Jamie Redknapp revealed how dating pop star Louise Redknapp contributed to backlash during the early days of his football career
Samantha Masters Content Editor
18:00, 27 Dec 2025
Jamie Redknapp played for Liverpool FC (Image: getty )
Jamie Redknapp has revealed that dating Louise Redknapp contributed towards him “getting a lot of stick” during the peak of his football career. In 1991, the sportsman joined Liverpool FC and made his debut in a UEFA Cup match at just 18 years old.
During his 11-year stint at the club, Jamie, now 52, and several of his teammates earned the nickname ‘The Spice Boys’ due to their youthful energy and high-profile lifestyles.
During this era, Liverpool clinched the Football League Cup (also known as the Coca-Cola Cup) in 1995, around the same time Jamie met Louise, then a member of Eternal.
Reflecting on his prime, the father-of-two recalled finding “the mental strength” to succeed as many doubted his capabilities.
Jamie’s profile rose further when the press discovered his relationship with singer Louise.
Speaking on the Making A Scene podcast, he reminisced: “We won the Coca-Cola final which was the lead cup at the time. We had a very young team hence why we were called The Spice Boys.”
Jamie Redknapp played for Liverpool FC
Without mentioning his now ex-wife by name, he continued to hosts David Walliams and Matt Lucas: “We got a lot of stick because I was dating a pop star, David James was modelling for Armani, John Barnes was just John Barnes, Jason McAteer [was there].”
Jamie and Louise, parents to two sons, Charley, 21, and Beau, 17, were married for two decades.
The pair parted ways in 2017, with the singer reportedly citing “unreasonable behaviour” in the divorce proceedings at the time.
Several years on, both have moved forward with new relationships.
Jamie was the first to find love again, this time with Swedish model Frida Andersson. The couple tied the knot in 2021 while she was expecting their son Raphael, who is now four.
Prior to meeting Jamie, she was married to American hedge fund manager Jonathan Lourie, with whom she shares four children.
Jamie and Frida Redknapp married in 2021
Speaking recently on The Romesh Ranganathan Show, the football pundit made a rare confession about moving on from Louise and the effect it had on their children.
Recalling the moment he told his eldest son that Frida was pregnant, he said: “It didn’t go down that well with Charley, I’ve got to be honest.
“I went to pick him up at school and tell him Frida was pregnant [and] it went down like a lead balloon, if I’m honest.”
He added: “I got it, I totally understood it because his world had been turned upside down – you’re married, everything feels straightforward, and then you meet someone else and you get married again.”
As for Louise, she started dating businessman Drew Michael in 2023. The mother-of-two frequently posts updates about their relationship on social media, including their trip to Glastonbury Festival together last year.
