Erling Haaland is reaping the benefits of having a footballing dad and there is a whole new generation of players with famous parents breaking through
You don’t have to have a footballer as a parent to make it in the modern game, but it sure helps. Just ask Erling Haaland, who was drawn to play in the Premier League because his father Alfie had done the same, and he has literally followed in his footsteps by playing for Manchester City.
Frank Lampard also credited his father, Frank Lampard Snr, for telling him exactly which areas he needed to improve in to follow the same path by playing for West Ham. The Chelsea legend recalled: “He put that work ethic in me and always made me very aware of my weaknesses. He let me know it was the extra runs, extra hours practising shooting and finishing that count.”
Lampard was an outlier at the time of his career in having a former footballer as a father, but Haaland is now in good company, as players with famous parents has become increasingly common. And when Haaland steps out onto the Anfield turf in Manchester City’s top-of-the-table Premier League showdown with Liverpool on Sunday, there will be no shortage of ‘nepo babies’ on the pitch.
Haaland is the only member of this particular fraternity in the City first-team squad, but he could soon be joined by Jaden Heskey and his brother Reigan, the sons of former Liverpool and England striker Emile. But the Liverpool squad is stacked with sons of players, especially among the latest crop of youngsters who have broken into the team lately and have been christened as ‘Klopp’s Kids’.
Teenage striker Jayden Danns, who scored twice against Southampton in the FA Cup last month, is the son of Neil Danns, who played for 15 clubs including Crystal Palace; Lewis Koumas, who also scored against Southampton, is the son of former Wales international, Jason; and Bobby Clark is the offspring of ex-Newcastle and Fulham midfielder, Lee. Several of Liverpool’s more senior players also benefitted from having footballer fathers, including Alexis Mac Allister, Thiago Alcantara, Dominik Szoboszlai, Stefan Bajcetic and Joel Matip.
And there are plenty more whey they came from. GOAL runs through just some of the sons and daughters of famous footballers who are set to make their own mark on the game within the next few years…
Benjamin Aguero
This kid could hardly have hoped for better footballer’s genes, with Sergio Aguero as his father and the late Diego Maradona for a granddad. Benjamin is currently following his father’s footsteps after joining the academy of Argentine giants Independiente, having spent last season with Tigre.
Kai Rooney
To date, no father and son have ever played for Manchester United. But that could soon change, as Kai Rooney is making waves in the Red Devils’ youth teams. He scored an astonishing 56 goals in one season for the Under-12s and last year was on target in a cup final victory over local rivals Manchester City, whom he used to represent.
He has also signed a sponsorship deal with Puma, but it will take some career to match his dad, Wayne, who is United’s all-time top scorer.
Tomas Angel
Angel, 21, was born in Birmingham while his father [Juan Pablo Angel] was playing for Aston Villa, but he began his career in his native Colombia, breaking into the first team of Medellin giants Atletico Nacional. A striker like his dad, Angel is now plying his trade in MLS with Los Angeles FC.
Damian van der Vaart
Few clubs can compete with Ajax when it comes to producing youngsters, and Damian van der Vaart is following the very same footsteps as his father, Rafael, in getting his footballing education with the Amsterdam giants.
Also a midfielder, Damian signed for Ajax’s U18s last year from Danish side Esbjerg, where his father had been working as an assistant coach. He will be hoping to complete the family tradition by breaking into the first team and also represent the Netherlands at senior level, having already represented their U18s side.
Talia Gabarra
Carin Jennings-Gabarra is a legend of the U.S women’s national team after she was part of the team that won the first official women’s World Cup in 1991 while being named Player of the Tournament. She also won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, and her daughter Talia, a midfielder, is now blazing a trail of her own after being selected by the Orlando Pride in the NWSL Draft earlier this year.
Shane Kluivert
Former Netherlands striker Patrick Kluivert already has two sons who are professional footballers, and he could soon have three. Justin Kluivert is having a strong first season in the Premier League with Bournemouth after stints at Valencia, Roma and Ajax among others, while younger brother Ruben is a defender for Dutch second-division side Dordrecht.
They could soon be joined by 16-year-old Shane, who has spent the last seven years with the famed La Masia academy of Barcelona, where his father played and worked as sporting director.
Federico Redondo
Redondo’s father Fernando won three Champions Leagues with Real Madrid and AC Milan, but is best remembered for his outrageous backheel against Manchester United at Old Trafford before setting up a goal for Raul.
It is a lot to live up to, but 21-year-old Federico is already playing among football royalty after signing for Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, where he can also count upon Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez for team-mates.
Cristiano Ronaldo Jnr
The name is a giveaway, and Ronaldo Junior has already got quite the CV when it comes to youth academies, following his father to Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United before pitching up at Al-Nassr. He recently won his first trophy with the Saudi giants U13s side, helping lead them to the league title.
Kenzie Weir
Weir’s father David made more than 200 appearances for Everton, and she followed in her father’s footsteps when she signed a professional contract with the Toffees’ women’s side in 2022, having represented Scotland at youth level.
She struggled to get into the Everton team regularly and is currently on loan at Glasgow City. Just like her father, she plays at centre-back.
Shaqueel van Persie
Robin van Persie got to experience every father’s dream when, as coach of Feyenoord’s U19s side, he was able to select his son, Shaqueel, in the UEFA Youth League earlier this season. The 17-year-old, who has represented the Netherlands at youth level, takes after his dad as a deadly centre-forward, scoring three goals in the opening four games of 2024.
Thiago Messi
The eldest of Messi’s three sons, Thiago, 11, has played in the youth academies for Barca and Paris Saint-Germain, and is now standing out at Inter Miami
Goal.com
