Football Stars and Their Children's Careers in Football

[Ishicryptic]

Football at the top level is big money and the players that have tested it wouldn't mind their children to be a part of it and it would be easy for them to groom and nurture their kids to become top players because they knows what it takes as players but it would also depend on what the child wants. I'm sure that most of the footballers would like to prepare their children in the career but it is only their children that have the passion and willing to put in the work and discipline that will shine in the end, I believe that many would try but only a few will make it to the top, it is not a must that a child will be as good as his father.

I read somewhere that Michael Owen's son who wanted to become a footballer is deverstated because of something related to diagnosis on his eyes, his vision cannot be strong as a sportsperson, although I don't know how true the story is. I believe that there are many children of footballers who wants to play but due to some reasons they cannot while some don't have the interest in football, those that are willing and have what it takes are the ones that we see playing at different levels.

[Futurexxx]

Cristiano Ronaldo had his some Cristiano Ronaldo Jr into football academy, and he plays in almost a similar manner to his father.

Second is Marcelo, Enzo Alves Vieira, who also has his son in the football academy; his son plays for the Real Madrid youth team.

The two prodigy I can think of now is both Thiago Silva's sons which are isago Silva and lago Silva, both of them are playing for Chelsea under 15 academy team, but among them, isago Silva that is the most senior has shown that he can be as good as his father, and is the brightest between them, because he is also a center back, and as calm as his dad was, so I believe that in three to four years time from now, if he can continue working diligently, he will break into the Chelsea first team because he might have improved a lot comparing to how he is now that he is still a kid.

[Betwrong]

~I want us to bring in the names of some professional football players who also have children in football, and they are doing well already. ~

Alf-Inge Haaland comes to mind right away. He's from Norway, but played in Nottingham Forest, Leeds and even Manchester City. And his son, Erling Haaland, plays as a striker for Manchester City, apart from playing for the Norway national team. Lilian Thuram is another one. He's a France World Cup and Euro winner. He played for Parma and Juventus, among other great teams. And his son, Marcus Thuram is a Inter Milan striker, and another son, Khéphren Thuram, is a Juventus midfielder, who also plays for France international.

[Mr_Brilliant$]

I am just thinking about the massive opportunity that this kids have since their father's have made a name for himself and are doing alright. Opportunities like the academy, top coaches, getting advice from top players. But all this creates something that might put the kids in thinking mode. With all this opportunities, it will create an expectation. People will likely want you to perform just as much as your father. That expectation is huge. At the same time, you have to create your own success. That now depends on you. That's a whole lot of pressure on a kid.

[Africolo]

To make it straightforward, the title already explains more about what I intended to discuss in this thread.

I want us to bring in the names of some professional football players who also have children in football, and they are doing well already. It is undisputed that we have some players whose children's career ambitions are different from their father's profession, while there are some other key players whose children are taking after them in a football career.

I have two players to mention here; you can drop your own as well if you know some.

Cristiano Ronaldo had his some Cristiano Ronaldo Jr into football academy, and he plays in almost a similar manner to his father.

Second is Marcelo, Enzo Alves Vieira, who also has his son in the football academy; his son plays for the Real Madrid youth team.

In football we have many football stars children who have decided to dive into football as their fathers but that doesn't mean they are going to be as great as their fathers, I have watched closely at Cristiano Ronaldo's Son while playing and he is not as skillful as the father so you can see where I'm coming from, we also have the likes of Zidane Son who's a goal keeper that is doing well but not as great as the father as well.

The french football legend thuram's Son is also playing football and missed one of the best chances in the world cup that would have won them the world against Argentina in 2022, Messi Son is also playing in the MLS academy and like have said even though we have their children playing football they can't perform like their fathers and the expectations and pressure will be much on them because everyone is expecting them to play better than their fathers while trying to play under such pressure to overturned the performance of their fathers it will be difficult for them.

[TopTort777]

My 2 cents on following idea.

Parents wants their kids to follow their career, but that imho spoils kids childhood and maybe even a life. I have heard many examples that many professional athletes came from professional athlete parents. Kinds of a dynasty. There are plenty of my father or mother were my first coaches. Why I think that is not good, because parents have decided their kids future without asking. For discipline that is good what parents do. But they often  overreact. When rest of kids have free time, enjoy time, athlete parents force their kids to train.

Looking on big stars, such as Ronaldo, Messi, their kids will never be like them. MArsland said well, you cant inherit skill. 100% hit. They also wont be like their parents, because parents became best due to being poor and sport was their only way to become best and wealthy. But these kids have everything instantly after birth. They dont need to push themselves to achieve something.

[Uhwuchukwu53]

Everyone like what give him joy as well food on his table to be handled and make such food provisions for their children, nothing wrong if player toe or lure their children to what they do as been a footballer, the public expectations is where the problems rely on and the method to which the child can impressed and improve their own to meet that standards of expectations, public is good in subjecting people to what may not equally align with their presents pursuit, though it's expected that children will over perform than parents but it's a gradual means not as the public may have their view most time.

[Olatundespo]

Children grow up following their parents. A child repeats what he sees when he is young. The two examples you mentioned are seen in many players whose parents are good at a particular sport and their children also follow in their footsteps.

