Lionesses star Alex Greenwood's boyfriend is ex-Premier League player who had to retire at 29
Alex Greenwood will be hoping to have a similar performance to her stand-out showing against the Netherlands last week as the Lionesses face Sweden on Thursday evening. After making it through the group stages of the Women's Euros - though there was a moment of doubt early on - the England squad will be preparing hard for their quarter-final clash against the Swedes, with plenty of support from fans and family alike.
One person who has been in Greenwood's corner for some time is partner Jack O'Connell, who has been dating the England international since sixth-form college. Like the 31-year-old defender, former Premier League star O'Connell dedicated his life to football, having been a product of Blackburn Rovers ' academy.
He made one appearance for the Lancashire side and eventually signed for Brentford following a series of loans to Rotherham United, York City and Rochdale. O'Connell eventually settled into Sheffield United's starting XI in 2016 and played a key role in their promotion from League One to the top flight, spending seven years with the Blades.
The 31-year-old made 35 appearances in the Premier League, but injuries hampered his final two seasons with the Blades and he was forced to retire from the sport in 2023. O'Connell put a statement out regarding his departure from professional football on social media, which read: "This is a very difficult announcement for me to make, although Sheffield United fans will already know that for the past three seasons, I have been fighting to save my professional football career.
"Today, I am announcing my retirement from football. I have put my heart and soul into this recovery since my knee problems began in June 2020, but this is a battle I cannot win."
O'Connell also made sure to note his partner Greenwood's support throughout the ups and downs of his career, dubbing her a "supremely talented" player and person. He added: "Walking away from football will leave a void in my life - but I have made my peace with it.
"And I am grateful for the matches I played, the moments I lived out on the pitch, and to my team-mates - many of whom will be friends for life. It was all a dream come true.
"For now, some thanks. First, to partner Alex, who has given me support through my lowest moments. She is a supremely talented footballer and it has been a great consolation to be able to watch her career go from strength to strength. I am her biggest fan."
Following his own sad exit, O'Connell was on hand to console Greenwood that same year as England made it all the way to the Women's World Cup final in Australia, only to be bested 1-0 by champions Spain. The former defender was full of praise for his girlfriend's performance on the biggest stage, as he told Sky Sports: "[I'm] really proud of her.
"I've been there from the very start. I used to go and watch Alex when she was 16. It's unbelievable how far it's grown now. I'm her biggest critic as well. The standard that she sets herself, she has more to come. I get goosebumps when I think about it but I think she's one of the best centre-halves in the world and she still has gears to go through."
Now, Greenwood is aiming for even more international glory with the Lionesses, as they look to retain their Euros trophy in Switzerland. England will take on Sweden in the quarter-finals of the Euros, kicking off at 8pm on Thursday evening, after bouncing back from their opening 2-1 defeat to France with 4-0 and 6-1 wins over the Netherlands and Wales respectively.
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