Professional Soccer Players and Their Wives: Who has the Final Say?

Most wives of soccer stars spend their days shopping, socialising and spending money, but who has the final say when it comes to business and pleasure? Certainly for decisions regarding lifestyles, fashion and contracts, our favourite soccer stars are not left to their own devices.

David and Victoria Beckham – From drab to fab

The most highly profiled soccer player/wife relationship has to be David and Victoria Beckham. Since the "Posh and Becks" union in 1997, the couple has been making headlines around the world. However, everyone should ask which one of this power couple is pulling the strings. It’s been previously noted that without Victoria, David wouldn’t be the fashionable stud or celebrity that he is today and many say that she is the one running the show. Before and after pictures of David Beckham had people shocked. He looked dull and drab in pre-Victoria pictures, but glammed up in the post-Victoria ones. They were seen on numerous red carpets with matching outfits and hairstyles and as soon as the little Beckham babies were born, their celebrity rating increased exponentially. But does Victoria’s influence of David extend beyond his sense of fashion? Their $22 million Beverley Hills mansion happens to be near the home of Victoria’s good friend Katie Holmes, and it’s no co-incidence that the NBC reality show has been called Victoria Beckham: Coming To America.

Steven Gerard and Alex Curran – Liverpool homebodies

Alex Curran is the wife of Liverpool footballer, Steven Gerrard. They have been dating since 2002 and married on 16 June 2007. Alex, a fervent shopper, has no qualms about spending and recently splashed out £1,000 on a designer handbag. Even though this couple isn't as high-profile as Posh and Becks, Alex Curran is definitely perceived as one of the most influential footballer’s wives. Quite at home in the shops of Liverpool, rumours have it that she’s banned her husband from ever relocating. Despite her husband’s wealth, Alex has not settled for being just Mrs Steven Gerrard. She seems to have found the perfect way to have her say in her weekly column for The Daily Mirror titled Go Shopping With Alex Curran.

Ashley and Cheryl Cole – Making her own way

Cheryl Cole formerly known as Cheryl Tweedy, is married to Chelsea English footballer, Ashley Cole. Similar to her friend Victoria Beckham, she was a famous singer even before she married a footballer. When Ashley and Cheryl married July 2006, they signed a £1 million deal with OK! Magazine to publish pictures of the wedding. Was this a joint decision?

Unlike Victoria and Alex, Cheryl has not yet resorted to reality TV or a magazine column to air her views. She has found other ways to solidify her celebrity status, though, including signing a deal worth £200,000 to become the face of Coca-Cola Zero for its UK launch, and appearing on Comic Relief Does The Apprentice in 2007 to raise money for Comic Relief.

But despite Cheryl’s independence, rumour has it that she spends many nights alone at home while her husband is out with team mates. This just goes to show that, between professional soccer players and their wives, who has the final say is an ongoing debate.