Former England footballer Jamie Redknapp has offered a rare glimpse into the intense scrutiny he faced at the start of his career, revealing that his high-profile relationship with singer Louise Redknapp played a significant part in the backlash.
The 'Spice Boys' Era and a Pop Star Romance
Redknapp, now 52, signed for Liverpool FC in 1991 as an 18-year-old, making his debut in a UEFA Cup match that same year. During his eleven-year tenure at Anfield, he and several teammates were famously labelled 'The Spice Boys' due to their youthful exuberance and glamorous lifestyles off the pitch.
It was during this period, around the time Liverpool won the Football League Cup (the Coca-Cola Cup) in 1995, that Jamie met Louise, who was then a member of the successful girl group Eternal. The footballer has now admitted that the relationship contributed to him "getting a lot of stick" from critics who questioned his focus.
Reflecting on Scrutiny and Moving On
Speaking on the Making A Scene podcast with hosts David Walliams and Matt Lucas, Redknapp reflected on the era without directly naming his ex-wife. "We got a lot of stick because I was dating a popstar," he explained, citing the attention drawn by teammate David James's modelling for Armani as another example of the squad's high profile.
Jamie and Louise married in 1998 and were together for 20 years, sharing two sons: Charley, now 21, and Beau, 17. The couple split in 2017, with Louise citing 'unreasonable behaviour' in divorce papers. Both have since moved on to new relationships.
New Chapters and Family Dynamics
Jamie was the first to remarry, tying the knot with Swedish model Frida Andersson in 2021. She was pregnant at the time with their son, Raphael, who is now four. Redknapp recently admitted on The Romesh Ranganathan Show that announcing this pregnancy to his eldest son, Charley, was challenging.
"It didn’t go down that well with Charley, I've got to be honest," he recalled. "I went to pick him up at school and tell him Frida was pregnant [and] it went down like a lead balloon." He expressed understanding, acknowledging his son's world had been "turned upside down" by the family changes.
Meanwhile, Louise has been in a relationship with businessman Drew Michael since 2023, frequently sharing updates on their life together on social media.
Jamie Redknapp can next be seen on Ant and Dec’s Limitless Win, airing tonight at 8pm on ITV.
