Once the most expensive British footballer of all time, Andy Carroll was undoubtedly destined for great things at one point during his career.
But away from the beautiful game, the Geordie footballer was often hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons back in the day.
Nightclub fights, boozy nights out, assault allegations, altercations with teammates - Andy's off-the-pitch dramas over the years have even earnt themselves their own dedicated section on his Wikipedia page due to the sheer volume of incidents.
But the last decade has seen the 6'4 striker, 33, rebrand as a loving father and doting fiancée, thanks to his romance with former TOWIE star Billi Mucklow.
The former reality TV star - who shares three children with the footballer - is often credited with helping tame football's one-time wild child and create his new wholesome image.
But as pictures emerge of the former England international in bed with another blonde woman, it seems Andy may not have completely said goodbye to his party boy lifestyle.
The woman in the snap insists "nothing sexual happened" when she visited the footballer's hotel room with friends during his stag do - claiming she took the picture as a joke and to send to friends.
As we wait for either Billi or Andy to comment on the afterparty snap, we take a look at their romance and how the Bikram yoga helped the former Liverpool player "grow up".
Family set up
Billi and Andy were first rumoured to be dating back in 2014 - back when the sports star was out injured for West Ham and the mum-of-three had just quit TOWIE to focus on her yoga business.
Things got serious pretty quickly and the pair have now welcomed three children into the world together, alongside raising Andy's two children from previous relationships.
Speaking in 2019 - prior to his youngest child being born - the recently-released footballer praised his beau Billi for helping him change his lifestyle.
"I’ve got no doubt that I was daft when I was here, and no doubt that I was daft for a couple of years after as well," Andy told nufc.co.uk.
"But I met my missus, and we’ve got four kids living at home now, we’ve got animals, we’ve got responsibilities. There’s no more behaviour like it was, you know. I was stupid, I was young, and I was carried away with the lifestyle that I had.
"Now it’s completely different. I’m actually a dad, I’ve grown up, and got responsibilities, so… I’ve got a purpose."
Wholesome days out
As a former reality TV star and a professional footballer, Billi and Andy wouldn't look out of place in nightclubs and at showbiz events together.
But although that was Andy's lifestyle at one point, Billi seems to have encouraged more wholesome family days out over the years.
The couple live in a £5million mansion in Chigwell with their three children - sons Arlo and Wolf and daughter Marvel Mae, who was born in September 2020 - and Andy's two children from previous relationships, daughter Emilie Rose and son Lucas.
Both their social media feeds are often filled with snaps of walks on local beaches, days out with their children and other activities a million miles away from Andy's former party boy lifestyle.
Quick proposal
Billie's influence on Andy was clearly quickly noted by the footballer, with the dad-of-five popping the question just months after meeting the former TV star.
The pair announced their engagement in November 2014, with Billi telling her Instagram followers: "Last Night The Love Of My Life Asked Me To Marry Him - I'm So Happy! @andytcarroll You Are My Everything And I Can't Wait To Be Your Wife! #MrsCarroll."
The former West Ham player got down on one knee as the couple enjoyed a mini-break in Rome, Italy.
After an eight-year engagement - and welcoming three children along the way - the pair are set to tie the knot next month.
Earlier this year, as Andy turned 33, Billi paid tribute to her future husband, and looked forward to the day they finally become a married couple.
"Happy Birthday AC I love you and our crazy life," the star captioned a collection of cute pictures of her and beau Andy.
She added: "This year is all about me and you and celebrating everything we have achieved together so far and planning for our future as we become husband and wife! Today is the one day of the year it’s about you. let’s make it’s a day & year to remember!"
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033
