Retirement is tough on footballers. But imagine being able to kick back, put your feet up, and still see your name running up the wing, banging in goals, or pulling strings in midfield — all through your son.
From Manchester United icons to AC Milan legends, these famous fathers are watching their mini-mes chase the same dream. Some are making waves already, some are still finding their feet, and a few are even battling the weight of iconic surnames. One thing’s for sure: you’re about to feel very old.
Angus Gunn
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Bryan Gunn was a Scottish goalkeeping legend with 478 appearances for Norwich City. Naturally, his son Angus started at the same club before Manchester City swooped in and signed him at just 15.
After a solid loan spell back at Norwich in 2017-18, Angus impressed enough for Southampton to splash an initial £10million to bring him back to the Premier League. Father and son both wore the gloves — but only one has a modern transfer fee to his name.
Justin Kluivert
Patrick Kluivert was all action, all flair, and all goals. With stints at Ajax, Milan, and Barcelona, plus 40 goals in 79 games for the Netherlands, his boots were big ones to fill.
His son Justin has been making waves too. Also starting out at Ajax, he bagged his first senior goal a decade and a day after his dad’s final strike. A standout 2017-18 season earned him a move to Roma for €17.25m — and just like dad, he made the leap from Amsterdam to Italy.
He currently plays for AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League, having scored 12 goals and provided six assists in the 2024–25 season.
Harvey Neville
When your dad is Phil Neville and your uncle is Gary, football is the family business. Harvey started at Manchester United before a brief spell at City, where he won the Premier League International Tournament with their Under-13s.
He then followed the family over to Valencia — where dad and uncle had brief coaching careers — and stayed on even after they were sacked. Harvey eventually returned to United just before his 16th birthday. A right-sided midfielder, he was once described by the Daily Mail — of course — as the ‘new David Beckham’.
Erling Haaland
Alf-Inge Haaland was a solid Premier League midfielder until Roy Keane’s infamous challenge brought his career to an early end.
He once said, “I really dislike United and I can’t stand their players,” which must make things awkward now that his son, Erling Haaland, is smashing goal records and flirting with just about every European superclub.
Molde’s director once claimed Manchester United were among several top clubs scouting Erling when he was only 17. Imagine the family group chat if he signed for United.
Timothy Weah
While George Weah was running for President of Liberia in October 2017, his son Timothy was lighting up the Under-17s World Cup for the USA.
Born in New York, Weah Jr scored a hat-trick against Paraguay as the United States thumped them 5–0 in India. Talk about a productive family week.
He started out in the New York Red Bulls Academy before heading to PSG — where George also played — and made his first senior appearances in Ligue 1 during the 2017–18 season. Not a bad parallel path.
Enzo, Luca, Theo, and Elyaz Zidane
If one Zidane wasn’t enough, how about four? Zinedine Zidane’s genes are clearly doing their job. All four of his sons started in the Real Madrid academy, because of course they did.
Enzo had a stint at Alaves before joining Swiss side Lausanne-Sport, retiring in 2023. Luca, a goalkeeper, made his Real debut on the final day of the 2017-18 season and is currently at Granada.
Theo, a midfielder, played for Real Madrid’s youth teams, including the U19 team where he won the UEFA Youth League, before joining Córdoba CF. Elyaz is a defender and also played for the French U17 national team, before moving to Real Betis.
A whole five-a-side team of Zidanes? Sign us up.
Giovanni Simeone
While Zizou welcomed his sons into Real Madrid, Diego Simeone has drawn a clear line. He has no intention of coaching his son — at least, not at Atletico Madrid.
Giovanni Simeone is a gifted striker who has already played for River Plate, Genoa, Fiorentina and currently plays for Napoli. He’s also been impressive for Argentina’s youth sides, but dad Diego is keeping his distance — professionally, at least.
“Giovanni has qualities that I like a lot and with effort and hard work he will definitely become a big player, but not with my team,” he said. Tough love.
Ianis Hagi
Ianis Hagi was nominated for the European Golden Boy award and joined Fiorentina in July 2016 for €2 million from Viitorul Constanța.
After two substitute appearances in Serie A, he returned to Viitorul to develop further, and later played for Rangers FC.
He’s got big shoes to fill. His dad, Gheorghe Hagi, is Romania’s all-time greatest player — the kind of playmaker whose name still inspires awe. No pressure, Ianis.
Christian and Daniel Maldini
Carrying the Maldini name at AC Milan is like carrying a throne on your back.
Christian Maldini tried to make it work at AC Milan but was released in 2016, joining Reggiana. Things didn’t pan out there or during a stint at Malta’s Hamrun Spartans. He later joined Serie D’s Pro Sesto and worked his way back to Serie C with Racing Fondi.
Younger brother Daniel is showing more promise, playing as a forward in the Milan academy, and currently playing in the Serie A with Atalanta. The genes — and the cheekbones — are definitely there.
Rivaldinho
If scoring in the same game as your dad isn’t cool, what is?
Rivaldinho and Rivaldo once both scored in a match for Mogi Mirim. Rivaldinho then headed to Portugal to join Boavista in 2015. One league appearance later, he moved to Internacional before heading to Dinamo Bucharest in early 2017.
He scored six goals in 36 matches in Romania, which earned him a move to Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia. A true footballing globetrotter.
Joe van der Sar
Imagine trying to fill Edwin van der Sar’s gloves. Literally.
Joe came through Ajax’s academy — where his father is CEO — but left in 2017 for ADO Den Haag, and then moved on to RKC Waalwijk and is currently with Koninklijke HFC.
He also had a spell at Manchester United’s academy, playing in the same age group as Marcus Rashford. A tall order, but the talent’s there.
Oan Djorkaeff
The Djorkaeff footballing bloodline runs strong.
Oan’s grandfather, Jean, played for big clubs like PSG, Lyon, and Marseille, earning 48 France caps. His dad, Youri, was part of France’s golden generation, winning the World Cup in 1998 and the Euros in 2000.
Oan, a midfielder, worked his way through Nantes’ reserve side and other European clubs and currently plays for FC Paradiso. There’s still a way to go, but the DNA is world class. Fingers crossed we see him at Bolton someday.
Aron, Andri Lucas, and Daniel Gudjohnsen
Eidur Gudjohnsen had a dazzling career, shining at Chelsea and Barcelona, he once came on as a substitute for his own father in a senior match for Iceland. Now, his sons are trying to carry the torch.
His half-brother, only 16, joined Swansea in 2017. His eldest son, Aron, was once on Barcelona’s books but now plays in Iceland for Sarpsborg.
Real Madrid picked up his two younger boys, signing Andri Lucas from Espanyol and Daniel — at just 12 years old — directly from Barcelona. That’s some next-gen talent right there.