Rio Ferdinand Wife: Who Is TOWIE Star Kate Wright?
(Image/ Source: goodto.com)
We all know Rio Ferdinand as a star of British football – but what if we told you he’s also had a dramatic, and heartbreaking, personal life?
Rio’s first wife tragically died in 2015, but the star footballer has managed to find love again with reality star Kate Wright.
So what do we know about Rio Ferdinand’s wife?
Rio Ferdinand Wife
Rio and Kate met in Dubai at a mutual friend’s BBQ in 2017. Things soon stepped up a notch, and in March of that year, Rio was photographed leaving her Essex home.
They confirmed their relationship on Instagram in July 2017. In September, Kate seemed to confirm that she had moved in with the footballer, posting snaps from Rio’s personal home gym.
(Image/ Source: thesun.co.uk)
They took an adorable family trip to Disneyland Paris in January 2018, and in May, Kate was talking about having a baby with the footballer.
In November 2018, Rio proposed to Kate in Abu Dhabi and they were married a year later in a beautiful ceremony in Turkey.
Finally, in June 2020, the pair revealed the news that everyone had been waiting for – Kate was pregnant.
On 18th December 2020, their son Cree was born via emergency c-section. Just over a week later, Kate posted a sweet picture on Instagram of herself and the baby and revealed that she was feeling “completely overwhelmed” with their new arrival.
“The happiness has been overwhelming but so have the tears and emotions,” she said.
Who Is Kate Wright?
Kate Wright found fame on ITV’s The Only Way Is Essex. She joined the cast of TOWIE in 2015 for their Marbella special.
Before TOWIE, Kate worked as a business support manager for a bank.
She was known as one of the mouthiest cast members, frequently getting into fights with her co-stars including Megan McKenna and Chloe Lewis.
(Image/ Source: Instagram @xkateferdinand)
Kate Wright Rio Ferdinand Wedding: Behind The Scenes
The star was with ex Dan Edgar for five years, and they even earned the nickname Essex’s Ken and Barbie.
But their relationship wasn’t all smooth sailing. They split up multiple times, the final time being in 2016 just shortly before Kate met Rio.
Soon after the couple went official in September 2017, Kate confirmed that she had quit TOWIE in order to focus on her responsibilities as a step-mum.
She said: “I’m taking a step back from the public eye, I want to keep my life private as I lived my previous relationship on TOWIE, my priority right now is Rio and the family.”
Rio’s Heartbreak
While Rio may have found true love with the TOWIE beauty, he’s also suffered through some tragic heartbreak.
Rio Ferdinand met his first wife Rebecca Ellison in a nightclub in 2000. They were married in 2009, and by 2011 had had three children together: Lorenz, Tate, and Tia.
(Image/ Source: heart.co.uk)
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However, his wife was tragically diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. Despite being given the all-clear by doctors, her tumours returned, and she passed away in May 2015.
Rio confirmed in a statement that Rebecca had died, saying:
“My soul mate slipped away last night. Rebecca, my wonderful wife, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
She was a fantastic loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter.”
His Football Career
Rio Ferdinand is one of the most prolific names in British football. He grew up in Peckham and started his youth football career at London team West Ham United.
In 2002, the now-professional footballer broke the transfer fee record when he joined Manchester United for a record of £30 million.
(Image/ Source: Instagram @rioferdy5)
Aged just 19, he played in an England friendly against Cameroon, and would subsequently be capped for the national team 81 times.
However, he retired from international football in 2013, and subsequently from professional football in 2015.
He’s now most often seen on screen commentating on international and national football, providing coverage for BT Sport for the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Europa League.