Fani Stipković, the well-known Croatian journalist and TV host, is currently enjoying her time in Vela Luka, but her life has been unfolding far from her homeland for some time now — in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Why? Because her husband, former footballer Fernando Hierro, is now the sporting director of the Saudi club Al Nassr, where none other than Cristiano Ronaldo plays! Yes, you read that right — Ronaldo is now their neighbor, and Fani and Fernando live in his football kingdom.
The Stipković-Hierro family has been living in Riyadh for some time, where Fernando took this prestigious position last year after managing the Mexican club Deportivo Guadalajara. Fani shared beautiful photos on Instagram with their son Nicholas Valentin, showing that even though they are far from Croatia, they still enjoy family moments and, of course, the most beautiful sunsets, which she says are best at home.
But let’s be real — life in Saudi Arabia is not quite like life on the Adriatic coast. While Fani and Fernando adapt to their new life, many wonder what this means for their family and what life looks like in a country known for strict laws and a different culture. Is this just a business opportunity or a real exile?
Fernando Hierro, former Spanish footballer and coach, is now at the top of the sports hierarchy at Al Nassr, a club that has recently been in the spotlight for signing Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers of all time. Ronaldo reportedly moved to Saudi Arabia earlier this year with his family, which further increases media attention on this club and region.
Fani and Fernando met a few years ago during an interview in Madrid, and their love story culminated in a wedding in September 2019. Their son Nicholas Valentin was born on October 30 of the same year, and Fani is also the mother of Fernando’s children from a previous marriage, Alvaro and Claudia.
This story is not just about football and career but also about how families of famous people balance business opportunities and personal lives, often in places far from their roots. Saudi Arabia, a country rich in oil and new football ambitions, has become the new home for this Croatian-Spanish family.
Is this the beginning of a new era for football in Saudi Arabia or just a temporary business move? And how does Fani cope with life far from home while sharing her moments with followers on social media?
If you have an opinion on this unusual mix of sports, politics, and family life, feel free to drop a comment — maybe it’s time for all of us to think about what it means to be a global citizen in the 21st century, or just have a laugh at these unusual football adventures!
