From Bus Stop to Berlin: The Enduring Love Story of Joe Gomez and His Childhood Sweetheart, Tamara Tia

As England prepares for the highly anticipated Euro 2024 Final against Spain, all eyes are on the 24 players selected to represent the Three Lions in Berlin. Among them is Liverpool and England defender Joe Gomez, whose resilience and recovery from career-threatening injuries have been central to his inclusion. Yet, behind the Premier League star’s success stands his rock—his wife and childhood sweetheart, Tamara Tia.

Their relationship, which began in the most adorable and unassuming fashion, has provided Gomez with the unwavering support necessary to navigate the highs of winning the Champions League and the lows of brutal, career-defining injuries.

Meet Tamara Tia: The Defender’s Anchor

Tamara Tia, born in December 1996 in Catford, England, is a testament to quiet strength and dedication. The 27-year-old is a highly educated individual, having graduated from Kingston University in 2018 with a degree in Business Management.

While Gomez faces the pressure of elite football, Tia has been his constant source of stability. Her supportive role was especially critical during the most challenging periods of his career. Gomez himself has publicly described Tia as an exceptionally supportive wife, a title she earned through action, most notably by helping him through a grueling 16-month period of recovery from a devastating cruciate ligament injury earlier in his career.

That particular injury was one of several setbacks that have tested Gomez’s career. His inclusion in the Euro 2024 squad is particularly poignant, as the last time he trained with the England team before this tournament, he had to leave the session in an ambulance following surgery to correct a tendon injury to his left knee in 2020. His recovery and subsequent recall to the England squad at the age of 27 underscores not only his physical resilience but also the powerful emotional support system he relies on at home.

A Love Story Beginning on the Number 75 Bus

The enduring love story between Joe Gomez and Tamara Tia is the stuff of romantic comedy folklore. Far from meeting in glitzy celebrity circles, the couple are childhood sweethearts whose romance began on a routine London transport route.

Their initial “meet cute” occurred on the Number 75 bus as the pair traveled to and from school in Catford, South London. This humble, relatable beginning has formed the foundation of a relationship that has successfully weathered the pressures of top-tier football stardom.

The couple’s commitment was formalized on Tamara’s 22nd birthday in December 2018, when Joe proposed. Tamara shared her joy with her followers on Instagram, marking the date as one she would cherish forever.

“27.12.18…” she wrote. “A day I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The love of my life asked me to marry him.” She added, “There aren’t enough words to describe the feeling I right now. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

The pair officially tied the knot in June 2021 during a private, intimate ceremony held at the picturesque Coworth Park, attended only by close family and friends. Following the wedding, they celebrated their bond with a honeymoon at the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Seychelles.

Champions League Joy and Fatherhood

Joe and Tamara are also parents. They share a son named Kyrie Gomez, who was born in June 2019.

The week of Kyrie’s birth proved to be one of the most remarkable of Joe Gomez’s life. In the very same week that he welcomed his newborn son into the world, Gomez also achieved the pinnacle of club football by winning the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool. The Reds defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final played in Madrid, capping an extraordinary seven days of personal and professional triumph.

As Gomez stands on the brink of potentially featuring in a major international final—a long way from his injury struggles and the Number 75 bus—his wife Tamara Tia remains his steadfast anchor, celebrating the victories and providing strength during the setbacks.