When Eni Aluko, during her fiery on-air confrontation with Simon Jordan last week, firmly declared she had withdrawn from what she called the 'toxic' world of sports punditry, it appeared less like a quiet departure and more like a dramatic escalation of her public profile. 'The reason people aren't booking me is because I've taken myself out the firing line,' she stated emphatically. 'I think in the UK, it's a very toxic space for me. And I'm fighting now just to even have an opinion.'
Critics Question Aluko's Retreat from Spotlight
Critics of Eni Aluko might argue that her supposed retreat has not resembled a withdrawal at all. In recent weeks, the former England international has publicly sparred with fellow pundit Ian Wright, made provocative comments on podcasts about the state of women's football commentary, and continued to operate actively within the very industry she labels as toxic. Her decision to engage in a heated debate with talkSPORT host Simon Jordan, which was almost certain to go viral, only thrust her more prominently into the media headlines.
A Struggle to Escape Quietly?
A less cynical perspective might suggest that Aluko, who has indeed suffered years of horrific online abuse, is finding it difficult to exit the spotlight without fanfare. It is not in her character to shy away from an argument, and by consistently, and sometimes admirably, defending her positions to the fullest, she has inadvertently continued to fuel the very controversies she claims to avoid.
Sone Aluko's Discreet Post-Playing Career
While the 38-year-old pundit lives under the intense scrutiny of football media, her younger brother Sone Aluko has quietly and successfully carved out his own career away from the glare. Former Premier League forward Sone Aluko, aged 36, seems to have mastered the art of maintaining a low profile and staying out of public disputes. Now serving as a first-team coach at Ipswich Town under manager Kieran McKenna, Sone plays a crucial role behind the scenes as the Championship club battles for promotion to the Premier League.
Contrasting Social Media Presence
Focused primarily on football, the ex-Hull City, Fulham, Reading, and Rangers star keeps his personal life extremely private, sharing minimal information on social media. His X account perfectly reflects this discretion. Despite having over 55,000 followers, including notable figures like Harry Maguire and Micah Richards, Sone's profile picture remains blank, and he has not posted in over 14 years.
He exhibits similar reserve on Instagram, where his 20,000 followers have seen only three posts—two showcasing career highlights and another expressing how 'truly humbled' he felt by McKenna's praise at the club's 2024 End of Season Dinner following his retirement. In the video, McKenna states, 'Coaching Sone and getting to know him over the last couple of years has been one of the honours of my career. A fantastic footballer, anyone who has seen him grace Portman Road would attest to that.'
Eni's Unapologetic Public Persona
In stark contrast, Eni's Instagram presence strikes a very different tone. With more than 130,000 followers, her profile is active, carefully curated, and unapologetically public-facing. Her first pinned post features her modelling jewellery, accompanied by the caption: 'A piece of gold that shines must first pass through fire.' This message feels symbolic of her public persona—resilient, defiant, and willing to endure scrutiny in pursuit of visibility.
Where Sone's social media is defined by its absence, Eni's projects a strong presence. This suggests not a retreat from the spotlight, but rather an acceptance—and perhaps even an embrace—of the heat that accompanies it.
Sone's Transition to Coaching
When confirming his retirement in 2024, Ipswich Town praised Sone for 'setting the standard' in training, highlighting the quiet yet influential role he plays in elevating standards behind the scenes. The club quickly offered him a first-team coaching role that summer, recognising the groundwork he had laid while completing his coaching badges during his final playing seasons.
'We're delighted to add Sone to our coaching team,' McKenna remarked. 'His work ethic and values have been important for the club over the last few years, and we know he will continue to bring those qualities to his new role. Sone has strong relationships with players and staff at the club and he will be a big addition for us.'
Analytical Approach to the Game
Long before retiring, Sone had begun preparing for life after playing, showing a keen interest in the analytical aspects of football. During his last season, he was often positioned alongside Ipswich's analysts on matchdays, studying play patterns and providing tactical feedback to McKenna and his staff.
The forward, who earned seven senior caps for Nigeria after representing England at youth level, preferred to analyse games away from the dugout's hustle, opting to watch matches quietly from a high vantage point near the press box at Portman Road. 'It's something I've naturally been doing before, but I prefer the view up there,' he explained to the East Anglian Daily Times in 2024.
'At half time, if I go back into the dressing room, a lot of the players—especially the attacking players—will ask me how I'm viewing the game, what changes I think they could make, what adjustments they could make. For me, it made sense to go a bit higher and be a bit further away from the game. You can see it tactically a bit better.'
Current Role and Future Prospects
Now, with Ipswich third in the Championship, just five points behind the automatic promotion places with a game in hand, Sone aims to help catapult the club to the Premier League by season's end. No longer observing from the stands, the 36-year-old has a more hands-on role alongside McKenna, working with fellow coaches Charlie Turnbull and Junior Stanislas.
If Ipswich secures promotion, Sone Aluko will have played a significant part in that achievement—just do not expect to see him making headlines for it. His career continues to thrive in the shadows, a sharp contrast to his sister's very public battles in the limelight.
