Ian Wright has spoken about his deep regret over cheating on his first wife as the Arsenal legend lives a busy life with the pundit having eight kids through various relationships
One of the most clinical strikers of his era, Ian Wright’s rise from construction work to international football fame endeared him to fans far and wide.
The Arsenal icon, who scored 185 goals and won the Premier League for the Gunners, continues to captivate audiences after his retirement with his charismatic punditry for ITV and Sky Sports, on the Stick to Football podcast, for Premier League Productions and his own podcast, Wrighty’s House. He previously entertained BBC viewers for 17 years as a regular on Match of the Day before bidding farewell to the show, at the end of last season.
Off-screen, the former England forward, who turned 62 on Monday (November 3) and reportedly boasts a net worth of around £15million, leads a busy family life, being a father to eight children, including ex-Premier League players Shaun and Bradley Wright-Phillips.
In his younger days, Wright adopted Shaun, the son of his then-girlfriend Sharon Phillips, and later fathered Bradley with her – with the elder son going on to play for Chelsea, Manchester City and England, while the younger enjoyed a successful career in MLS.
Wright also has a third son, Brett, prior to marrying his first wife Deborah in 1993. The couple had two more children, Stacey and Bobbi-Lee, while he also has a daughter, Coco, whom he supports but does not maintain contact with.
Wright’s marriage to Deborah crumbled in 2004 after his affair came to light, a betrayal he has openly acknowledged with profound regret.
Looking back on that “horrible” chapter of his life in his memoir, Wright wrote: “I got caught up in all of that and 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.
“I didn’t experience an enormous amount of love from my mum when I was a child, so I’ve had to learn what it is, and learn how to be happy and at peace.
“I’ve put other people through horrible experiences along the way. If people think that’s selfish, then I’m really sorry.”
Nevertheless, Wright managed to discover love once more and wed Nancy Hallam in 2011. The couple are now doting parents to daughters Lola and Roxanne.
“Nancy’s the perfect woman and I can’t stand to be apart from her and our daughters,” the pundit revealed. “My love for them is unconditional and my upbringing means I have a lot of love to give now.”
Wright has also witnessed his footballing heritage carry on through his grandson D’Margio Wright-Phillips, who currently plays for Belgian top-tier side Beerschot.
The right winger previously came through the youth academies at Manchester City and Stoke City, making his senior bow for The Potters in the FA Cup during 2022.
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