his football-mad friend, Kate, in 2005, when the pair, who were both 11, met their hero and fellow East Ender David Beckham at the launch of his football academy
Pandemic wedding: Jordan Pickford and Megan Davison wed after 11 years together
Love: The couple met when they were teenagers and have been together for the last ten years, with Maguire proposing during a trip to Paris in 2018
The couple were first linked in 2016 when Perrie attended Alex’s Arsenal game – a month later Alex was spotted in the audience at the X Factor when Perrie was performing with Little Mix, they now often share glamorous shots around the world together.
Meanwhile, Leigh-Anne is married to footballer Andre Gray, who plays for Jamaica.
The very public romances – with high profile stars – is reminiscent of the ‘naughty noughties’ culture which saw WAGs create more headlines than their other halves.
Seventeen years ago, the quaint Black Forest town Baden Baden played host to a high-profile assortment of wives and girlfriends – among them Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole and Coleen Rooney – as the national side played their final tournament under Swedish manager Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Alongside Elen Rivas, Carly Zucker, Alex Curran and others, the WAGs made more headlines than the squad they were cheering on.
Some even went as far to blame the WAGS – and their partying antics – for England’s poor performance (the team were knocked out in the quarter-finals). In 2022, Sven Sven-Göran Eriksson said that it was wrong to blame the WAGS who were doing ‘totally normal things’.
The group were kitted out in designer-clad outfits and their endless shopping, spats and nightly partying throughout the trip were seen as a major distraction for the footballers at the time.
Speaking to BoyleSports World Cup, Sven has reflected on the scandal and defended the group, but admitted the heightened attention on the Spice Girl didn’t ‘make it easy’.
The coach also defended the WAGs being in attendance, rather than sitting ‘bored’ in a hotel, after the brigade were seen out-and-about in Germany.
‘One of the wives [at the World Cup] was Victoria Beckham and of course that didn’t make it easier, it made it fantastic for the press,’ he explained.
‘We saw the wives maybe once a week at dinner and I decided when that should be, and the rest of the days of course the wives were invited here and there and the FA helped them not to be sat in a hotel, bored, and I think that was great.’
Sven admitted that ‘whatever’ the WAGs did at the time was seen as a scandal due to the heightened attention on them at the time.
He added: ‘Whatever they did it was a scandal. If they went to a bar, if they went to a restaurant, if they went out shopping… [but] they were [doing] totally normal things. I found the reaction a little bit unhelpful.’
A proud mum, Anouska and Luke welcome their first child together – a son – Reign London, in November 2019.
In one sweet selfie with the £36million defender she wrote ‘love of my life’ as the glamorous pair posed up a storm.
Natural beauty Lauren Fryer, originally from Chessington, Greater London, is the girlfriend of West Ham defender Declan Rice
Lauren isn’t the only love of West Ham defender Declan Rice’s life – she shares his affections with their adorable Cockapoo Raffa
It has been widely claimed that the WAGs partying behaviour was the reason that the partners were banned from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Elsewhere, David Beckham has recently addressed the claims that the WAG brigade stole the limelight with their designer-laden looks at the 2006 World Cup.
Speaking in 2022, he admitted that the wives and girlfriends went ‘too far’ after they stole the show.
David admitted that Victoria grimaces at some of the looks she sported when she reflects on the competition years later, in an interview for Gary Neville’s The Overlap YouTube channel.
Reflecting on the decision to have the footballer’s families take centre stage during that World Cup, David admitted he was never against having the loved ones support them at the tournament.
He said: ‘I think there was attention on them. I always believed as an England captain, having wives and girlfriends and the kids around wasn’t a bad thing.
‘Once you’re in a training camp, you’re in training camp, you have to focus, but I think at the start of a tournament, it’s not a bad thing.’
But the sportsman, who was captain of the Three Lions for the tournament which saw them crash out in the quarter-finals after losing a penalty shootout against Portugal, confessed the obsession with the WAGs did go ‘too far’.
He said: ‘Looking back, that whole culture – there was a lot of attention around that and whether people behaved themselves in the right manner, I don’t know.
‘Even Victoria – she’s the first to say now – what was I doing, what was I wearing, why would I do that? It did [go too far].
‘There was more spoken about the WAGs than football. at the time, players want to focus on the tournament. It went too far, but I do believe having the WAGs and family around is a good thing.’
Victoria joined the army of WAGs that famously descended on Germany during that World Cup with their families, commanding attention with their designer-clad outfits as they cheered on their husbands in the stands.
Known for her glamorous designer outfits, Victoria also donned an England Rocks tank top for England’s match against Trinidad and Tobago.
It’s perhaps the attention – and blame – that saw the next generation of WAGS appear much quieter and stay behind the scenes.
Luke Shaw’s girlfriend – and mother of his three children – Anouska Santos shuns the spotlight.
Reece James’ girlfriend Mia McKellan is a paralegal who is more likely to be seen in a law office than an Ibiza club.
Meanwhile, John Stones’ girlfriend Olivia Naylor always looks the part thanks to her thriving salon business.
The mum-of-one, 34, who welcomed her first son in 2019 and first met the Manchester City defender in a nightclub.
John is believed to have split with his childhood sweetheart Millie Savage, with whom he shares a daughter, after meeting Olivia.
Declan Rice’s girlfriend Lauren Fryer – is another childhood sweetheart cheering on the England squad who shuns the limelight.
Paige Milian, 26, has been unwavering in her support of partner Raheem Sterling despite their love life making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Mother to their sons Thiago, and Thai-Cruz, the couple are engaged, proving they’ve put accusations of Sterling’s cheating – including with a high-class call girl – firmly behind them.
As well as a busy life as a mum, Paige is a successful property developer, completing her qualifications in 2018, and helping her partner snap up an entire road of houses in Stockport in 2019.
Elsewhere, Megan Davison – the wife of Jordan Pickford, studied for a degree while supporting her beau.
Pickford’s childhood sweetheart has been by the keeper’s side since the pair were teenagers and even made the move cross country from Sunderland to Liverpool when he signed for Everton for a cool £30million.