Early Life in the Memphis Area
Laura Ciancola is best known as the ex-wife of American soccer custodian Tim Howard, but her journey began elsewhere. Laura was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, in a close-knit household formed by athletics, faith, tenacity, and local connections.
Born in 1977, she excelled in basketball at Harding Academy. The mid-1990s saw her named an all-metro point guard. Laura played basketball more than after school. It shaped her competitive and resolute mentality, which guided her through family life, marriage, travel, divorce, and remarriage.
After high school, Laura briefly attended St. John’s University in New York. Family issues intervened during her Memphis absence. Due to a neurological birth abnormality, her younger sister Allie Christine Cianciola died at 10. Laura’s parents divorced during this time. After returning to Tennessee, she rebuilt her life near her loved ones.
When I look at Laura’s background, the theme that stands out is resilience. Her life was not defined only by athletic success or a famous marriage. It was also shaped by grief, family responsibility, and the decision to remain grounded in Memphis.
The Ciancola Family
Frank Cianciola, Laura’s father, was a Memphis banker. Local businesspeople knew him from his area banking leadership roles. His career put the Ciancola family in Memphis’ professional spotlight, but Laura stayed out of public business.
Her mother, Carol, worked as a nurse at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. That detail adds another layer to the family’s identity. Banking and health care represented different professional paths, but both reflected service, responsibility, and a strong connection to the Memphis community.
Laura’s older brother Jerry Cianciola apparently encouraged her sporty and adventurous attitude. The family has described Laura as a tomboy in her youth, comfortable in competitive environments and willing to defy standards. In addition to John Jerome Cianciola, she has nieces and nephews that stay close to her.
The death of Allie Christine remained one of the defining losses in the family. While Laura has not made grief the center of her public identity, the experience helps explain the importance she has placed on family relationships and staying close to home.
Meeting Tim Howard
Laura met Tim Howard in 2002 through her cousin Ross Paule, a professional soccer player. The introduction took place at a party in New York, where Tim and Laura quickly formed a relationship.
Tim’s football career was accelerating. His Major League Soccer performances attracted European clubs, and Manchester United became his future. This pair married in 2003 in New York. They planned a grander Memphis wedding, but Tim’s transfer to England changed their minds. An intimate Central Park ceremony followed.
Marriage changed Laura’s world. England introduced new routines, public attention, and the demands of supporting a professional athlete at a top football team. She adjusted to Manchester United while preserving her Tennessee beliefs.
She relied on faith, family, and practical routines throughout her early married life. She attended Bible classes, kept in touch with family, and carried home comforts. Shipping Velveeta and Rotel to England for American food was notable.
That image captures something essential about Laura. Even while living abroad and sharing a life with a globally recognized athlete, she kept one foot planted in Memphis.
Children and Co Parenting
Laura and Tim Howard have two children, Jacob and Alivia, also known as Ali. Their children grew up with a connection to both elite soccer and the quieter rhythms of life in Tennessee.
Jacob was born around 2006, while Alivia followed later. Public attention has occasionally focused on the children during significant soccer events, but Laura has generally protected their privacy. Her public presence has centered less on celebrity and more on family support, school life, sports, and personal milestones.
After years together, Laura and Tim divorced. Legal reports indicate irreconcilable disagreements for the 2010–2012 divorce. Tim supports co-parenting despite the divorce. Their shared responsibility for Jacob and Alivia seems to have remained significant.
Laura attended Tim’s 2024 National Soccer Hall of Fame induction with their daughter Ali. The performance showed the complicated yet persistent family relationships of marriage and parenthood. It also showed Laura respecting her children’s father’s great accomplishment while staying out of the spotlight.
Marriage to Trey Liebenrood
Laura later married Trey Liebenrood on October 12, 2013. Trey is associated with Collierville, Tennessee, and has attended Collierville High School. He has also been connected professionally with Ben E. Keith Foods.
Laura returned to suburban Memphis family life after the marriage. Her past includes Collierville and Germantown. Laura appears to have focused on family, children’s activities, and local friends rather than her relationship with Tim Howard.
The Liebenrood family includes Jamie and Kelly Liebenrood and extended family. It seems this network dominates Laura’s Tennessee existence. It is quieter than a stadium camera’s flash, like a tree’s roots.
Career and Personal Achievements
Before her marriage to Tim Howard, Laura worked as a loan officer in Memphis. Public information about her later professional activities is limited. She has not pursued the kind of highly visible corporate or entertainment career often associated with the spouse of a famous athlete.
Her achievements are more personal than institutional. She built an athletic identity as a high school basketball player, handled a major family loss, adapted to life overseas, raised two children connected to professional sports, navigated divorce, and created a new family life in Tennessee.
Some unofficial estimates put her wealth in the million dollar range, but they should not be trusted. Her family’s banking background and prior marriage to Tim Howard provide financial information, but Laura has kept a low profile.
Tim Howard After Retirement
After 22 years, Tim Howard retired from professional football in October 2019. He played for Manchester United, Everton, Colorado Rapids, and Memphis 901 FC. Despite Laura’s separation from Tim’s career, his post-retirement job is part of the family’s public story.
After retirement, Tim became an NBC Sports studio analyst, specialising in Premier League coverage. He also owned and managed football. In 2024, he left Memphis 901 FC ownership and sporting leadership.
In July 2024, he joined the ownership group connected with Houston Dynamo FC and Houston Dash. He has also been associated with Dagenham and Redbridge in England and has served as an Everton ambassador.
Tim’s transition from goalkeeper to analyst and executive has kept him in public view. Laura, by contrast, has remained mostly behind the scenes. Their different paths illustrate how two people can share a family history while choosing very different relationships with fame.
Laura Ciancola Today
Laura continues to be associated with the Memphis area and a family centered life in Tennessee. Her public appearances are infrequent, usually connected with her children, local activities, or important soccer occasions involving Tim Howard.
She is often described through the qualities that have followed her from childhood: athletic, loyal, private, family oriented, and rooted in Christian faith. Her story includes famous names and international travel, but its emotional center remains close to home.
Who is Laura Ciancola?
Laura Ciancola is a Tennessee woman known publicly as the former wife of soccer goalkeeper Tim Howard. She was raised in the Memphis area, played basketball at Harding Academy, and later built a private family life in the Memphis suburbs.
When did Laura Ciancola marry Tim Howard?
Laura and Tim Howard married in 2003 in New York. Their wedding plans changed after Tim accepted his move to Manchester United, and the couple held a smaller Central Park ceremony.
How many children does Laura Ciancola have?
Laura and Tim Howard have two children, Jacob and Alivia, also known as Ali. Laura has generally kept their personal lives private while supporting their activities and milestones.
Who is Laura Ciancola married to now?
Laura married Trey Liebenrood on October 12, 2013. The couple has been associated with Collierville, Tennessee, where they maintain a private family life.
What happened to Laura Ciancola’s sister?
Laura’s younger sister, Allie Christine Cianciola, died at age 10 after living with a neuromuscular birth defect. Her death was one of the major tragedies affecting the Ciancola family.
What did Laura Ciancola do before her marriage?
Laura reportedly worked as a loan officer in Memphis. Before that, she attended St. John’s University and developed a strong reputation as a high school basketball player.
Does Laura Ciancola have a public career today?
There is limited information about her current professional work. Her public identity is primarily connected with family life, local Memphis ties, and her former marriage to Tim Howard.
Where does Laura Ciancola live?
Laura has been associated with Collierville and Germantown in the Memphis area. Specific residential details are private and are not part of her public biography.
