I didn’t achieve all I set out to, so I have regrets
England footballer-turned World Cup pundit Jermaine Jenas confesses to GABRIELLE FAGAN that he could have tried harder as a young player and why these days family is everything to him
HE may look baby-faced but Jermaine Jenas, one of the BBC pundits at the World Cup for the BBC in Russia and a former England international, has packed a wealth of experience into his 35 years.
Precociously talented, at one point he was the most expensive teenager in British football after his £5 million move from Nottingham Forest to Newcastle United in 2002. At just 19, he joined the England squad.
He appeared destined for a long and glorious footballing career. But injury hampered his progress and in 2016, he officially retired, moving into TV broadcasting.
Jermaine and his wife, Ellie, have two girls – Geneva, five, and Olivia, two – and he has a ten-year-old daughter, Sancha, from a previous relationship.
Here, he reveals how he coped with the end of his playing career, the joy of having time to be a parent, and how he and Gary Lineker are in a cook-off....
What’s it like being over in Russia?
“IT’S fantastic to be part of it. I love the camaraderie and there’s a lot of laughter. It’s brilliant to see England doing well. I’d love to see them get a place in the quarter-final.
“I’ve got to admit when I did my first Match Of The Day, I didn’t realise how nervous I’d be. There’s a real adrenaline rush as you know you’re being watched by around eight million people who’ll take the mick out of any mistake you make.
“It’s pressurised, but great to be learning all the time.”
Do you miss your playing days?
“YES. I miss the build-up to the games, the jolt of nervous energy before a match, walking out onto a pitch and the knowledge that a whole city can be caught up in supporting a club you play for.
“When you’re together on the pitch, you’re fighting for each other. It’s amazing, overwhelming and you either sink or swim. It’s what makes professional footballers what they are. You can’t replicate that in any other job.”
What sort of commentator are you?
“WHEN I started, I wanted to bring a freshness to the job, because I was just out of the dressing room.
“My aim is to be respected by the players and to be able to walk into any stadium in England and be welcomed by the manager and the team, instead of them thinking, ‘There’s the idiot who hammers players and forgets he once was one and how difficult it is’.”
Why did you retire?
“I WAS in a downward spiral where I started picking up injuries. I’d split with my partner – the mother of my eldest daughter – around that time, and I wonder if stress and sleeplessness can make you more vulnerable to physical problems.
“Suddenly, I felt I couldn’t trust my body any more. It hits your self-esteem. It got to the point where I was more worried about my body staying together than enjoying football. It became about earning money and I started to fall out of love with the game.
“Finally, I injured my knee in training at QPR. It literally snapped in half and the ligaments detached. I knew my career was over, but it was a blessing, because it enabled me to attack a different chapter in my life.”
How do you look back on your career?
“I DIDN’T achieve all I set out to do, so I have regrets. I was PFA Young Player of the Year 2002-2003, first played for England at 19 and went on to play for them 21 times.
“I was a naturally gifted footballer, but to achieve everything you want, you also need to be driven.
“A lot of the time I was a little too accepting of the fact that I was a ‘good player’ and could and should have striven to be better. It hurts to realise that, but I’ve had to own it and move on.”
What does fatherhood mean to you?
“EVERYTHING. Since I retired from playing, I’ve gained a real understanding of parenting.
“You don’t get to enjoy your kids while you’re playing, because you have to be singleminded and selfish to succeed. Now I do school runs and enjoy every second with them.
“I grew up on a council estate in very different circumstances to their privileged upbringing. It’s hard not to spoil them, but I want them to have values, so I stop myself rushing out and buying things. All three love football – even the two-year-old – and I’d love them to get into women’s football if they want to.”
How big a part has your wife Ellie played in your success?
“SHE’S been a rock keeping the family going through tough times. “It was love at first sight when I saw her, but not for her. She wasn’t impressed by this cheeky, cocky guy who thought she’d be bowled over when I drove up in my Ferrari. She actually made me get rid of the car because it was too noisy! She’s told me she thought when we met that I was an over-confident idiot, but I won her over finally. “She’s down-toearth, not interested in football and was never impressed by any of the flashiness of it. She stabilised me, calmed me down, helped me grow up and mellow, and was totally supportive when everything was going downhill through my injuries.
“We’re not ruling out having another child – a boy would be nice – but not for a couple of years, because we’re so enjoying life and our girls at the moment.” How do you look after your health and wellbeing? “GOING to the gym played a big part in coming to terms with my retirement. Retiring can be a dark place for footballers, because the sport is all you’ve known. My dad’s a football coach and I started playing aged five, so it was very hard.
“Testing myself physically and mentally like I did as a player is something I still crave, and now I do it in the gym. In the early days, it gave me a routine.
“Also, let’s be honest, I want to look half decent when I go to the beach and take my top off.
How do you relax?
“I DO all the cooking at home, and experimenting with food is my hobby. “Me and Gary (Lineker) both love cooking and we’re in a cook-off. I check out his dishes on Instagram – one of his specialities is clam linguine – and try to copy them. He’s way better than me though.
“I have to get cunning to make sure the kids get all their vegetables and fruit. I try to include them in everything, from pizzas to ice lollies. Sometimes it works, but occasionally they go all fussy. It’s a constant battle as any parent knows.”
Jermaine Jenas is an Eat Like A Pro by Beko ambassador. The campaign is designed to inspire families to eat more healthily. Recipes, tips and additional information are available at beko.co.uk/ eatlikeapro