By Tom Sunderland

Copyright walesonline

Former Cardiff City striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will return to the spotlight on the forthcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing . But beyond merely securing a paycheque, Hasselbaink has already disclosed his touching reasons for taking to the ballroom floor. After confirming his spot on the BBC hit show, the ex- Chelsea and Leeds forward explained: “The drive is more about showing my girls that I can put myself in a vulnerable position and try to learn a new skill, try to compete and work hard to become better and be open-minded.” This sentiment feels particularly apt given two of Hasselbaink’s four daughters motivated him through their appearances in a Netflix adaptation of a widely beloved film. His spouse, however, chooses to remain away from the public eye as Wales Online examines some of the peaks and troughs the footballing legend has encountered over the years. Scant details are available regarding Hasselbaink’s wife, and one would suspect this absence from public view is deliberate. Nevertheless, there have been those infrequent moments when partner Natalie has been photographed alongside the former Premier League goal machine. It’s believed the pair exchanged vows in 2012, shortly before Jimmy embarked upon his journey into senior management. The Sun reported the couple married at Cowarth Park in Ascot. Based on her private Instagram profile, the enigmatic Mrs Hasselbaink appears to have some connection to developmental language disorder (DLD). Beyond this, the couple are parents to three daughters together, while Hasselbaink also has an additional daughter from an earlier relationship. When it comes to the family’s broader circle, Hasselbaink, who ended his playing career in Cardiff , has two daughters who are already creating ripples in the entertainment industry. This follows Miah and Lauren Hasselbaink’s appearances in Netflix’s adaptation of Matilda the Musical back in 2022. The siblings took on supporting parts in the blockbuster production, which boasted A-list talent including Stephen Graham, Emma Thompson and Lashana Lynch. Both girls are currently under the wing of Mary Liz Management, while Miah has already secured additional work, featuring in The Man In My Basement alongside Willem Dafoe. Drawing parallels between his own Strictly journey and his daughters’ artistic pursuits, Hasselbaink emphasised his delight in immersing himself in their creative worlds. And his venture into the ballroom arena could well prove the most formidable challenge of his professional life thus far. “That’s our thing. I’ve got a daughter as well that used to be in the West End and does performing arts and drama,” he told Covers. “She can dance and sing, and my middle daughter as well. So, the dancing and the singing and stuff. “It is very common in my household. They are not footballers, so I have to integrate myself into their world, which I do with all pleasure.” One of the most troubling chapters in Hasselbaink’s career centres on allegations of misconduct that emerged following a Telegraph undercover investigation in 2016. The newspaper’s sting operation claimed Hasselbaink had travelled to Singapore and discussed a £55,000 payment for Queens Park Rangers, where he was manager, to sign specific players. Reporters disguised themselves as representatives from a bogus investment company seeking involvement in player transfers. The Telegraph reported Hasselbaink as stating (regarding a fee): “Look, just try to make me happy… come up with a nice figure.” QPR issued a statement supporting their boss at the time, though he was dismissed from his role approximately five weeks afterwards. Sky Sports revealed the Dutchman was “devastated” by the claims, with Hasselbaink refuting any wrongdoing while acknowledging he may have been “naïve. “You reflect, you think back and you criticise yourself and you must say that I have been naïve,” he said in September 2016, the day after the Telegraph’s report went live. “But then, with everything with it, I have never asked for money for myself to take a player or to bring a player to the club. I would never do that. That’s the painful thing about it.” Hasselbaink wasn’t the sole football personality implicated in the investigation, with at least one other official resigning from his role as a consequence. Hasselbaink subsequently managed Northampton Town and Burton Albion before accepting an assistant coaching position with England’s national team, a role he departed last year.