Passing it On: Fathers and Sons Who Played Football

Lasting for over 150 years, surpassing the histories of many nations, football has had sufficient time to experience dynasties being established. Some family names stuck to the back of the football shirts for longer than a typical career of 10 to 15 years. Most of us get the love for the sport from our parents, lucky ones got the talent too. Here are the 10 most notable fathers and sons who played football at a high level.

Alf-Inge and Erling Haaland (Norway)

There is no doubt who is the better player in the Haaland household. Yet the father of Erling, Alf-Inge, known as Alfie, was a solid pro too. Representing his country of Norway 34 times, and playing for the likes of Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, and Manchester City.

The right-back and midfielder wouldn't be that famous today if it weren't for his son. Who followed in his footsteps in more ways than one, joining the club his father performed for. However, it's a different Man City in 2024 than it was when Alfie was representing the Blues.

Now Erling already has a score of 27 goals in 29 matches for Norway and is on route of becoming one of the best strikers of all time. While Alf-Inge serves as his manager and his experience is a big part of why Erling became the sensation he is.

Peter and Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark)

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Another Scandinavian and Manchester City duo that left their mark on the Premier League. Although the Schmeichels don’t share only the sport, but the position they play in. The goalkeeping dynasty of Denmark is bottom-heavy as the father Peter Schmeichel was one of the very best goalkeepers of all time.

With nearly 400 games for Manchester United, five Premier League titles, one Champions League trophy, and the EUROs 1992 in his trophy cabinet, it's easy to understand his greatness. As keepers have longer careers, Peter retired in 2003, just two seasons before his son started his professional road.

Yet Kasper wasn't the immediate sensation based on name alone. Even if he did start in Manchester's blue part, where the father ended his career. Shorter than his father by four centimetres too, Kasper had to grind to become known for more than "Pete's boy." His trophy haul can't measure up to dad's, but the storyline can, as Kasper was a key part of Leicester City's unbelievable title run in 2015. Kasper also won the FA Cup, Peter has three. Kasper won one Community Shield, Peter has four. Kasper has 99 caps for Denmark, Peter is better there, with 129.

Diego and Giovanni Simeone (Argentina)

Not only was Diego one of the most memorable midfielders of his time - playing between 1987 and 2006, but he immediately went into management and excelled even more there. All his three sons, Giovanni, Gianluca, and Guiliano are football players, yet the former filled up the father's big shoes the most.

As a player for Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and Lazio and with titles won in Serie A, La Liga, and the UEFA Cup, Diego was quite accomplished as a player too. Giovanni, while a valuable striker, did have far more of a nomadic career, with seven clubs already and many loans. His crowning achievement was the 2022/2023 Scudetto, to which he did have a small contribution. But with 99 goals and 27 assists in 352 games for Fiorentina, Napoli, Cagliari, Genoa, River Plate, Banfield, and Hellas Verona, Giovanni didn't bring shame to the Simeone name.

The biggest difference is showcased in the international department, where Giovanni has six caps at the age of 28, while his father finished his career with 108. Alongside two Copa America trophies, one Confederations Cup, and an Olympic Silver medal.

Cesare and Paolo Maldini (Italy)

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We used the term "dynasty" in the introduction of this article, and nowhere is it truer in football than next to the Maldini name. We have to set the nostalgia machine back to the "black and white era" to track the Maldini and AC Milan symbiosis. Cesare Maldini started playing in 1952, joining the Rossoneri two years later and leaving a mark of 412 games. Winning one Champions Cup and four Serie A titles. A massive success that his son, Paolo, eclipsed multiple times.

Following in his father's footsteps in choosing the club and the position, the defense maestro played in 902 games for AC Milan! Only one player showed more loyalty and longevity in the sport than him. Starting in 1984 and staying with Milan throughout his career, Paolo won seven Serie A titles, four European Cup/Champions League trophies, and many other minor trophies.

The story has an asterisk, as Paolo's son, Cesare's grandson, Daniel Maldini is also a professional player who debuted for Milan. Yet at the age of 22, it doesn't seem that Paolo and his successor would find a space between elite fathers and sons who played football on their own.

Lilian and Marcus Thuram (France)

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While it seemed that this would be another story of fathers and sons who played football where the offspring couldn't reach the hype their name carried, Marcus is turning it around. Still, his father Lilian was one of the most notable centre-backs of his generation. Playing for Monaco, Parma, Juventus, and Barcelona between 1990 and 2008, collecting 683 games in total. Winning trophies with the Italian clubs, two Scudettos with Juventus, one UEFA Cup with Parma. His biggest successes were the EURO and the World Cup with France.

