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Former France and Manchester United footballer Patrice Evra has been in the news a lot since his retirement
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Evra is believed to be worth around $10 million
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Read below for more information on the five-time Premier League winner's life off the football pitch
We’re nearing a decade since Patrice Evra was a meaningful factor in Premier League odds. Yet, Evra remains a prominent figure on social media and in football.
His antics on and off camera often end up in the headlines, as have some unsavoury stories from his personal life.
Even if you were regularly looking to bet on football in his pomp, how much do you know about Patrice Evra? We’ve got the main stories covered here.
Net Worth
Patrice Evra’s net worth is reportedly around $10 million.
While his career included several other clubs, the majority of his playing earnings will have come from the decade-plus he spent at Manchester United and Juventus.
Two teams in the mix for the most successful football club in Europe honour, Evra’s wages will have been sky-high in Manchester and Turin.
The figures at his other stops like Monaco, Marseille and West Ham will surely have been far more reasonable by elite footballer standards.
Wife
Patrice Evra was married to Sandra Evra, though the couple filed for divorce in 2020. Sandra found out that Patrice was having an affair when new girlfriend Margaux Alexandra posted photos of the family home on Instagram.
There have been various other reports of Patrice being unfaithful, including photos kissing Danielle Silvester in 2010 and accusations that he slept with Carla Howe in 2013.
The acrimonious split hit the headlines with Sandra giving an interview to British tabloids. Sandra said that Patrice had left on a two-week long work trip and never returned, eventually filing for divorce. He failed to return her calls for weeks.
Speaking about the split, Sandra said, “That was the worst day of my life. I was devastated, distraught. I have been left paying all my credit cards and the Netflix bill. It has taken me a long time to realise what he's like (...) He has turned into a rat.”
Kids
Patrice Evra has five children. Lenny and Maona are the children of Sandra Evra, while news broke in October 2020 that the former Manchester United star secretly fathered two children with doctor Gabriella Birley.
The ex-France international then welcomed a fifth child in 2021 with his now fiancée Margaux Alexandra.
Evra shared a photo on Instagram soon after the birth with an emotional caption, "Special moments skin to skin with our son Lilas Latyr Evra aka mister 'I love this game' Jr. Born Monday 3rd May 2021.
"I can't describe how lucky, blessed and proud I'm of Margaux. You were powerful not because you weren’t scared but because you went on so strongly despite your fear. You’re my rock my universe my everything!"
While Evra is happily posting about his new life, Sandra has unsurprisingly been hit hard by his secret life.
According to reports soon after the news broke, a source close to the family said, “Sandra will be devastated. He has led a double life and betrayed her for years. Her children have a half brother and sister. It is a lot to get your head round.”
Suarez
Patrice Evra accused Luis Suarez of using racist language during a match between Manchester United and Liverpool in 2011/12.
An FA report from 2012 provided details of the incident.
Here’s a section from that report, "Mr Evra said that at the time Mr Suarez made that comment, he (Mr Evra) understood it to mean 'Because you are a n*****'.
The then-Liverpool striker was banned for eight matches and fined £40,000. Liverpool were widely criticised for wearing t-shirts in support of the Uruguayan, a decision which players involved and the club have since expressed regret about.
Evra said, "When I did the punditry on Sky and Jamie Carragher apologised after eight years, I was so surprised.
“He said they made a big mistake that day and he apologised. It really touched me and now I will respect Liverpool as a football club because, when this happened, I was really disappointed with the club.
"I received an email from the chairman of Liverpool apologising for what happened nine years ago. He said I was welcome to come to Liverpool if I need anything.
"It really touched me because it’s better late than never, but I was surprised that Liverpool supported that kind of attitude.”
Chicken
There are a lot of strange things on the internet. Few are as bizarre as Patrice Evra’s chicken video to ‘celebrate’ Thanksgiving in 2018.
Evra filmed himself caressing and kissing a raw chicken, in what can only be described as an alarmingly intimate relationship.
While his lively personality might lead some to naming him among the best football pundits, this video was met with universal repulsion.
Speaking to FourFourTwo in 2021, Evra gave an explanation of sorts for this peculiar social media post. He said, “I don’t recognise the person who did that. When I see it now I think, ‘What the hell?!’”
"I was at home one day and something in my head said, ‘Let’s be funny’. It was Thanksgiving and I just wanted to make people laugh, so I slapped and kissed a dead, uncooked chicken.
"The worst part was being in Switzerland a few months later. A man asked for a picture and the lady with him said, 'I knew him! The man who licked the chicken.'
"I was like, ‘Well done Patrice, you should be proud...’”
Patrice Evra is incredibly active on Instagram. Nearing nine million followers on the platform, his ‘I love this game’ catchphrase has been a viral sensation in recent years.
Posting from the username @Patrice.Evra, the account has also been a subject of controversy at times.
It’s not the place to find the best Premier League predictions by any means, but many enjoy Evra’s content.
Autobiography
Appropriately, Patrice Evra’s autobiography is called ‘I Love This Game’.
Released in October 2021, Evra’s revealing book features stories both of the amusing and emotional variety along with insights into playing under Alex Ferguson and with iconic names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 11th December 2021
