Forget about hard work and persistence; there have been players with football in their blood, hereditary talent. While the failures of many second-generation footballers are often well documented; there are still a few top footballers who have actually outshone their fathers.
5. Paolo Maldini and Cesare Maldini
The epitome of a one-club man; Paolo Maldini will go down in history as probably the greatest defender to have ever played the beautiful game. Paolo hung up his boots at the end of a 25-year career; with 7 Serie A titles and 5 European Cups/Champions League titles.
Just like his son, Cesare Maldini was also the captain of both Milan and Italy, during the early 60s; he a football legend in his own right. Having spent 12 of his 15-season-long career at AC Milan; the defender won four Serie A titles and a European Cup.
4. Gonzalo Higuain and Jorgé Higuain
A stunning record of 91 goals in just three seasons at Napoli saw Gonzalo Higuain earn a big transfer to Juventus. On 29, Higuain has got a lot of goals left in him and big things are expected from El Pipita, a nickname he derived from his father.
Jorgé Higuain was an Argentinian fullback who was renowned for scoring plenty of goals, despite being a defender. Though he enjoyed spells at the biggest Argentinian clubs such as Boca Juniors, River Plate etc, he could never make an appearance for his national team.
3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Pierre Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerik is one of the most dynamic attacking players in the world today, with his blistering pace a sight to behold. Borussia Dortmund’s star striker has been in impeccable form in recent seasons, and every year the top clubs in the world circulate around him like vultures waiting to snap.
But the Aubameyang name goes back as far as the 1980s when Pierre François Aubameyang (also known as Yaya), plied his trade in clubs on three different continents; he also played for Gabon, earning 80 caps as a defender. His son carried forward his legacy and his now the captain of Gabon.
2. Eidur Gudjohnsen and Arnor Gudjohnsen
For the first time in football history, in 1996 during Iceland’s friendly against Estonia, 34-year-old Arnor Gudjohnsen was substituted and his replacement was his 17-year-old son Eidur Gudjohnsen, who was making his debut.
Just like his father, Eidur was also a striker, renowned for his positioning skills as well as his general gameplay. While Ardor enjoyed relative success at club level with the likes of Anderlecht and Brodeaux; his son went a step ahead with Chelsea and Barcelona.
1. Frank Lampard and Frank Lampard
Before Frank Lampard made a name for himself at Chelsea; his father had already cemented the name as an English club football great. Frank Lampard Sr had spent 18 years at West Ham where he amassed over 660 appearances.
When his son also decided to follow in his father’s footsteps; he joined West Ham’s famous youth academy where his father was an assistant coach. Lampard’s stock soon rose over the next five years and that was when Chelsea came in with a £11m bid. The rest is history.
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