Vinnie Jones has admitted he thought he was ‘done’ with relationships after the tragic death of his wife, Tanya, back in 2019.
But the former footballer is now happy with new partner Emma Ford, with the ex-Wimbledon, Leeds, Sheffield United and Chelsea star opening up on their blossoming romance.
Jones lost wife Tanya to cancer in 2019. He was by her side as she passed away at their home in Los Angeles and, now, he’s admitted he didn’t initially see himself dating again.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “I never thought this would happen in a million years.
Vinnie Jones has admitted he thought he was ‘done’ with relationships after the tragic death of his wife, Tanya, back in 2019
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“After that, I thought ‘I’m done’.”
Fast-forward to now, however, and Jones is very much in love with Ford – who is a film producer and director.
“You think and say a lot of things when the tragedy first happens,” he continued.
“I don’t think I said I would never have a girlfriend again, but I didn’t think I would at the time.
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“As time goes on you move centimetres forward. Different things come to life again in your body and your soul and your heart.”
Jones explains that he felt ‘lonely’ after Tanya’s death. After her funeral, he said people struggled to approach him.
He was particularly isolated during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. In his own words, he says the calls ‘dried up’ and that he was full of ‘anger’ and ‘pain’.
“I was on my own after the funeral, after everybody had gone,” he revealed.
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“Everybody dried up with calls and texts and all that. They had nothing else to say.
“That’s when it got lonely. It’s so weird. It’s anger, it’s pain, it’s remorse.
“But also rejoicing. We had a million times more great days than we had bad. It’s a strange thing to get through.”
Jones met Emma through a mutual friend. He says their bond was strengthened while filming a new series for Discovery+ and that he’s ‘moving forward’ with his life.
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Vinnie Jones tragically lost his wife Tanya Jones to cancer in 2019
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The former defender, who won four trophies in his career, believes Tanya would have wanted him to be happy.
He also says his grown-up children are delighted for him, too.
“Emma’s life has been very much like mine: left home at 15 and a go-getter, if you don’t work you don’t eat,” he said.
“With Tans, everything was on me. Tans was a homemaker, she looked after the family and I took care of everything else.
Vinnie Jones won four trophies during his career in football
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“Whereas it’s different with me and Emma. She’s got her track, I’ve got my track, we’ve got our track.
“Tans would want me happy. One hundred per cent. You can’t live on a big farm on your own, eating kebabs every night. It’s not right.”