The secret very normal jobs of the England footie Wags – from the model who worked in JD Sports to a BA air hostess
FROM five-star luxury holidays to designer shopping sprees, the life of a football Wag is certainly one to be envied, and for them money really is no object.
And with this year’s EURO’s just around the corner, it won’t be long until they’re out in force cheering their lads on.
Away from the pitch, some might assume they have their wealthy footie player partners big bucks to play with – but lots are independent women making their own cash.
And while many use their high profiles to pursue a career in modelling or through social media, some have chosen pretty ‘normal’ jobs, too.
From air hostess to beautician – here are the super successful football Wags who have carved out a very down-to-earth career away from the spotlight…
Air hostess with the mostess
Arsenal goalie Aaron Ramsdale, 25, and his wife Georgina Irwin, 28, welcomed their baby boy Ronnie last October, and the young family can more than afford a jet-set lifestyle.
But while Georgina loves to travel and fly, it’s actually her job – as she’s a flight attendant for British Airways, which comes with an estimated basic salary of around £18k.
Her hubby shares her passion for travel, and the pair are often pictured together on luxury holidays, most recently visiting Monaco.
Earlier this year they also enjoyed their first vacation as a family of three, with Georgina posting a cute photo of their son’s passport with the caption “Our fave holiday to date.”
Retail therapy
Man United defender Luke Shaw, 28, and his long-term partner Anouska Santos, 33, certainly have their hands full, sharing three children – including a newborn.
Before giving birth last month Anouska was recently thrown a lavish baby shower, with the likes of Molly-Mae Hague there to celebrate.
While she’s probably in the midst of maternity leave currently, Anouska co-owns and runs Treats Studios, a jewellery and accessories website selling everything from phone cases to pyjamas.
From JD sports to property developer
Chelsea striker Raheem Sterling, 29, earns around £16m a year, but his fiancee Paige Milian is hugely successful in her own right.
She has a degree in property development, which she has used to found her own property business, Milian Property Group.
She’s also a qualified accountant, which no doubt comes in handy.
Paige met Sterling during his spell with Queens Park Rangers.
She previously worked in JD Sports – a job she left to live with Sterling in Liverpool after he left QPR.
Sterling proposed to the beauty in March 2018, and they had hoped to tie the knot in 2020 but wedding plans were put on hold due to the Covid pandemic.
Beautician & baby brand
Twenty-nine-year-old John Stones’ girlfriend Olivia Naylor, 33, is a beautician and permanent makeup trainer.
She’s also the CEO and director of her own beauty clinic in Stockport, and is an eyebrow specialist with nine years experience.
Adding another string to her business bow, she is also director of her own baby clothing brand called Moosh, and has her own child, a boy born last year.
Makeup artist
Childhood sweethearts West Ham‘s Kalvin Phillips, 28, and Ashleigh Behan, 27, have been dating since they were 15 years old, and welcomed their first child last year.
Kalvin would have been playing for the Leeds United youth team at the time they met, in 2011.
According to reports, Ashleigh has worked as a makeup artist, specialising in prom, bridal, evening make-up and special effects makeup.
In 2020, Ashleigh revealed she was in a supermarket when her beau told her he’d made the England squad for the first time.
She revealed she screamed and burst into tears, saying: “The checkout guy thought I was mental.”
Who is the richest of them all?
Here's the top 10 wealthiest Wags according to research by Gambling Zone...
- Victoria Beckham, £55million
- Pilar Rubio, £47million
- Anna Lewandowska, £36million
- Ann-Kathrin Gotze, £28million
- Antonella Roccuzzo, £16million
- Coleen Rooney, £15million
- Ana Ivanovic, £13million
- Georgina Rodriguez, £9million
- Perrie Edwards, £7million
- Rebekah Vardy, £3million
Legally blonde
Impressively, Mia McClenaghan – the girlfriend of Chelsea captain Reece James, 24 – studied law at Royal Holloway, University of London proving she has both brains and beauty.
She graduated in 2021 after three years of studying, and went on to become a senior interviewer for a legal advice centre and also previously worked for Citizen’s Advice.
She is now a Paralegal at Kirkland & Ellis.
First class partners
Plenty of Wags have opted to pursue higher education and bagged degrees to ensure they’ve really opened up their own career options.
Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan boasts a degree in Childhood Studies, graduating from Sunderland University with a 2:1 in 2017.
Harry Maguire’s partner Fern Hawkins graduated with first class honours in her science and physiotherapy degree the same year.
Tamara Tia Gomez – wife of Joe Gomez – also has a degree, in business management, and Ollie Watkins’ partner Ellie Alderson has a diploma in interior design.
We look forward to seeing where their brains take them next.