Football’s a game of two halves – and that certainly seems to be the case when it comes to the wives and girlfriends of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions.
There’s very much a north-south divide among the WAGs cheering on England’s footballers from the stands at Euro 2024
One team is made up of the glamorous housewives of Cheshire while the second squad features the partners of top London Premier League teams.
The players’ loved ones are set to play a key role from the sidelines as England prepare to kick-start their stuttering campaign as they bid for glory.
And amidst growing criticism among travelling fans in Germany, as well as an expectant nation back home, the WAGs are determined to put on a united front to help lift the spirits in the camp.
Now MailOnline can reveal that among the models, influencers and Love Island stars, one figure has emerged as the new ‘Queen of the WAGs’.
She’s definitely ‘a keeper’, or to be precise the wife of England’s number one Jordan Pickford.
Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan has emerged as the new ‘Queen of the WAGs’ and is said to have assumed a ‘mother hen’ status among the other wives
Megan has been a constant presence at England’s Euros games. She is pictured here beaming at the Three Lions’ clash against Denmark
Jordan and Megan finally married in 2020. The footballer and his wife shared an array of stunning snaps from their nuptials to their respective Instagram accounts at the time
Like her Everton star husband, Megan is known to be a safe pair of hands in a crisis and is said to have assumed a ‘mother hen’ status among the other wives.
Graduate Megan, 28, has been at Pickford’s side since they were teenagers in Washington, Tyne and Wear.
The childhood sweethearts married in 2020 and have a son aged five and a nine-month-old daughter.
Megan, who is known for her organising skills, has busily been arranging private jet trips with some of her fellow WAG’s who have been travelling back and forwards for matches during the tournament.
A source close to the wives’ camp told MailOnline: ‘These are the northern girls but out of all the WAGs, whichever club their partners are playing for, Megan is considered the number one WAG.
‘She’s got a great personality and is a good organiser and is excellent at getting people together. The other WAGs respect her a lot and listen to her.’
Megan travelled to Germany with fellow northern Wag Anouska Santos, the girlfriend of Manchester United’s Luke Shaw.
The friends were later photographed together wearing matching white England shirts with their partners’ team numbers.
Megan and Luke Shaw’s girlfriend Anouska Santos are seen out and about in Cologne on June 24
Megan poses for a selfie with Ollie Watkins’ partner Ellie Alderson before the England vs Slovenia match
Megan Pickford and Luke Shaw’s girlfriend Anouska Santos were having lunch in Cologne before England’s 0-0 against Slovenia
Mother-of-two Anouska, 33, and Megan were also spotted enjoying lunch together before England’s bore draw against Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday.
Megan may well be providing a comforting shoulder to cry on for Annie Kilner, the wife of Manchester City defender Kyle Walker who is also part of the ‘jet set group’ who flew into Germany with her fellow northerners.
Kilner, 31, was furious after her husband’s former lover Lauryn Goodman attended England’s match against. Denmark.
Model Lauryn, 33, has two children with Walker while she has four.
Megan will be joined by Anouska and Annie when they fly in ahead of England’s last 16 showdown with Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
Other members of the friendship group include Olivia Naylor, the girlfriend of Manchester City defender John Stones and team-mate Phil Foden’s girlfriend Rebecca Cooke – who has been unable to attend due to the birth of their third child.
After the Slovenia match, Olivia, 33, and members of Stones’ family were spotted getting out of a private jet at Erfurt Airport close to England’s base camp.
Also touching down at the airport were Annie Keating, the partner of Newcastle United star Anthony Gordon and Aine May Kennedy, a model and influencer who is dating Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.
They went on to be reunited with the players at the Weimarer Golf Hotel and Spa in Blankenhain on Wednesday
Megan and Ellie Alderson soak up the atmosphere as they support their partners during England’s Euros campaign
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England captain Harry Kane’s wife Katie Kane, 30, is reportedly not part of any group and is said to ‘keep herself to herself,’ but maintains friendly relations with all the WAGs. The couple are pictured hugging after England’s draw with Denmark
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The manager sees the WAGs as vital to team morale.
It is the third time that the England players have been ‘rewarded’ with visits from their partners, despite their lacklustre displays at Euro 24.
The source said that meetings between players and their partners had always always been on the schedule after each game.
Irish-born Aine May, 25, is part of the other main WAG group, made up of the partners of players based in the south of England.
It includes Dani Dyer, partner of West Ham United player Jarod Bowen and model Tolami Benson, who is Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka’s partner.
Love Island star Dyer, 27, is one of the most high profile WAGs and has grown up in a family of West Ham supporters including her EastEnders actor father Danny – so she should be well prepared for the highs and lows the game has to offer.
PR executive Tomani, 23, has been helping bring ‘outsiders’ into the ‘London Club’ as she is said to be to be particularly close with Ellie Anderson, the partner of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
Ellie, 27, leads a busy life as a mother-of-two and successful businesswoman who runs an interior design brand.
