Ryan Giggs is set to become a father for the third time at 50, according to reports.
The retired Manchester United footballer and his lingerie model girlfriend Zara Charles, 36, who have been in a relationship since 2021, are said to be expecting their first child together later this year.
Ryan has a son, Zach, 17, and a daughter, Libby, 19, from his 10-year marriage to Stacey Cooke, while Zara has a daughter from a previous marriage.
Insiders claim Ryan’s ex wife Stacey – who divorced him in 2017 – has also given her blessing as well as their children.
‘Ryan was nervous about what his kids would think but they’ve got to know Zara over the last few years and really like her. They’re happy because they know he’s happy,’ a source told The Sun.
Ryan Giggs is set to welcome a child with his lingerie model girlfriend Zara Charles, 36, according to reports (pictured together in Manchester earlier this month)
The retired footballer and his lingerie model girlfriend Zara Charles, 36, are said to be expecting their first child together later this year (pictured last year)
‘But they’ve joked that he might struggle with the early mornings and lack of sleep. Ryan and Zara are thrilled at the prospect of becoming parents again, they have a very solid, loving relationship and are building a long-term future together.’
Another source told the publication: ‘Stacey approves of Zara. Her and Ryan have been through a lot but they have moved on and she’s only interested in him being happy, because that makes him a good dad to their kids. There is no animosity.’
MailOnline has contacted Ryan’s representatives for comment.
Stacey and Ryan divorced in 2017 after it was revealed he had been having an eight-year affair with his brother’s wife, Natasha.
Members of his family cut ties with him when the news broke, his dad saying he was ‘ashamed’ of his son while his brother, Rhodri, made headlines appearing on a Paddy Power advert mocking the former Manchester United man.
The marriage survived the affair – as well as Ryan cheating with Big Brother star Imogen Thomas – but they separated in 2016.
According to Leiper Gupta Family Lawyers, the divorce could have cost Ryan £20million, but the pair’s lawyers said they remained ‘firm friends’.
Ryan and Zara’s exciting news comes after the former footballer returned to work as Director of Football at Salford City, the club he co-owns, after being cleared of assaulting former girlfriend Kate Greville in 2023.
Ryan has son Zach, 17, and daughter Libby, 19, from his 10-year marriage to Stacey Cooke (pictured), while Zara has a daughter from a previous marriage
Stacey and Ryan divorced in 2017 after it was revealed he had been having an eight-year affair with his brother’s wife, Natasha (pictured 2010)
He was facing charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over an alleged headbutt on Katie plus further counts of coercive or controlling behaviour against her and common assault against her sister Emma.
But, in a 10-minute court hearing, the prosecution offered no evidence and Judge Hilary Manley said: ‘I formally enter not guilty verdicts in respect of each of the three counts.’
Chris Daw KC, defending Ryan, said his client is ‘deeply relieved the prosecution has finally come to an end after almost three years in which he’s been fighting throughout to clear his name’, adding: ‘He has always been innocent of these charges – there’s been very, very many lies told about him in court.’
It was then revealed how the case began to fall apart when Katie said she did not want to testify due to the effects of the process on her ‘mental and physical well-being.’
However lawyers for Ryan said he ‘did not buy’ her reasoning, insisting the prosecution was put off by new information uncovered by the defence.
This included a cosmetic procedure to have lip fillers on or around the day of the alleged headbutt and several days before she was pictured with apparently swollen and bruised lips as a result of the alleged attack.
The news comes after the former footballer returned to work as Director of Football at Salford City, the club he co-owns, after being cleared of assaulting ex girlfriend Kate Greville in 2023
He was facing charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over an alleged headbutt on Katie (pictured) plus further counts of coercive or controlling behaviour against her
Ryan’s barrister said his client was ‘looking forward to rebuilding his life and career as an innocent man’.
Jurors had failed to reach a verdict following an original, 11-day trial last year, after 22 hours and 59 minutes’ deliberations.
The decision not to go ahead was revealed during the short pre-trial review hearing at Manchester Crown Court in August 2023, with neither Ryan nor Katie in attendance.
Peter Wright KC, prosecuting, said the original trial over the alleged assault at Giggs’ home in November 2020 was ‘a process that has taken its toll’ on PR consultant Katie and her sister.