Preferences can vary, as most players have children in different professions. As they mature in age, their attitudes change and responsible parents give priority to their children's choices in shaping their children's careers.

It is possible for children of talented players to develop into talented players of almost the same level if they are taken care of because the children have the DNA of their parents.

[bitLeap]

Cristiano Ronaldo had his some Cristiano Ronaldo Jr into football academy, and he plays in almost a similar manner to his father.

We have seen him a lot on social media and he has been seen playing, so we see the best career of Ronaldo's son because he has kept himself very strong and fit and he also gives such advice to his son that he will take his son as his own. Even if his son also shows interest, he can leave his father behind because only hard work leads to progress and success, so if the son continues on the path of hard work and he needs enough age, he can make his own good future at that age. A lot of progress can be achieved in football, but there are many good players who want to bring their children into this field by working hard and paying attention to them, but Ronaldo is more interested in all of them, so he has paid a lot of attention to his child.

The journey of every young player is very diverse but the process of those who start from the lowest point is often memorable. Now Ronaldo son is just enjoying the facilities his father gave him and Cristiano Jr is starting from a different starting line than other young footballers. Interestingly the son of a legend actually the pressure is much heavier because the first one people will value is the big name of his father and if he fails to become a professional footballer it can be a psychological burden.

[Livingleged]

I would add few more name, Erling Haaland<->Alf-Inge Haaland, Kasper Schmeichel<->Peter Schmeichel, Marcus and Khéphren Thuram<->Lilian Thuram, Federico Chiesa<->Enrico Chiesa, Daley Blind<->Danny Blind and Justin Kluivert<->Patrick Kluivert.

Of these Haaland, Schmeichel & Thuram families seem very interesting to me. Because those boys have not only repeated their father's career. Some have even surpassed their father's achievement.

I don't really see it as just football genes. Environment, early coaching, facility, networking and access to elite training from early age are also big factor in my opinion. A famous footballer's son may have better genes, but his biggest advantage is probably growing up in professional football environment from very young age.

While looking at the names you added, I pictured the faces of the individuals and that of their children, most of them are carbon copy of their fathers. And also playing exact same position as their parents. This is evident of early guidance from the parents. And nothing to be surprised if the the children are even better, obviously that’s the dream of every responsible parent for their children to become greater than them in term of education, career and life choices as a whole.

While enrolling in a football academy is not that affordable to the common man, this kid had the opportunity to enjoy it without even knowing. Most of them grew up around football academy environment and had the privileges their parents probably never had. so ideally they should definitely become greater which most of them have proven already.

[sotelorene]

Everyone has their choice and decision to make whether to take after their father's career or not and that of Cristiano Ronaldo I think at some point his son never wanted to play because he was not doing great and that period I heard, Cristiano Ronaldo was comparing his son to Lamine Yamal because they are almost same age if not same age and Cristiano Ronaldo was not impress because of the fact that Lamine Yamal was doing better than Cristiano Ronaldo Jr at that point the son wanted to stop playing and then his father  forced him and I think he threatened him.

[bakasabo]

I believe that children of football stars have very high chances and potential to surpass success of their parents, but only if they want it themselves. Their parents are great example and motivators. Their parents can share more experience and dedicate more time to master their childs skills. Their parents have more resources than other parents to make their children top football players. This is similar to being "born with golden spoon", but you not only have money, but also most experienced specialist.

[Taricoins]

There is a reason why the JR did go there for tryouts, which his father called up and made sure it happens, so it was nepotism that got him a tryout, but there is also a reason why the kid is back in Al-Nassr youth team, Kid is 16 years old, and he is not even good enough to be playing in Saudi Arabia league, SAUDI ARABIA, and you think that he could play for Real Madrid one day? If a kid is not good enough for Al Nassr at 16 years old or 17 years old, however old he is right now, then he will never be good enough for Real Madrid ever, unless he makes a 10x jump somehow somewhere.

Yamal was playing in Barcelona's main team by that age, and while yes, sure, most players don't, all those Real Madrid players you see right now on the squad would have been good enough at all of Nassr when they were 16 years old. That kid is not going anywhere at all.

When I said something like this 2 years ago, people said I was hating because of his Dad, now looking at it, he is 16 and he has not break out yet, the world of football is rapidly changing and we see alot if 16 and 17's breaking out to the first team, Barcelona has up to 4 under 17's in the first team, that tells you alot.

Seeing Jr. highlights, i feel like he is joking, i think football is more like a hobby to him, it shows that he didn't inherit his father's skill and the funny thing is that it's his best highlights. And the thing you said about not playing in the Saudi really got me thinking.

[Rabata]

Everyone has their choice and decision to make whether to take after their father's career or not and that of Cristiano Ronaldo I think at some point his son never wanted to play because he was not doing great and that period I heard, Cristiano Ronaldo was comparing his son to Lamine Yamal because they are almost same age if not same age and Cristiano Ronaldo was not impress because of the fact that Lamine Yamal was doing better than Cristiano Ronaldo Jr at that point the son wanted to stop playing and then his father  forced him and I think he threatened him.

