By Jake Bayliss,Tom Sunderland

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is the latest Premier League icon to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. The 53-year-old scored 27 points in his first week on the show, with his quickstep placing him joint third on the leaderboard. Beyond just earning a pay cheque, Hasselbaink has already shared his heartfelt reason for stepping onto the dance floor. Upon joining the popular BBC programme, the two-time Premier League golden boot winner said: “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.” It’s only fitting, considering two of Hasselbaink’s four daughters have inspired him by featuring in a Netflix adaptation of the well-loved film, Matilda. His wife, on the other hand, prefers to keep a low profile. Here is a closer look at Hasselbaink’s life away from the football pitch. Little is known about Hasselbaink’s wife, who appears to prefer staying out of the public eye. However, there have been rare instances when his partner Natalie has been pictured with the former Leeds United and Middlesbrough striker. The couple reportedly married in 2012, just before Hasselbaink embarked on his coaching career. The Sun reported that the pair were married at Coworth Park in Ascot. They are parents to three daughters together, while Hasselbaink also has another daughter from an earlier relationship. Two of Hasselbaink’s daughters have already started making their mark in the entertainment industry. His children Miah and Lauren Hasselbaink both appeared in the Netflix adaptation of Matilda the Musical in 2022. The sibling duo took on supporting characters in the blockbuster production, which boasted A-list talent including Stephen Graham, Emma Thompson and Lashana Lynch. Both girls are currently represented by Mary Liz Management and Miah has since featured in The Man In My Basement, which starred Willem Dafoe. Drawing parallels between his own Strictly journey and his daughters’ artistic pursuits, Hasselbaink insisted he was delighted to be immersing himself in a similarly creative world. The former England coach was aware of the difficulties that he could face by venturing into the Strictly ballroom. “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 revealed to Covers, as per the Mirror. “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 professional career came from allegations of misconduct that emerged after a Telegraph investigation in 2016. The newspaper’s sting operation alleged that Hasselbaink had travelled to Singapore and discussed a £55,000 payment for Queens Park Rangers, where he was managing at the time, in connection with purchasing specific players. Reporters posed as representatives from a bogus investment company seeking involvement in player transfers. The Telegraph alleged Hasselbaink stated (regarding a fee): “Look, just try to make me happy… come up with a nice figure.” QPR issued a statement supporting their manager at the time, though he was dismissed from his role around five weeks later. Sky Sports reported that the Dutchman was “devastated” by the allegations, with Hasselbaink refuting any wrongdoing while admitting he may have been “naive.” “You reflect, you think back and you criticise yourself and you must say that I have been naive,” he said in September 2016, the day after the Telegraph report was published. “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 was not the only football figure implicated in the probe, with another official resigning as a consequence. Following the incident, Hasselbaink took charge at Northampton Town and Burton Albion, before teaming up with his former Boro teammate Gareth Southgate as England assistant coach, a role he left last year.