England’s current crop of WAGs have been described as ‘less cliquey’ and more ‘low maintenance’ compared with previous counterparts who controversially dominated the headlines during high profile international tournaments.
The source said: ‘There is a bit of a north south divide but it’s not a rivalry and there are no malicious cliques like you had in the past.
Megan is seen smiling and waving at England’s second Euros match against Denmark on June 20
Wearing her husband’s England kit, she was spotted deep in conversation with Tolami Benson, Bukayo Saka’s partner
Leading the WAGs? Megan is seen heading off to England’s game from the hotel in Germany
‘It’s just a geographical thing because you are more likely to get to know WAGs that live near you.
‘All the girls get along really well, and they’ve enjoyed getting together in Germany.’
England captain Harry Kane’s wife Katie, 30, is reportedly not part of any group and is said to ‘keep herself to herself,’ but maintains friendly relations with all the WAGs.
Kate met the England captain when they were children at primary school in Essex. They began dating as teenagers and today have four children.
No doubt her own education – Kate has a degree in sports management from the University of Hertfordshire – contributed to her methodical approach to Harry’s fame, after the family moved to Germany earlier this year when he signed for Bayern Munich.
She’s used her husband’s fame to promote good causes, such as mental health awareness, as well as the Princess of Wales’s campaign on the importance of a child’s early years. Kate also runs Harry’s charity foundation.
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The source revealed that there is one WAG who remains apart from the others – model Iris Law, the daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost, who is dating Liverpool’s Trent Alexander Arnold.
Iris, 23, is yet to make an appearance at Euro 2024.
The source added: ‘The other WAGs haven’t met her and don’t know much about her. Given her background, she’s probably too cool to be in any group. She doesn’t come from your typical WAG background and hasn’t even been out to Germany yet for a game.’
Dutch model Laura Celia Valk, 25, the rumoured girlfriend of Jude Bellingham, 20, has also yet to play a role in the tournament but the Real Madrid ace has been buoyed by the support of his devoted parents and footballing brother Jobe.
The present day WAGs seem a far cry from the days when the likes of Victoria Beckham ruled the WAG roost and was considered ‘queen WAG.’
The 2006 World Cup and the events in Baden Baden have become a legendary part of WAG folklore.
At the time, the WAGs were said to be divided into two cliques; one led by Victoria who it was alleged only ever spoke with Cheryl Tweedy, who was dating Ashley Cole at the time and ‘looked down’ on the others.
A rival clique was led by Coleen McLoughlin, then Wayne Rooney’s finance and was made up of Alex Curran, the wife of Steven Gerrard; Elen Rivas, who was then engaged to Frank Lampard and Carly Zuker, who was dating Joe Cole at the time.
They were all staying in the £1,000 per night Brenner’s Park Hotel in the spa town on the edge of the Black Forest and regularly hit a local nightclub where bottles of champagne cost £200.
The source revealed that there is one WAG who remains apart from the others – model Iris Law, the daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost, who is dating Trent Alexander Arnold (pictured together in Notting Hill in April)
Dutch model Laura Celia Valk (pictured), 25, the rumoured girlfriend of Jude Bellingham, 20, has also yet to play a role in the tournament
The 2006 batch of WAGs regularly featured in the media and became known for big sunglasses, designer bags and hair extensions.
Reports at the time claimed Victoria had bought 30 pairs of jeans with her while Coleen was said to have insisted on bringing her spray tanning expert with her.
A source said: ‘When Coleen’s group would go out shopping, spending thousands of pounds or for other trips, they wouldn’t invite Victoria and Cheryl along. But Victoria was the undisputed top WAG, and nobody messed with her.
‘The current group is not like this at all. They are not party girls and don’t really set fashion trends like Victoria and some of the others did. You won’t see them going to night clubs in Germany and then appearing in the press the next day.’
And who can forget the seat-shifting shenanigans of Jamie Vardy’s wife Rebekah during the 2016 Euros in France and the explosive High Court battle that ensued with Coleen in the Agatha Christie affair.
The 2006 batch of WAGs regularly featured in the media and became known for big sunglasses, designer bags and hair extensions. Pictured: Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham
No WAG lover could forget the iconic 2006 Baden-Baden World Cup, where football took a backseat to the hard-partying, designer-loving WAGs and their wild ways. Pictured L-R: Victoria Beckham, Unknown, Coleen (wife of Wayne), Louise Owen (wife of Michael Owen) and Elen Rives (then-fiancée of Frank Lampard)
The source added: ‘The type of WAG you have now is very different, they’re just a bit nicer and more low key.’
The Football Association has ensured that this year’s Euros would not see a repeat of past excesses.
England’s current WAGs are not staying in Germany and are flying into the country ahead of each game and then returning home after.
And as the tournament reaches the nail-biting knockout stages the WAG team will be playing their part in helping the Three Lions roar to victory.
