Inside Ian Wright's family life with eight children and 'horrible' mistake that broke marriage

Inside Ian Wright's family life with eight children and 'horrible' mistake that broke marriage Ian Wright is a Premier League legend and footballing punditry staple – but his private life hasn't always been straightforward Beloved star Ian Wright will be on punditry duty for ITV as England face Croatia in their World Cup 2026 opener. But the ex-Arsenal man's life away from the screens has been tumultuous to say the least. A Gunners icon, Wright only signed his first professional contract with Crystal Palace aged 21, but went on to carve out an exceptional top-flight career. He bagged 185 goals for Arsenal and was, for a period, the club's all-time leading scorer. Wright also earned 33 England caps. Since hanging up his shooting boots in 2000, Wright has been an ever-present face in broadcasting and digital media, starting with BBC Match of the Day and now featuring on ITV's star-studded World Cup 2026 panel. He has also appeared on Sky Sports. But the 62-year-old, whose reported net worth stands at a staggering £15million, has a busy family life, with eight children from four different relationships. Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now! Wright first became a father at 19, adopting his then-partner Sharon Phillips' young son, Shaun. He would follow in his adoptive dad's footsteps, playing for Manchester City and Chelsea, whilst also making over thirty appearances for England. Phillips and Wright would welcome their first biological son, Bradley, into the world not long after. He, too, enjoyed a distinguished playing career, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer for MLS side New York Red Bulls. The couple soon split and Wright fathered another child outside of marriage with a different partner. By the time he was 21, he was a dad to three boys, the latest being Brett, who opted for a life outside the public eye. In 1993, Wright wed his first wife, Debbie, after reconnecting with her and the pair had two children together, Bobbi-Lee and Stacey. They have also led lives away from the limelight. After 11 years together, Wright's marriage to Debbie broke down due to his admitted infidelities. This period of his life, whilst he was at the peak of his playing powers, is one the ex-Arsenal striker describes as "horrible." Reflecting on this time in his autobiography, Wright penned: "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." Wright and Debbie were divorced in 2004. Two years later, he fathered a daughter, Coco, during another relationship, but whilst he provides full financial support for her, he does not maintain an active relationship or contact. Things changed in the late 2000s when he met Nancy Hallam, who had no idea of the ex-England star's footballing fame. The two dated for years before marrying in 2011 and have two daughters together, Lola and Roxanne. "Nancy's the perfect woman and I can't stand to be apart from her and our daughters," the ITV pundit admitted. "My love for them is unconditional and my upbringing means I have a lot of love to give now." England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer's FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL