Nathan Buckley may be known for his long AFL career, but it’s his love life that has been making headlines recently.
The former Collingwood coach separated from his wife of 18 years in 2020, before connecting with a new flame that sent social media into a frenzy.
While the 49-year-old tends to play things close to the chest when it comes to romance, he revealed on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! that dating comes at a cost when you have a public profile.
“I’m going through a separation. So, I’ve been out of home for 18 months, a bit over 18 months, nearly two years,” he revealed in the jungle.
“The paps are following my ex-wife and sometimes with my boys. And they’re also looking for photos of me with my current partner.”
So, what do we know about Nathan’s marriage and its eventual breakdown? And who is the new woman in his life? Read on to find out.
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Who is Nathan Buckley dating?
Nathan and Alex keep their romance mostly private.
(Image: Getty/Instagram)The AFL legend is currently in a relationship with cosmetic nurse Alex Pike, though the pair have chosen to keep their romance mostly private.
Alex, 44, and Nathan were first linked in early 2021, with an alleged friend telling The Herald Sun that the connection between the pair was “effortless”.
“They are just into normal stuff, yoga, natural health, keeping fit and staying positive,” the source said.
Mum-of-three Alex all but confirmed she and Nathan were dating when she posted a photo cuddled up to him a few months later to mark his 49th birthday.
While the pair have shared snaps together since, you won’t find them gushing about their romance to the press very often.
In a rare interview with The Herald Sun in December last year, Alex revealed that she is “very private about the relationship” but added that she and Nathan “have a wonderful connection”.
Has Nathan been married before?
Nathan was previously married to Tania Minnici for 18 years.
(Image: Getty)Yes! The 49-year-old was married to ex-wife Tania Minnici for 18 years before they announced their separation in late 2020.
The pair first met in 1999 at a St Kilda restaurant, where they hit it off after Tania asked where Nathan’s wife and kids were.
“He said, ‘No, I’m not married and I don’t have kids’. So I thought, ‘Oh, OK then’, and I gave him a cheeky smile,” she recalled to The Herald Sun in 2011.
A whirlwind romance followed and the couple wed in 2002 after Nathan asked Tania to marry him at a family barbecue (how Australian!).
Next on their to-do list was start a family, but when conceiving a child became difficult the pair turned to IVF to make their dream come true.
Tania confessed it was a “physically and mentally taxing” process in an interview with The Adviser, but the couple got lucky and fell pregnant on their first try.
They welcomed son Jett in 2006, then were surprised when they managed to conceive a second child naturally, with son Ayce arriving two years later.
Sadly, Nathan and Tania’s marriage didn’t last and they decided to separate in 2020.
What did Nathan and Tania say about the split?
The couple announced their marriage was over in 2020.
(Image: Getty)Rumours had been circulating about their split for some time before Tania and Nathan confirmed the news in a joint statement.
“It is with the utmost love and respect for each other and a true commitment to our sons, that we have made a decision to separate in January,” it read.
“We remain dedicated parents and in the interests of our boys, we ask for our family to be given the privacy that is needed.
“We thank everyone in advance for understanding our request and for the unconditional love and support we have received throughout our marriage.”
The former couple are currently co-parenting their sons, Nathan confessing in a documentary called From The Inside Out that he does his best with his boys.
“I often wonder whether I should be harder or whether I should provide more love and care.”
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