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2002. He went on to win the Premier League title in his first year there. By then, he had met accountant Rebecca, who moved with him from London to Cheshire. They wed in 2009 and had three children – sons Lorenz, Tate and daughter Tia.
Rebecca died in May 2015 after a short battle with breast cancer at the young age of 34.
She had kept her illness private after being diagnosed in 2014 and receiving treatment.
She thought she was clear of the disease, but her cancer returned and spread to her bones.
Rio confirmed his beloved wife’s death in a heartbreaking statement that read: “My soul mate slipped away last night. She was a fantastic loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter.
“She will live on in our memory, as a guide and inspiration.”
But even as she faced her own death, Rebecca’s thoughts were for her husband. It kills me to think of Rio with a new partner,” Rebecca told a friend before she died.
Tribute
“But you know what kills me even more? Thinking of him alone and lonely. If I don’t make it, I don’t want Rio to be miserable. I want him to be happy.”
Two years after Rebecca died, Rio lost his mum Janice to breast cancer. He penned a moving tribute to the woman who had got him through his toughest patch.
He wrote: “At my most difficult time, you were my shining light & made it your mission to be there for me & my kids... trust me that will never be forgotten.
“You are the most selfless and giving person I have ever known, which came from a place of love.”
Since retiring from football in 2015, Rio has forged a successful career as a BT Sport TV pundit.
Last year he filmed a well-received documentary about losing his wife called Being Mum And Dad.
He also attempted to launch a boxing career in 2017 but was refused a licence.
While Rio admits thinking he could never be happy again after Rebecca’s death, that all changed when he met his Miss Wright.
She was appearing on Towie, unhappy in a rocky relationship with her on-off boyfriend of six years, Dan Edgar.
When the pair met through mutual friends in Dubai at the end of 2016, it was love at first sight.
By September 2017, Kate quit Towie to focus on her relationship with Rio – and caring for his kids.
But Rebecca is not forgotten – Kate, 27, keeps her memory alive, saying: “Their mum is irreplaceable – we celebrate her birthday, we go to the cemetery together.”
Last week, Rio popped the question to a thrilled Kate on a helipad in Abu Dhabi.
Now at 40, it looks like Rio will have a birthday to remember.