Marcus on the other hand, had humbler beginnings, representing Sochaux and Guingamp, a sure sign that he made his own path. From Borussia Monchengladbach, he moved to Inter where the forward is enjoying the season of his life. With 16 caps compared to 142 of his father, he has a lot of work to do. Luckily for him, he is not the only sibling going to emulate dad, as the younger Khephren is representing Nice at midfield too.

Danny and Daley Blind (The Netherlands)

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A football family to the core, the Blinds have left their mark on Ajax and the Dutch national team. If we're looking at playing careers, Danny probably still edges out his son. Playing for Sparta and the famed Amsterdam club, from 1979 to 1999, Danny won five Eredivisie trophies, one Champions League, one Europa League, and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. With a host of other minor trophies. He won the Dutch Player of the Year award twice!

Going in his dad's footsteps and playing as a defender, Daley has bragging rights compared to many Dutch talents, if not his father. Although he won seven Eredivisie trophies, he is missing continental glory to put to the tally. Yet Daley can say he also played for Manchester United. But the 33-year-old is still going strong and already has one bragging right over dad - he has 104 caps, while Danny stopped at 42 games. However, the father also served as the national team manager.

Johan and Jordi Cruyff (The Netherlands)

When your dad is regarded as one of the most influential figures in football, not just as a player, well it's truly hard to live up to the name. Mostly known for his time at Ajax and Barcelona, Johan Cruyff won eight Eredivisie trophies, and three European Cups with the Dutch team. Winning the league with Feyenoord and Barca once. Scoring 231 goals and making 182 assists for Ajax, he is the club's biggest legend.

Cementing the bond the Cruyff name has to Catalonia and Barcelona, the famed player named his son Jordi - not a Dutch name, but a Catalonian. Starting his career at Blaugrana, while his father was a coach, Jordi then represented Manchester United for four seasons. Yet he never had the notable role his father had, with his career taking a downturn and moving to Celta, Alaves, Espanyol, Metalurh Donetsk, and Valletta afterwards. Jordi did collect nine caps for the Dutch, his father had 48 in which he scored 33 goals. But Jordi, staying true to his name, played nine games for the Catalonian football team.

Enrico and Federico Chiesa (Italy)

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One of the stories of fathers and sons who played football that went viral as a home video from the Chiesa family was published online. The father Enrico was holding his young son and asking him who will score goals for Fiorentina when Gabriel Batistuta leaves, and Federico pointed to himself and said "I will." And he did.

Father Enrico played between 1988 and 2010 and changed clubs 12 times, but left his mark with Viola. Federico went through ACF's youth ranks before scoring 34 and assisting 25 goals in 153 games for the Florence club. The story turned sour for the fans wearing purple, as Federico then joined their bitter rivals Juventus.

Enrico managed to win the Italian Cup with Fiorentina, and Federico did it with Juve. The father also won the competition with Parma and triumphed in the UEFA Cup with them. Even though he has played for Juve for several seasons now, Federico is yet to win a Scudetto too. But the young winger won the Euros with Italy, collecting 44 caps for now, while his dad stopped at 17.

Patrick and Justin Kliuivert (The Netherlands)

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Another case of the Dutch representatives continuing the lineage. One of the most notable strikers of his era in the 1990s and 2000s, the football public was excited when they learned that his family name would be added to the column of fathers and sons who played football. Patrick scored 205 goals and made 83 assists in 478 games for Barcelona, Ajax, Newcastle, Milan, PSV, Valencia, and Lille. Winning four Dutch titles in total and one Champions League. Scoring 40 in 79 games for The Netherlands.

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As his father's son, Justin had a lot of eyes on him from a young age, yet he failed to deliver on his potential, at least by his 24th birthday. Changing six clubs already, the winger is stuck at around five goals per season, with a smaller number of assists. With sole two caps for the Netherlands NT.

George and Timothy Weah (Liberia & USA)

A truly rare case where the fathers and sons who played football represented different nations. But also a rare case where the father wasn't a manager after his career, but a president of a country. Before that, George Weah was the two-time African Footballer of the Year. He won Serie A with Milan twice, Ligue 1 with PSG, FA Cup with Chelsea. George was a prolific striker and ended up scoring 193 goals in 478 matches, with 63 assists.

His son was born while George was playing in England, yet Timothy was born in New York. Now the winger is representing the United States on an international level, with 35 caps already at the age of 23. His father played 78 times for the country he later led as a president. Timothy earned a move to Juventus, even though he scored eight goals and had as many assists in 107 games for Lille. But coming through PSG’s youth ranks, and with his pedigree, the Old Lady was ready to gamble on the winger.