Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright has four sons: Shaun Wright-Phillips, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Brett Wright and Stacey Wright. Two became internationally recognized professional footballers, while the others have largely stayed away from the public spotlight.
The Wright family is attracting renewed attention in October 2026 because Shaun Wright-Phillips is competing on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, introducing the former England winger to audiences beyond football.
Wright, 62, has eight children altogether from four relationships. His family story includes adoption, professional sporting achievements and a football legacy that now extends into a third generation.
How Many Sons?
Ian Wright has four sons and four daughters.
His sons are Shaun Wright-Phillips, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Brett Wright and Stacey Wright.
Shaun is his adopted son, while Bradley, Brett and Stacey are his biological children.
Shaun and Bradley are the best known because of their successful football careers.
Brett had opportunities in football but did not establish a comparable professional career.
Stacey has maintained a quieter public profile and has previously been associated with rugby.
Wright has discussed his children and relationships in his autobiography, A Life in Football, offering an unusually candid account of fatherhood.
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Shaun Wright-Phillips was born on October 25, 1981, and is Ian Wright’s eldest son.
Wright adopted Shaun when he was approximately three years old after beginning a relationship with his mother, Sharon Phillips.
Shaun developed into an outstanding footballer, becoming known for his pace, dribbling and attacking ability.
He began his senior career at Manchester City before joining Chelsea in 2005.
At Chelsea, he won the Premier League title and domestic cup trophies.
Shaun later returned to Manchester City and also represented Queens Park Rangers.
He earned 36 England international caps, establishing himself as a respected winger.
Following retirement, he moved into broadcasting, football analysis and ambassadorial work.
Strictly Come Dancing
Shaun Wright-Phillips joined the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing, marking a major change from his football career.
The former England international was announced as a contestant in July 2026.
He was partnered with professional dancer Alexis Warr for the BBC competition.
His participation has introduced him to viewers who may be less familiar with his achievements at Manchester City and Chelsea.
The show requires contestants to learn ballroom and Latin routines, presenting challenges very different from professional football.
Shaun has acknowledged that dancing professionally is outside his comfort zone.
His father has also shown support during the competition, adding a family connection to his television appearances.
Bradley Wright-Phillips
Bradley Wright-Phillips was born on March 12, 1985, and is Ian Wright’s biological son with Sharon Phillips.
Like his father, Bradley became a professional striker.
He began his senior career with Manchester City before playing for Southampton, Plymouth Argyle and Charlton Athletic.
His most successful period came after moving to Major League Soccer.
Bradley joined the New York Red Bulls in 2013 and became one of the most prolific goalscorers in the club’s history.
He won the MLS Golden Boot in 2014 and 2016.
His consistency, intelligent movement and finishing ability made him one of the league’s standout attacking players.
He eventually retired from professional football after a successful career in England and the United States.
Brett Wright
Brett Wright is Ian Wright’s third son, born from a relationship outside his marriages.
Unlike Shaun and Bradley, Brett did not establish a long-term career in top-level professional football.
He reportedly spent time pursuing opportunities in the sport, including a trial with Reading in 2005.
However, his football career did not develop into the same public success achieved by his father and brothers.
Brett has generally maintained a private life.
Information about his current professional activities and personal relationships remains limited.
Although he belongs to a famous sporting family, he has chosen to stay largely outside media attention.
Stacey Wright
Stacey Wright is Ian Wright’s fourth son, born during his marriage to Deborah Wright.
Ian married Deborah, also known as Debbie, in 1993.
The couple had two children together: Stacey and daughter Bobbi-Lee.
Stacey grew up during the later years of his father’s professional football career.
Unlike Shaun and Bradley, he did not pursue a widely recognized career in professional football.
Earlier accounts have described Stacey as a keen rugby player who attended Whitgift School in Croydon.
He has generally avoided the publicity associated with his father’s broadcasting career.
His personal and professional activities are not extensively documented in the public domain.
Their Mothers
Ian Wright’s four sons were born or raised through different relationships.
Shaun and Bradley share the same mother, Sharon Phillips.
Wright adopted Shaun during his relationship with Sharon, and the couple later welcomed Bradley.
Brett was born from another relationship.
Stacey is Wright’s son with his former wife Deborah.
Wright and Deborah married in 1993 and separated in 2004.
He later married Nancy Hallam in 2011, and they have two daughters together, Lola and Roxanne.
The former Arsenal striker has spoken openly about the complexities of his family history.
Football Grandson
Ian Wright’s grandson D’Margio Wright-Phillips has also pursued professional football, extending the family’s sporting tradition into a third generation.
D’Margio is Shaun Wright-Phillips’ son.
He developed through Manchester City’s youth system before joining Stoke City.
His career has included professional football in England and opportunities to develop internationally.
For Ian Wright, watching another generation pursue football represents a continuation of the sporting legacy established during his own playing career.
The family now includes several footballers who have competed at professional level.
Ian Wright’s Legacy
Ian Wright remains one of Arsenal’s most celebrated former strikers.
He scored 185 Premier League goals and became a major figure in English football during the 1990s.
After retiring, he established a successful broadcasting career through television analysis and football commentary.
His influence is also visible through his sons.
Shaun enjoyed success in the Premier League and with England, while Bradley became a celebrated goalscorer in Major League Soccer.
Brett and Stacey have followed more private paths.
Ian Wright’s four sons have different stories, but together they form an important part of the former Arsenal star’s family legacy.
With Shaun appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2026 and grandson D’Margio continuing his football journey, the Wright family remains connected to British sporting and entertainment culture.
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