Soccer can be fascinating sometimes when you realize there are some famous footballers father-son duos who played for the same club. It’s a pretty common phenomenon to witness individuals working in the same fields as their parents, and sometimes they even end up in the same organizations. This trend is not exclusive to professional life; it extends to the realm of football as well.
Famous footballers Father-Son duos
In this article, we’ll delve into instances where footballers have chosen to follow in their father’s footsteps by playing for the same clubs their fathers once graced. Without further ado, let’s explore 10 famous father-son duos who shared the experience of playing for the same club.
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1) Erling Haaland and Alfie Haaland
In 2003, Alfie Haaland sustained an injury while playing for Manchester City. It then turned out to be the In 2003, Alfie Haaland sustained an injury while playing for Manchester City, ultimately marking the end of his playing career. If you were present at that time, you might have thought it would be the last instance of a person named Haaland playing for the club.
However, that is no longer the case. With Erling’s recent transfer to Man City, Alfie’s son has joined the exclusive list of Haalands signed by the club. Now, it’s just a matter of time before he dons the club’s jersey.
Expectations might differ for the two generations. Unlike Alfie, who was a defensive player, Man City is now acquiring a Haaland known for scoring loads of goals. Yet, there’s a potential source of concern: Erling’s recent injury record. Both father and son must be hoping he overcomes these challenges and enjoys a longer playing career than his dad
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2) Patrick Kluivert and Justin Kluivert
Patrick commenced his playing career at Ajax before departing the club as a youngster in 1997, subsequently becoming a legend at Barcelona. The trajectory appears to be quite similar for his son, Justin, who also initiated his playing career at the Dutch club, departing in 2018 as a teenager. Currently, on loan at the French club Nice, Justin aspires to follow in his father’s footsteps and carve out a legacy as a football great.
3) Zinedine Zidane and Luka Zidane
Former French international Zinedine Zidane achieved legendary status at Real Madrid as a player, and he didn’t stop there. Years after retirement, he returned to solidify that status by guiding them to three consecutive Champions League titles.
These are significant achievements for him, and one person dreaming of similar feats is his son, Luca, who is a goalkeeper. He had the opportunity to follow in his father’s footsteps, spending his entire youth career at the Real Madrid academy. However, he was ultimately deemed not good enough and was sold in 2019.
Now, it seems unlikely that he’ll be able to replicate his father’s achievements as a player, at least not with Real Madrid.
4) Daniel, Paolo and Cesare Maldini
You’re familiar with Paolo Maldini and his son Daniel, right? But did you know they’re not the only Maldinis who have played for AC Milan? Yes, Paolo’s father, Cesare, also had a stint with the club. This means that three different generations of the Maldini family have graced the field for Milan. Quite remarkable, isn’t it? If any family deserves to have their name carved into the walls at AC Milan’s stadium, it’s probably the Maldini family.
During their respective eras, Paolo and Cesare were defenders and amassed around 1000 combined appearances for the club. Even though Daniel plays as an attacking midfielder, he aspires to match their illustrious achievements at the club. At just 20 years of age, he has ample time to pursue that goal. And who knows, perhaps he’ll even have a son one day who’ll continue the family legacy at the club.
5) Diego Simeone and Giuliano Simeone
Diego Simeone has been the coach of Atletico Madrid since 2011, but this isn’t his first association with the club. As a player, he spent three seasons there, from 1994 to 1997.
Did you know he’s not the only one in his family who has played for this club? That’s right. One of his three sons has also played for the club, and guess what? He was given his debut just this season by his own father.
It’s indeed a special experience to play at a club where your father once played. However, it reaches a whole new level of special when you get to play under your father at the same club.
6) Johan Cruyff and Jordi Cruyff
While Johan may be recognized as one of the greatest footballers of all time, the same cannot be said for his son, Jordi. However, they share a common thread—both have played for Barcelona. And not just that, years after their retirements as players, they both returned to assume other roles at the club. Johan came back as a coach in 1998, guiding the club through one of its most successful periods in history. Jordi, on the other hand, returned to the club as a sporting advisor last year, with hopes of emulating his father’s success by steering Barca back to their glory days.
7) Periko Alonso and Xabi Alonso
Both men played for Real Sociedad, amassing over 100 caps each before departing the club. Not only that, but they both returned after retirement to assume managerial roles at the club. Pretty cool, right? Another interesting aspect about these men is that after leaving Sociedad, they both played for one of the two biggest Spanish clubs. Periko played for Barcelona between 1982 and 1985, while his son Xabi played for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2014.
8) Daley Blind and Daniel Blind
Much like his father during his playing days, Daley also primarily plays as a defender. However, their commonality goes beyond playing positions. His father played for Ajax, securing over 450 caps and being a part of the squad that won the 1995 Champions League. With Daley having played over 300 games for the club so far, he still has a considerable journey ahead if he aims to match his father’s impressive tally.
9) Sergio Busquets and Carlos Busquets
Having won multiple titles at Barça, Sergio Busquets is undoubtedly a Barcelona legend. However, he’s not the first in his family to achieve greatness at the Spanish club. His father, a former Barcelona goalkeeper, spent nine years at the club and also secured multiple titles.
If there’s one thing we know Sergio for, it’s his calmness and composure on the ball. His demeanor is so serene; you might almost think that trait was inherited. However, in reality, that’s not the case. Unlike Sergio, his father was more of an error-prone player, making many blunders and conceding cheap goals. Perhaps this was the reason he spent most of those nine years as a backup goalkeeper.
10) Federico Chiesa and Enrico Chiesa
Enrico Chiesa served as a striker at Fiorentina for a few years, notably contributing to their victory in the Copa Italia in just his second season. Players like him often become fan favorites, and Enrico was no exception. Unfortunately, his time at the club was cut short due to a nasty injury early in his third season, forcing him to miss the rest of the season and ultimately ending his Fiorentina career when he left the club at the season’s end. Nevertheless, he departed as a hero.
Many years later, his son Federico had the opportunity to play for Fiorentina, surpassing his father in the number of games played for the club. However, unlike his father, Federico’s potential departure may not be met with a pleasant farewell. This is mainly because he has been on loan at Juventus for the past two seasons, a move perceived by many Fiorentina fans as a form of betrayal.
So there you have it. Do you know of any other father and son duos who have played for the same club? Feel free to share in the comments section.
