Jermaine Anthony Jenas is a former professional footballer and current English pundit. He played as a central midfielder for several English clubs, including Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and Queens Park Rangers. Over his career, Jenas scored 39 goals in 341 league appearances. He also earned 21 caps for the England national team, netting one goal. This article delves into his life, career, and current status.
Jermaine Jenas Early Life & Education
Jenas was born on 18 February 1983 in Nottingham and has Afro-Caribbean and English heritage. His father, Dennis, originally had the surname Genas but changed it by deed poll to have the initials “D. J.” Dennis also played semi-professionally for Leicestershire non-league team Shepshed Charterhouse in the 1980s. Jenas grew up on a council estate and attended the Catholic Becket School in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.
Raised by his mother after his parents separated when he was eight, Jenas faced a tough upbringing. Despite racial challenges at the Catholic Becket School, his passion for football grew. He started his youth career at Nottingham Forest and made his professional debut at 17.
Jermaine Jenas Career
Jermaine played in the Premier League and represented England at various age levels before making his first-team debut for the Three Lions in 2003. His awards include PFA Young Player of the Year in 2003 and a Carling Cup Winner’s medal in 2008 with Tottenham Hotspur, when he moved from Newcastle for £7 million in 2005. Since retiring from football, Jermaine has established himself as a respected pundit for the BBC and BT Sport, delivering commentary and incisive analysis for both channels at home and abroad.
Jermaine made a good start to his punditry career in 2014 after quitting due to injuries. He has been on BT Sport, Match of the Day, Football Focus, and co-hosts the Friday Football Social for BBC Radio 5 Live with Darren Fletcher, which has been nominated for two AFA Awards. In 2019, Jermaine debuted MOTDx, a fresh new primetime show on BBC Two that comprises a rotating panel of performers debating current football and social topics.
Jermaine’s career has taken off since becoming the youngest ever pundit on Match of the Day, and he has covered some of football’s greatest games, including the 2016 European Championship and 2018 World Cup for the BBC. He was an excellent co-commentator who had the rare distinction of commentating on both the 2019 FA Cup Final for the BBC and the 2019 Champions League Final for BT Sport. Jermaine also works with worldwide broadcasters, like CBS and Amazon Prime.
Jermaine’s ability to communicate in front of a camera extends beyond football. His 2017 documentary for BBC Three showed his ability to address one of the country’s most important concerns among young people. Teenage Knife Wars, a documentary, saw him return to his hometown of Nottingham to study the increase in knife violence that is destroying young lives and families. He was also praised for his open and honest participation in the BBC’s A Royal Team Talk 2019, where he spoke on a panel about mental health in football alongside the Duke of Cambridge, Thierry Henry, Danny Rose, and Peter Crouch. In late 2019, Jermaine also launched a documentary on veganism in football, which broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
In 2020 and 2021, Jermaine expanded his television portfolio by officially joining The One Show team, co-hosting Monday-Wednesday with Alex Jones and interviewing high-profile celebrity names such as Dolly Parton, Annie Lennox, and David Dimbleby. Jermaine has also appeared on Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel on ITV and BBC One’s primetime House of Games Night, featuring Jennifer Saunders, Jason Manford, and Roisin Conaty. He also won a different type of trophy on Miranda Hart’s Games With Showbiz Names on BBC One, where he competed with his wife Ellie and other famous couples in a virtual night of competitive Christmas pandemonium.
Jermaine’s natural talent and versatility have allowed him to take on a variety of ambassadorial jobs, including successful campaigns for L’Oreal, Coca-Cola, Tag Heuer, Jacamo, Beko, and Mitre. In 2020, Jermaine collaborated with eBay and Kia on the ‘Bring the Noise’ campaign.
Jermaine Jenas Net Worth 2024
According to walesonline, Jenas is estimated to have a net worth of around £2 million.
The BBC’s annual report disclosed that the former midfielder earned between £190,000 and £194,999 in 2023. This income came from his appearances on the broadcaster’s football coverage and his role as a regular presenter on *The One Show*.
His finances have also benefited from partnerships with Jacamo, which reportedly paid him a six-figure sum, and a campaign with L’Oréal.
Additionally, he accumulated a significant amount during his playing career, with earnings estimated at about £50,000 a week while at Tottenham Hotspur.
Jermaine Jenas Dismissal from the BBC
On August 22, 2024, the BBC revealed that Jenas was no longer part of their presenting team following allegations of inappropriate behavior. The accusations involved digital communications with a female colleague from The One Show. An internal investigation was carried out, revealing messages that raised serious concerns among the investigators, ultimately resulting in his dismissal.
Following his dismissal, several women have reportedly stepped forward with new accusations of inappropriate behavior against Jenas. These claims emerged soon after news of his firing, suggesting a wider pattern of misconduct that has raised concerns within the BBC and beyond.
After his dismissal, Jenas conveyed his dissatisfaction with the situation through a spokesperson, stating that “there are two sides to every story.” He mentioned that he would leave the matter to his lawyers and refrained from making further public comments about the allegations.
Jermaine Jenas Car Collection
Jermaine Jenas, the former English footballer, has kept the details of his full car collection private. However, there was a notable incident in 2011 when Jenas crashed his Bentley Continental into the back of a van while driving in London. The accident resulted in substantial damage to his luxury sports car, but fortunately, no one was hurt.
Source – wreckedexotics
Jermaine Jenas Personal Life
Jenas lives with his wife, Ellie Penfold, their three children, and his daughter from a previous relationship.
He proposed to Ellie in 2009, and they married two years later. The family resides in a grand £1 million mansion in Hertfordshire. They frequently share glimpses of their family life on Instagram. However, their journey together wasn’t always smooth; they had a rocky start.
In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Jenas revealed that his future wife was initially put off by his “cocky” demeanor. She eventually issued him a firm ultimatum.
“She’s been a rock keeping the family going through tough times,” he said. “It was love at first sight when I saw her, but not for her. She wasn’t impressed by this cheeky, cocky guy who thought she’d be bowled over when I drove up in my Ferrari.
“She actually made me get rid of the car because it was too noisy! She’s told me she thought when we first met that I was a bit of an over-confident idiot, but I won her over finally.”
Jenas added: “She’s down-to-earth, not interested in football and was never impressed by any of the flashiness of it. She stabilised me, calmed me down, helped me grow up and mellow, and was totally supportive when everything was going downhill through my injuries.”