5 footballers who outshone their fathers (Part 2)

Uruguay v Germany: 2010 FIFA World Cup - Third Place Play-off
Uruguay v Germany: 2010 FIFA World Cup - Third Place Play-off

Read Part 1 here: Footballers who outshone their fathers


#5 Diego Forlan

38-year-old Uruguayan international, Diego Forlan, has plied his trade across the world during his 20-year career. Making his debut for Argentinian club Independiente in 1997, Forlan played for five years at the club scoring 37 goals in 87 appearances.

Attracting suitors from Europe, Forlan picked Manchester United, but failed to cement his place under Alex Ferguson at the club, before leaving the English giants for Villareal in Spain.

It was in Spain where Forlan would create a lasting impact, winning two Golden Boot Pichichi Awards. He also guided Uruguay to a third-place finish at the 2010 WC in South Africa where he was also named the player of the tournament.

Diego's father, Pablo Forlan, was also a good footballer who played for Uruguay 17 times during an illustrious career winning seven league titles in Uruguay with Penarol and a Copa Libertadores as well. A defender, Pablo never ventured out of South America to play football.

#4 Radamel Falcao

Manchester City FC v AS Monaco - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg
Falcao (L) celebrates a goal in UEFA Champions League Round of 16 against Man City

Colombian superstar and captain, Radamel Falcao, has lit up Europe with his sensational performances across teams, leagues and competitions during his career thus far. Making his debut for Argentinan club River Plate in 2005, Falcao learnt his trade at the club for four years before moving to Porto and making a name for himself in Europe.

After two largely successful seasons at Porto, Falcao moved to Atletico Madrid in Spain winning honours with the Spanish side as well. The Colombian won back to back Europa League titles with Porto and Atletico, respectively, before moving to French side Monaco.

After a crushing few career injuries and a couple of disastrous loan spells with Man United and Chelsea, Falcao has rediscovered his scoring touch with his parent club Monaco.

Radamel Garcia, father of Radamel Falcao was also a footballer who played for teams in Columbia and Venezuela during his career as a defender. However, Radamel Garcia, considered a no-nonsense defender, failed to make an impact and was never picked for Colombia national team.

#3 Sergio Busquets

FC Barcelona v FC BATE Borisov - UEFA Champions League
Busquets playing for FC Barcelona v FC BATE Borisov

One of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Sergio Busquets will go down in history as a central driving force in Barcelona's teams that featured Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, during the Catalan giants dominant spell in world football.

A neat, calm and composed footballer with a great footballing mind, Busquets was Barcelona's key figure in the middle of the park, breaking up plays as well as creating them.

A multiple time Champions League and La Liga winner, Busquets was also part of Spain's World Cup winning campaign and their second European triumph in 2012. Sergio Busquets has won all there is to win the world of football.

Son of former Barcelona goalkeeper, Carles Busquets, Sergio Busquets was brought up in a football-mad Catalan family. His father made over a hundred appearances for the Catalan giants during the 90s but failed to cement a starting berth.

Carles still works at Barcelona as a goalkeeping coach, mentoring future generations of Catalan footballers.

#2 Miroslav Klose

Brazil v Germany: Semi Final - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
Brazil v Germany: Semi Final - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

FIFA World Cup all-time record goalscorer, Miroslav Klose has had a glittering career spanning over 20 years. A World Cup winner with Germany, Klose has played for numerous German clubs during his career.

Klose has won all there is to win in German club football, with Bayern Munich and Weder Bremen, and will go down in history as one the country's most prolific goalscorers. Klose made his move away from Germany in 2011, joining Italian side Lazio, where he ended his career after five years at the club.

Miroslav Klose is the son of Polish footballer Josef Klose, who played for Polish club Odra Opole before he made his move to French side, Auxerre FC. A forward like his son, Josef moved to France at the time of his son's birth and enjoyed over 20 years in the game at a low level.

#1 Xabi Alonso

Germany v Spain - UEFA EURO 2008 Final
Germany v Spain - UEFA EURO 2008 Final

Former Spanish midfield orchestrator, Xabi Alonso, like Sergio Busquets, is part of Spanish football's golden generation and, unlike Busquets, has played in different leagues across Europe, winning titles with every team in different nations.

Alonso made his debut for Real Sociedad and impressed during his four years at the club, attracting suitors from big clubs across Europe. He moved to Liverpool in 2004 helping the Merseyside club to Champions League glory a year later.

After 5 years at Liverpool, Alonso moved back to Spain, winning league titles and cups and a second European trophy during his five years at Real Madrid.

When Bayern Munich came calling in 2014 for the World Cup winner and two-time European Championship winner, he instantly made the move and played for three seasons at the Allianz. He won the league title thrice in Germany before hanging up his boots earlier this year.

His father, Miguel Alonso, was also a footballer who played for Real Sociedad and Barcelona during the 60s and 70s, winning La Liga titles with both clubs. Successful but not as successful as his son, Xabi, who conquered Europe.

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