Former footballer Jamie Redknapp has opened up about his personal life, admitting there are "ups and downs" as he approaches two years of sobriety. The 52-year-old pundit, who played for Liverpool and Tottenham, said that a hangover after his 50th birthday prompted him to quit drinking.
Speaking on Romesh Ranganathan's podcast last October, Redknapp revealed he had been sober for 18 months. He recalled: "I never had a bad relationship with alcohol. I've always suffered terrible hangovers, so that tells you alcohol doesn't agree with me. I remember walking home, and I thought: 'That's it, I'm gonna stop drinking'. That feeling of not memorising anything that happened was just horrendous for me."
Now, two years on, Redknapp said: "I don't necessarily feel that much better for it, but I just feel pleased that I've done it." He also spoke about fatherhood, having a son, Raphael, with his second wife, Swedish model Frida Andersson. "Being a dad again has its challenges but there is nothing better," he told the i. "I am settled, which is a fortunate position. I've met an incredible person in Frida and we've got a beautiful little boy."
Redknapp, who has two sons from his marriage to Louise Redknapp, reflected on life's highs and lows: "Like football, there are ups and downs, but the good days are so worth it." Away from personal matters, he warned that his former club Tottenham could face relegation after a poor run of form, telling Sky Sports: "If Tottenham aren't careful they might be in a different league next season."
