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Model-actress Alena Seredova and husband Gianluigi Buffon, Italy’s goalkeeper, made their marriage split official in May, just one month before the World Cup.
The two had been living separately before Buffon’s announcement, he told Sky TV.
Here’s what you need to know about the newly single model, actress and mother who will be sorely missed by the cameramen in Brazil.
1. Seredova & Buffon Separated After 3 Years of Marriage
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The Italian power couple were engaged for six years before their marriage on June 16, 2011. Despite the recent split, Buffon’s coach, Cesare Prandelli, is confident his goalkeeper will be ready for the Fifa World Cup, according to his quotes in the Daily Mail:
I was surprised by his statement. I’m sorry, because whenever there’s a separation it’s upsetting for everyone. But the serenity with which he made the announcement leads to believe that he’s mentally ready for this event.
Seredova accompanied the couple’s sons to his Europa League final game, and he told Sky TV he appreciates her “not creating problems in public” during their time apart:
It was her who brought them to the stadium. And I would like for them to come to Brazil — that would really please me. You can’t ever forget that the first obligation we have is to make sure your kids grow up with the utmost serenity, no matter the fact that our roads could part.
2. She Shares Two Sons With Buffon
Seredova gave birth to her first son, Louis Thomas, on December 28, 2007, and their second son, David Lee, arrived two years later on October 31, 2009. The family, sans Buffon, traveled to New York City for the Easter holiday, as pictured on the model’s Instagram account. They also celebrated their dog Sprint’s first birthday on May 16.
Tanti Auguri Sprint …
Happy Birthday Sprint …
#Sprint1year pic.twitter.com/74I8jd5vuX
— Alena Šeredová (@alenkaseredova) May 16, 2014
3. She Represented the Czech Republic at the 1998 Miss World Pageant
Seredova entered the modeling profession at age 15. Five years later, she placed runner-up for Miss Czech Republic in 1998, but the country chose her as its representative for the Miss World competition, where she placed fourth in the finals (see her entrance in the finals above).
She’s gone on to cover magazines such as Penthouse Europe, Playboy Europe, Spy, Extreme and Quo.
4. She Starred in a Movie With Danny DeVito
Seredova started acting in Italy and made her feature debut in Ho visto le stelle in 2003. The next year she starred with Italian cinema’s “golden couple” Massimo and Christian Boldi in Christmas in Love, according to IMDb. The film also starred American actor Danny DeVito.
5. She Was Engaged to an Italian Actor Before Buffon
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Seredova moved to Milan, Italy, in the early 2000s to be with her boyfriend/fiance, Edoardo Costa. Their relationship ended in 2005, and Costa explained the reason for their demise in an interview with Italy’s Who at the time:
We have experienced a long period of crisis between fights, arguments and bad feelings. There was no more passion, desire, enthusiasm. And then there arose, also because of the distance, our characters, perhaps even the mentality, definitely different. So, I realized that it made no sense to plan a future together [with] Alena.