Has AFL legend Nathan Buckley found love with a glamour model? Rumours connect coach, 48, with 33-year-old brunette after shock split with wife of 18 years

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Newly-single AFL coach Nathan Buckley has been romantically linked to a fashion model 15 years his junior.

The Collingwood coach announced his separation from his wife Tania Minnici in December 2020 after 18 years together. 

They actually separated 11 months earlier, but co-parented their two sons Ayce, 12 and Jett, 14 for the remainder of the year before confirming the split. 

He has since reportedly struck up a fledgling relationship with 33-year-old model Christina Dietze, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Ms Dietze, who goes by suga_possum on social media, has not commented on the supposed relationship.

The SMH reported that Buckley struck up 'more than a friendship' with the photogenic brunette.

Buckley has since reportedly struck up a fledgling relationship with 33-year-old model Christina Dietze (pictured)

AFL legend Nathan Buckley (pictured left) split from his wife of 18 years Tania (pictured right) in 2020

The pair reportedly live close to one another - with Buckley in a South Yarra apartment while Ms Dietze lives in nearby Prahran.   

Just one day ago, swirling rumours linked the newbie bachelor to glamorous cosmetic nurse Alex Pike - though they appear to just be friends.

The single mother-of-three also lives in South Yarra, and recently sparked up an online friendship with Buckley.

The 48-year-old is said to be a prolific user of his Instagram account, Nth Caulfield Bogan. 

According to the Herald Sun, Buckley is happily single and very much ready to mingle. 

Last December, Buckley and Tania confirmed their long-rumoured separation in a statement posted on her social media.

Once known for their show-stopping red carpet appearances and seemingly rock-solid marriage, the pair shocked fans when they confirmed they had secretly parted ways, ending 18 years of marriage.

Ms Dietze, who goes by suga_possum on social media and is 15 years Buckley's junior, has not commented on the supposed relationship

Cosmetic surgeon to the stars Alex Pike (pictured above) has set the rumour mill into overdrive

In a statement posted to Tania's Instagram, the Buckley's confirmed they actually broke up in January of 2020.

'It has been a tough and challenging year for every family and for ours included,' the statement read. 

'It is with the utmost of love and respect for each other and a true commitment to our sons, that we made a decision to separate in January.

'We remain dedicated parents and in the interests of our boys, we ask for our family to be given the privacy that is needed.

'We thank everyone in advance for understanding our request and for the unconditional love and support we have received throughout our marriage.'

After the Magpies crashed out of the AFL finals in Queensland last year, Buckley moved out of the family home when he returned to Melbourne.

He is reportedly now staying at an apartment in South Yarra, which is owned by his friend Paul Roberts, a high-flying sports executive.

The man affectionately known as 'Bucks' played 20 games for the Brisbane Bears before joining Collingwood in 1994.

He played 260 matches for the Magpies and booted 263 goals, becoming one of the club's most decorated players.

By 1999, he was captain of the team - a position he held until he retired in 2007. In 2002, won the Norm Smith Medal and the Brownlow Medal a year later.

A premiership flag in his playing days proved to be elusive for the man widely regarded as one of the game's greatest ever midfielders.

Buckley then took over the head senior coaching role at the Magpies in 2012 following the controversial departure of Mick Malthouse.

Alex Pike (pictured above) is rumoured to be the glamour Buckley began following on his private Instagram account recently