Famous Football Families : Like father, like son

The idiom “Like father like son” is not just another rhetoric used to fill up empty spaces, not in football at least. Not just football but sports in general have dynasties of sportsmen who have throughout successfully passed over the legacy and the skills to their successors. A general deduction is that the heir have taken up the mantle and proven to be a better specimen. Take Stuart Broad and Yuvraj Singh for instance, two of the best players this year in the cricketing arena have their genes to thank for their success. Or Sergio Busquets, the Catalan midfield enforcer, who carried on from where his father left after he lifted the European top honor- Champions league like his father Carles did.

Frank Lampard Junior is never called by this name because of his stellar performances in the heart of Chelsea’s midfield. The news that Zinedine Zidane’s son was included in the first squad training at Real Madrid by Jose Mourinho created somewhat of a stir linking the kid to his father’s greatness as well as the possibility of joining the first team squad at Madrid in the near future. Though it seems to far-fetched, but you can not deny the fact that it all adds and seems justifiable. Though there have been few scions who bowed down to the constant comparison and the expectation of being as good as their fathers, Jordi Cryuff could never make it like his father Johan both as player and a manager. Here’s a list of few of the players looking to make their daddies proud.

happy family-Mazinho and Thiago

Thiago Alcantara :

The young Barcelona midfielder who has Xavi, Iniesta and now Fabregas as competitors for his spot in the first team is still tipped by many as the future for Barcelona and Spain( though it could have been Brazil if he had switched his allegiance to his father’s country ). Thiago, born to the Brazilian defensive midfielder Mazinho, was snapped up by Barcelona at a tender age of 14. Like his father, Thiago aims to be a midfield talisman for the Catalan giant. With two years on the periphery of the first team squad this seems to be the season that Thiago consolidates on his good work that was prominent in the pre season this year. He has been given the opportunity to come up with the goods due to the change in Barcelona formation which aims to facilitate many central midfielders.

Wojciech- barking down the orders

Wojiech Szczesny :

The young Polish goalkeeper is fast getting the reputation of being the enforcer between the Arsenal goal post, marshaling the defense, barking orders from the back and finding his way in set pieces. It was never in doubt that sczeczny will make it big with the gunners after he had a great loan spell at the league two side Brentford and earned accolades from legendary Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson plus the fact that it was always inside him to be a shot stopper. His father Maciej Szczesny won the polish league with four different clubs and donned his national jersey but still was not that widely known but his son is making it sure that this hard to pronounce family name reaches far and wide.

gunning for glory-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain :

Arsenal signed this youngster this summer when people expected them to sign up some experienced head. Plying his trade in the third tier of English football till last year, playing for arsenal was thought to be a big step forward for the teenager. But the fact that the youngster’s father (Mark Chamberlain) also played at this level with Portsmouth may suggest that the young lad may be able to balance the big switch. He has been lively in his first few games for his new club already scoring two goals which includes a debut goal in champions’ league. Chamberlain is also fast becoming a regular on the international circuit with his incredible performances for the England under 21.

Abedi(left) with his son Andre

Andre Ayew :

Born to Abedi Ayew famously nicknamed Abedi Pele, the African legend famous for his artistry and dribbling, who boasts many achievements including two goals in the champions league with Marseille this season. Andre, who can operate as a winger as well as a striker has the same spark and trickery as his father and has been courted by many European powerhouse including the likes of Arsenal but has remained put with the French club – Olympique Marseille. Though he is not the only one to carry forward his father’s legacy (with brothers Ibrahim and Jordan both playing professionally) but many have tipped him to be the brightest in the future and with his recent performance in the champions league that saw him score a brace against the last year’s Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund has only solidified these claims. With the German legend Franz Beckenbauer Who once coached his father at Marseille himself praising the 21 year old on his recent performance claiming the player has it in his genes to perform and is a carbon copy to his father in terms of game play.

Enzo Zidane with dad Zizou

Enzo Zidane :

Named after the Uruguayan legend Enzo Francescoli, who was Zinedine Zidane’s role model this Real Madrid youth player has a lot of expectations to fulfill. Still 16 years of age, Enzo made headlines while training with Madrid’s first team squad due to the dearth of players at hand. He was described as having the same control and dribbling as Zidane senior by the Madrid winger Jose Callejon. The teenager has just begun to climb the ladder of professional football and it is still unsure where his international allegiance will lie as he is eligible to play for France, Spain and Algeria. Though there are two more Zidane siblings playing for Madrid at different age group level but the fact that Enzo plays in the same position as his father makes him more of an heir to his father’s legacy.

The maldinis

Christian Maldini :

There is no need to give introduction to perhaps one of the greatest families in football fraternity, the Maldinis. Right from Cesare Maildini to Paolo and now the third generation which is led by the eldest of Paolo Maldini’s son Christian, who is a AC Milan youth player. Still in the nascent stages of his career it would be hard to tell if he is of the same mould as his father or will he be able to don his father’s number 3 jersey which has been retired by the club in his respect and would only be given to his scion. Christian is not the only one showing intent in the game his little brother Daniel is much more famous for his tackle on Milan great Clarence Seedorf which has gone viral on the net.