For a very long time, Olivier Giroud was rather discreet about his private life. At the beginning of 2022, the French striker joined social networks—rather late for a football player. Olivier Giroud has often been the target of criticism, but has always been able to count on the support of his wife Jennifer.
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A long-standing relationship
Like Olivier Giroud, Jennifer was born in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in the south of France. She met the future world champion in high school. It was love at first sight, and the young woman decided to follow her partner's dream of becoming a professional footballer. Olivier Giroud started out in Grenoble, and unlike a player like Kylian Mbappé, his explosion at the highest level came much later.
It was at the age of 24 that he was discovered by the French national team, when he was crowned champion of France with Montpellier, in a season in which he scored 21 league goals and won the league's top scorer award. A few months earlier, Olivier Giroud had got married and sealed his union with Jennifer—that was in 2011.
An unpredictable life trajectory
Jennifer Giroud studied dermatology and cosmetology, but was forced to put her personal career on hold to accompany her husband, who joined Arsenal in 2012. Speaking to French TV show Zone Interdite, Jennifer Giroud confided that she could have had a professional career, but decided to be present, as much as possible, to help her partner and look after their children. She also explained that she was shocked by the trajectory of her life and her husband's career.
I never expected to have the life we've had over the last few years. It's true that at the time, when Olivier and I met, it was 16 years ago, so he wasn't a professional footballer at all, we were both students, so it's true that I imagined a totally classic life with children, a house, a job each, and surrounded by our family and friends in Grenoble, quite simply.
Early retirement in Los Angeles for the Giroud family
In the end, Jennifer's life was to be drastically different, with lots of travelling. Jennifer has followed her husband to London, France, Milan and even abroad during international competitions, like in Russia during the 2018 World Cup, where Les Bleus became world champions.
However, that hasn't stopped the couple from welcoming four children. Jade (2013), Evan (2016), Aaron (2018) and Aria (2020). The Giroud family will soon be moving again, as the 37-year-old leaves AC Milan to join his friend Hugo Lloris at Los Angeles FC in the MLS. An exotic but attractive destination.
A final feat at Euro 2024?
Before that, Olivier Giroud will be looking to win the only major title missing from his trophy cabinet, the Euro. The 2024 edition will take place in Germany, and the former Chelsea player was announced in 16 May 2024 as one of the strikers selected by Didier Deschamps. For many, this competition is understood to be Giroud's last with the French national team.
Olivier Giroud and the rest of Les Bleus are in Group D, along with Austria, Poland and the Netherlands. Les Bleus' all-time top scorer (57 goals) has the opportunity to finish on a high note, before preparing for a more peaceful pre-retirement in the sunshine, with wife and children, in the United States.
This article has been translated from Gentside FR.
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Sources:
Zone Interdite - M6
Le Monde: Liste de Didier Deschamps pour l’Euro 2024 : N’Golo Kanté de retour, Ferland Mendy appelé en défense, une première pour Bradley Barcola
