France have done well as hosts of Euro 2016, and their men up front have been the highlight. Les Bleus have a formidable offense, with Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Dimitri Payet leading the highlights. But the real strength of France is at the back, where their captain has kept them ahead for most of the tournament.
In a Euro field containing some of the world’s best keepers, Hugo Lloris may be the best right now. The France and Tottenham captain is seeking his first major tournament trophy, having only won a French Cup thus far in his career. But he has also achieved success off the field, marrying the lovely Marine. The couple met in high school, when Hugo was already on his way to becoming the best keeper in France.
Read on to learn more about Hugo and Marine:
She Didn’t Like Soccer as a Young Girl
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Growing up, Marine didn’t care much for the sport her husband plays professionally. She’s stated that “as a teenager, (she) was not interested in football at all.”
These days, you can regularly find Marine on the sidelines either at White Hart Lane during the Premier League, or wherever France is scheduled. She is usually accompanied by other wives of French players, notably Jennifer Giroud and Ludivine Sagna.
Marine Recently Launched a Children’s Clothing Line
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Despite being married to Lloris since 2012, Marine is no typical WAG. She has degrees in both law and human resources, and in July launched her first clothing company.
She is the owner of Manège en Sucre, a company that produces high-end clothing for children ranging from three months to 12 years. The website reads, “The World of Manège en Sucre is one in which children…find their dream wardrobe. Comfort and thoughtful attention to details are intrinsic to every design.”
Hugo & Marine Have Two Daughters
The pair met on the school benches of Nice in 2002, and were wed 10 years later. They wed in a small ceremony in Nice at St. Francis Church de-Paule, characteristic of the no-frills couple. Their first daughter, Anna-Rose, was born shortly thereafter.
Their youngest, Giuliana, was born in 2014, shortly before Lloris captained France in the 2014 World Cup. Both daughters can be seen regularly supporting Hugo in the stands.
Hugo Started His Playing Career at 12 Years Old
Growing up in Nice, Lloris started with his hometown club at a tryout at age 12. He showed great anticipation and positioning for a youngster, and soon became a fixture youth-level French football. He moved up to the senior squad in 2002, and stayed with Nice until 2008. He moved to a bigger club but stayed in France, signing with Lyon. There he developed into a world-class keeper, regarded as the best in Ligue 1. He won Ligue 1’s Goalkeeper of the Year in three of his four seasons with Lyon.
Lloris has been playing for France since the U-18 squad, and moved into the senior team in 2008. He started for the team during the 2010 World Cup, and was named captain of the squad ahead of Euro 2012.
Hugo Signed a Five-Year Extension With Spurs in 2014
After Lyon, Lloris sought a bigger move away from France. He chose England, electing to play for Tottenham Hotspur. He has appeared a total of 167 times in four seasons for Spurs, and was named captain of the squad in 2014.
After being initially unimpressed under manager Tim Sherwood, Lloris gained confidence in the club’s future under Mauricio Pochettino. A renewed confidence in his manager and the future of the club led to Lloris signing a new five-year contract in 2014.