I don't know about the fact that Ronaldo Jr. wanted to quit football because of that specific incident, but many know about the rivalry between Ronaldo Jr and Yamal. Although Yamal was almost 3 years older than Ronaldo Jr. there was still a rivalry between them. Ronaldo Jr. is performing quite well in youth football. He performed quite well in Al-Nassr U15 and Portugal U15. If he can maintain his consistency, then maybe he can have a good chance in senior football too, but it is not certain because there are many who do well as juniors but cannot maintain that previous consistency in the senior game. It can be said with certainty that whose fathers are legendary football players receive more inspiration than other ordinary footballers.

[Alex077]

you can drop your own as well if you know some.

I know several player who were successful as footballer individually. And now their children have also been able to wear national team jersey and they are playing quite well.

We all know Erling Haaland, Marcus Thuram and Daniel Maldini. But their father were also quite successful as footballer. City star Haaland's father, Alf-Inge Haaland also played for City. Paolo Maldini was one of the best defenders for AC Milan, now his sons are playing. Marcus Thuram's father, Lilian Thuram, is a World Cup-winning defender for France. Also, in this World Cup, we saw that Luka Zidane, the son of legendary Zinedine Zidane, performed quite well as goalkeeper.

Also, Messi and Ronaldo's sons are also doing quite well in their academies. We often see their various releases. But how successful they will be in national team or club football is still uncertain.

[Ayers]

Nepotism in football games?

I think this exists in every profession be it sports or non sports. However one should see the juniors as new people completely because they will rarely be able to mimic what their parents have done.

Major players dont have such legacies and hence getting them to the industry is easy but sustaining them over time is difficult.

A legendary player's son will definitely get extra advantages in the beginning. But that advantage will not automatically make him an elite player. And if he doesn't have the skills, he will fall out very quickly.

It is possible to gain some skills or experience by working hard. But reaching the heights of Messi or Ronaldo will not be possible by working hard alone. I think it is God-gifted. And with surename, technical ability, tactical understanding, physical attributes, mentality and consistent training, everything will be needed. So I would say, nepotism may open doors, but it will not be of any use to sustain a career in the long run.

[bakasabo]

you can drop your own as well if you know some.

I know several player who were successful as footballer individually. And now their children have also been able to wear national team jersey and they are playing quite well.

We all know Erling Haaland, Marcus Thuram and Daniel Maldini. But their father were also quite successful as footballer. City star Haaland's father, Alf-Inge Haaland also played for City. Paolo Maldini was one of the best defenders for AC Milan, now his sons are playing. Marcus Thuram's father, Lilian Thuram, is a World Cup-winning defender for France. Also, in this World Cup, we saw that Luka Zidane, the son of legendary Zinedine Zidane, performed quite well as goalkeeper.

Also, Messi and Ronaldo's sons are also doing quite well in their academies. We often see their various releases. But how successful they will be in national team or club football is still uncertain.

The difference between parent professional football players and child professional football player (in example of Maldini, Thuram and Haaland) is that parent was a successful but child is a top player of the world. Or it might be that child is only a good player, but parent is a top player. It also could be that child is "doing good" in academy because coaches are giving him extra attention because his parent is a top football star. Child can be an average player, but name of his father attract good money to academy, and because of that coaches praise this child and say how good he is.

[Marvelockg]

Cristiano Ronaldo had his some Cristiano Ronaldo Jr into football academy, and he plays in almost a similar manner to his father.

It's not written in anywhere that because your father is a professional footballer that you're by extension meant to be one. If it's not your thing, it's better you go find the area where you can thrive rather than hoping that in some way, you're capable of doing well in football just because your father did well also.

Christian jnr is far from where the father is at and though he's pushing himself, chances are low that he's capable of being anywhere close to where Ronaldo got to and that's going to frustrate his career alot. Imagine he's not Ronaldo's son, we probably won't know he exist. If you're meant for the game of football, wether your father was a footballer or not, you will still shine.

[Z-tight]

Nepotism in football games?

No, you would have to be very good for any club to offer you a contract or for you to get a call-up from your national team. No club would offer you a contract because you are related to a global football star, past or present. If you are good and have the necessary quality to play at the highest level, then it could be an added advantage if you are of the bloodline of a superstar player, but your quality obviously comes first and nothing else.

[New Judgement]

The two prodigy I can think of now is both Thiago Silva's sons which are isago Silva and lago Silva, both of them are playing for Chelsea under 15 academy team, but among them, isago Silva that is the most senior has shown that he can be as good as his father, and is the brightest between them, because he is also a center back, and as calm as his dad was, so I believe that in three to four years time from now, if he can continue working diligently, he will break into the Chelsea first team because he might have improved a lot comparing to how he is now that he is still a kid.

Is there really need for these youngsters to carry the heavy burden of being compared to their parents? While such comparisons can make the kids work harder to be the better version of themselves, I still believe that these kids deserves their own identity. Let them grow and play in their own brands, their terms and their own way. They can be as good as their parents or they might not even be half the players their parents was, but let the comparisons not be made in the first place. These comparisons might make these kids be doing more than they are expected just to meet up with the expectations people placed on their shoulders.