Getting married is considered by many as one of the most significant steps in someone’s life.
Despite that, you may have wondered why so many professional players choose to get married at a young age.
Not only often in their mid-twenties but sometimes as young as their late teens.
As someone following soccer for years, I’ve always been curious about why this trend exists.
Now after doing some research, I’ve come up with a few reasons on why soccer players get married so young.
Table of Contents
The Pressure Of The Limelight
For some footballers getting married is something they value very important.
As a result when they, therefore, find their significant other they are more likely to wed them early in their career.
Especially if its line with there culture, and values of there family.
Its not just that though but the pressures of getting married at such an early stage can stem from the need to come across responsible and stable.
After all footballers have a public image to maintain, and being married while focusing on there career will only paint them in a good light.
Establishing a Support System and Financial Security
The demands of being a soccer player isn’t easy.
You have all the issues on the pitch all the way to off the pitch.
So as a result many footballers result to getting married to take the pressure of them.
With a significant other they can help support them emotionally so they never feel on there own with there issues.
Along with this it can also aid them from a financial stability view too.
Someone who was hugely behind this idea was Sir Alex Ferguson who believed a factor in players success was there stability in there personal life.
Creating this family-like atmosphere within his team is what he believed to be pivotal in his players success.
At the end of the day who can disagree with the Scotsman’s method of coaching has he led his players to 38 titles over his managerial career.
Public Perception
Professional soccer players are public figures and role models, so their personal life is under constant scrutiny.
Getting married and starting a family can enhance their public image and appeal, and it can also be seen as a way to project a more relatable image to fans and followers.
Fans might perceive them as responsible, mature, and family-oriented individuals, which can help build their brand and popularity.
In a post I wrote here on footballers dating models I highlighted all the reasons why your modern-day footballer are some of the most in demand men when it comes to the market.
There wealth, success, status, fitness make them part of the top 1% when it comes to attractiveness.
This in turn means not only do they have multiple options when it comes to finding partners, but they also have to tackle the distractions of it.
With how easy it is for them to change partners easily and get framed for engaging in activity off the pitch such as at night clubs or out an about that they shouldn’t be doing.
This is why some footballers will get married to remove these issues, so the eyes are staying on what there doing on the pitch and not off in there personal life.
Religion and Family Expectations
Another reason why footballers get married so young is because of Religion.
In some religions it is tradition for men, to not date around, but instead to find a significant other early and start building a family with them.
If its not a religious reason, then it can also be a family reason too.
Where the family have encouraged the footballer to get married early and start a family, in what they believe is the best desicsion for them.
This can be especially true for players who come from close-knit families.
One thing I have noticed myself, since reaching my early 20’s is a lot of the people my age who are married, were brought up by parents who either got married or had kids soon.
So if a footballer was brought up with that around them it may subconsciously plant a seed in there head for them to follow suit, regardless of the fact they are somewhat different in being a well known footballer.
Balancing Career and Personal Life
While getting married young can provide a support system and financial security, it can also pose challenges when it comes to balancing career and personal life.
Professional soccer is a demanding career that requires a lot of time and energy, and maintaining a healthy relationship with a spouse can be difficult.
So while it is seen as the best option to take for many footballers, it can sometimes actually backfire.
A good example of this is what’s happened recently at the start of 2023 with Achraf Hakimi and his wife.
Hakimi who married Hiba Abouk at the young age of 21 has faced challenges where his significant other filed for divorce and tried to get half of all his wealth in the process after accusation against the footballer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are multiple reasons for why soccer players get married so young.
Whether it’s cultural expectations, religion, public perception, religion, family expectations, or just an act they want to do at an early stage in there life because it feels right.
Well its essentially for each person to choose and therefore should be respected.
Getting married is a personal decision, and its one of those important life choices, that a soccer player should make based on there own values.
Not just because they are a footballer.
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