Great escape for footballers as they enjoy summer holiday season
The classic stereotype of the footballer on holiday sees him pitching up for two weeks in the bars of the Costa del Sol. But with the recent huge influx of cash at the top level of the game, today's football stars can afford to visit more exclusive and exotic locales than ever before
It is not always far-flung destinations for the top football stars of the European football leagues, as many opt to enjoy their summer in the glorious sunshine and beautiful scenery of the south of France. That was where Ashley Cole chose to spend his holiday this summer - the fleet-footed fullback being accompanied not only by pop star wife Cheryl, but also his erstwhile Chelsea understudy and England football teammate Wayne Bridge.
The most famous footballer-pop singer pairing of them all also elected to vacation in the same part of the world this year, as David and Victoria Beckham enjoyed a family break on the French Riviera. Of course, if you are as fabulously wealthy as the Beckhams then there is no need to confine yourself to a solitary holiday destination, and the golden couple also enjoyed a luxury break in the Seychelles in celebration of their tenth wedding anniversary. Lavish beach holidays are understandably popular with the soccer elite as they seek some respite from the on-pitch demands made on them during the hectic season. Beckham’s AC Milan teammate Ronaldinho holidayed on the idyllic Greek island of Mykonos, and Peter Crouch also headed to the blue waters of the Mediterranean, with the England striker proposing to then-model girlfriend/now-model fiancé Abby Clancy during their break in Sardinia
On a previous holiday in Miami, Crouch had found himself accosted by Oscar-nominated actor Mickey Rourke, who reportedly shouted “Hey robot boy!” at the Tottenham Hotspur forward in honour of his famous goal celebration. But a quieter time was had in the Sunshine State this summer by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and fashion columnist wife Alex. The United States has proved a highly popular destination for holidaying footballers, with the bright lights of Las Vegas one of the top attractions for the game’s millionaire stars. Following their extravagant wedding ceremony in Portofino, Italy last year, Wayne Rooney and new bride Colleen spent part of their honeymoon in Sin City, where they took in a George Michael show. Meanwhile, following last season’s FA Cup victory, Rooney’s England teammate Frank Lampard celebrated by making like James Bond in the Vegas casinos, and cleaning up at blackjack and roulette to the reported tune of £300,000. Great result for the Chelsea superstar – it would normally take him all of a fortnight to earn that kind of cash.
But it was the West Coast of America which this summer was the holiday spot of choice for the two footballers who would be most people’s leading candidates for the accolade of Best Player in the World Today, with both Argentina forward Lionel Messi and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo hitting Los Angeles. But while Barcelona maestro Messi enjoyed a low-key break in the Entertainment Capital of the World, the ever-flamboyant Ronaldo lived it up with the young and beautiful of the Beverly Hills party scene, celebrating his world-record €94m transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid in the company of starlet Paris Hilton.
And with big money still washing around the highest echelons of football, it seems likely that both the holiday destinations and holiday companions of the top players will remain resolutely A-list.
