ITV pundit Ian Wright will be on duty as England face Croatia in their World Cup 2026 opener. However, the former Arsenal striker's personal life has been far from straightforward.
Early Career and Family Beginnings
A Gunners legend, Wright did not sign his first professional contract until age 21 with Crystal Palace, yet went on to score 185 goals for Arsenal and earn 33 England caps. Since retiring in 2000, he has remained a broadcasting staple, now on ITV's World Cup panel.
The 62-year-old, with a reported net worth of £15 million, has eight children from four relationships. He became a father at 19, adopting his then-partner Sharon Phillips' son Shaun, who later played for Manchester City and England. They also had biological son Bradley, a former MLS top scorer.
After parting with Phillips, Wright fathered another son, Brett, outside marriage. By 21, he had three boys.
Marriage and Infidelity
In 1993, Wright married Debbie, with whom he had two children, Bobbi-Lee and Stacey. The marriage ended after 11 years due to his infidelity, which he calls a 'horrible' period. In his autobiography, he wrote: 'I cheated on my first wife, Debbie, which destroyed my marriage. That was a really horrible period. If there's ever been a time in my life I wish I could change, that would be it.'
Wright added: 'I didn't experience an enormous amount of love from my mum as a child, so I've had to learn what it is. I've put other people through horrible experiences. If people think that's selfish, I'm sorry.'
Later Relationships
After divorcing Debbie in 2004, Wright fathered a daughter, Coco, with another partner, providing financial support but no active contact. Everything changed when he met Nancy Hallam, unaware of his football fame. They married in 2011 and have two daughters, Lola and Roxanne. Wright said: 'Nancy's the perfect woman. My love for them is unconditional.'
