ROMANTIC Bastian Schweinsteiger has revealed how he used Hollywood classic Notting Hill as inspiration to propose to wife Ana Ivanovic.
Schweinsteiger did not have the best time on the football pitch with Manchester United while in England.
However, midway through his two-season spell with the Red Devils, Schweinsteiger got married to former tennis world No1 Ivanovic in Venice.
And years on from his 2016 wedding, the 39-year-old has now revealed that he was inspired by a scene in 1999 comedy-romance film Notting Hill when he proposed to Ivanovic.
One scene – spoiler warning – at the end of the movie sees the characters played by Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts enjoying time together on a park bench.
Speaking on 100th episode of Bild’s “Phrasenmäher” podcast, Schweinsteiger said: “In London there are small parks that are only accessible to local residents.
“And then I secretly rented the park from the Notting Hill film.
“Of course I knew that Ana was extremely curious, and when we walked past the gate was ajar and I said to her: ‘Come on, let’s take a look!’
“And then we went in there – and then I asked her. This came as a complete surprise to her.”
He also revealed that he learned Serbian in order to convince Ivanovic’s father Miroslav that he was the right man for his daughter.
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He added: “I was able to score a few points with the family by asking Ana’s father for her hand in marriage in Serbian. I flew to Belgrade and asked.”
Schweinsteiger left Man Utd in 2017 to join Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire, before he retired in 2020.
The Germany World Cup winner and made his name in club football at Bayern Munich.
With the Bavarians – now led by Harry Kane – he won eight Bundesliga titles and one Champions League among a host of other accolades.
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