WAYNE ROONEY’S son Kai is the latest boy wonder looking to fill the boots of his famous father.
Proud dad Wazza announced the news this month his 11-year-old had penned a deal with Manchester United as he shared a snap of him and Coleen alongside the boy wonder.
Wayne Rooney’s son Kai signed for Manchester United in December 2020Credit: Instagram
Justin Kluivert, son of Patrick, is one of a group of young footballers aiming to follow in their fathers’ legendary footstepsCredit: Instagram @patrickkluivert9
But he won’t be the first son looking to fulfill the great expectations they were born with.
Offspring of legends like Zinedine Zidane and Patrick Kluivert are also looking to make their own way in the footballing world while dealing with the pressure of their iconic surnames.
And Maxim Gullit, son of Ruud and great nephew of Johan Cruyff, became the latest last year when he came off the bench for Jong AZ Alkmaar for his first taste of senior action.
Here, SunSport takes a look at the 13 other youngsters aiming to follow in their fathers’ giant footsteps:
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, 10
Cristiano Jr is on the books at Juventus with dad Ronaldo
Cristiano Jr has a heavy legacy to live up to if he attempts to emulate his five-time Ballon d’Or winning father Ronaldo.
The youngster is part of Juventus’ academy and has impressed in a number of youth tournaments.
And Ronaldo, 35, has admitted in the past he would ‘like’ to see Junior follow in his footsteps.
But the Portugal captain has insisted he will not ‘pressure’ his eldest son into a footballing career.
Joe van der Sar, 22
Joe van Der Sar, left, is son of Man United legend Edwin
Joe van der Sar is the son of legendary father Edwin.
Joe began his career at Man United, where his dad starred for six years, and then moved on to Noordwijk before signing for Ajax in 2013 where Edwin is CEO.
These are giant gloves to fill and the expectations are high. He’s now back at Noordwijk aiming to work his way to the top.
Maxim Gullit, 19
Maxim Gullit, left, is son of Chelsea icon Ruud, right, and great nephew of Johann Cruyff
Son of Ruud and great nephew of Johan Cruyff, Maxim Gullit could hardly hope for better footballing genes.
Maxim, a defender and son of Estelle Cruyff, predominantly played for AZ’s Under-19 side in 2018/19 – but was handed an Easter treat – being called up a level.
The talented teen came on for the final 19 minutes of the AZ second team’s clash with champions Twente in the Netherlands’ second tier and helped his side keep a clean sheet.
He has since gone on to become a regular for their Under-21 side this season, while he made his debut for the first team in the Europa League against HNK Rijeka in the Europa League in October.
Zidane (Luca, Enzo & Theo)
Zinedine Zidane has three footballer sons but Luca, left, was handed a Real Madrid debut by his dad in March last year
Zinedine Zidane has three sons aiming to follow in his giant footsteps.
Midfielder Enzo, 25, was most recently at Almeria, and 18-year-old Theo is looking to develop in Real Madrid’s academy.
Goalkeeper Luca, 22, made two appearances for Los Blancos, but he left in search of game time.
He is now at second-tier side Rayo Vallecano.
Gudjohnsen (Andri Lucas, Sveinn Aron & Daniel Tristan)
Eidur Gudjohnsen has three sons aiming to make it in football including Andri Lucas, left, at Real Madrid
Former Chelsea, Tottenham and Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen has one son at Real Madrid, one son at Barca and another in Italy.
Sveinn, 22, and the spitting image of his father, is on loan at Danish outfit OB from Serie B side Spezia while younger brother Andri Lucas is in the big time at the Bernabeu.
The 18-year-old, who is starring for Iceland’s U19s, joined Real’s La Fabrica academy in Valdebas last summer while 12-year-old Daniel Tristan is in Barca’s Infant B.
Eidur famously came on for his father, Arnor, while playing for Iceland, in 1996.
Tyrese Campbell, 20
Stoke’s Tyrese Campbell, left, is son of former Arsenal, Everton and West Brom striker Kevin
Stoke’s young star Tyrese Campbell made a huge breakthrough last season – appearing 33 times in the Championship for the Potters.
The forward, who joined Stoke from Man City’s academy in 2016, is son of former Arsenal, Everton and West Brom striker Kevin Campbell.
Tyrese scored his first goals for Stoke in the FA Cup last season before being loaned out to League One Shrewsbury for the remainder of the campaign.
He bagged five goals for the Shrews, and managed nine in the Championship and now regularly starts for the Potters.
Harvey Neville, 18
Harvey Neville, left, has good family genes with father Phil, right, and uncle Gary ex Man United players
With TWO Manchester United Treble winners as father (Phil) and uncle (Gary), plus England’s netball head coach for an aunt (Tracey), there was little chance of Harvey going into auditing.
Harvey, who plays in midfield or on the wing, began his career at United before moving to rivals City where he won the Premier League International Tournament as an Under-13.
He moved to Valencia when his father and uncle took charge of the first-team before returning to Old Trafford in 2018.
Maurizio Pochettino, 19
Tottenham’s Maurizio Pochettino, left, was (almost) named after his father Spurs boss Mauricio
Definitely a name that Tottenham fans can immediately warm to, Maurizio is the offspring of former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.
And the Argentine youngster, described as a wide player with an eye for goal, has continued to play for the Lilywhites last term – despite his dad getting the sack in November 2019.
He even signed a new contract with the club earlier this year.
Justin Kluivert, 21
Justin Kluivert, left, is already showing the talents of his father Patrick who was a Barcelona striker
The name may have got him noticed but it is Justin Kluivert’s talent that has seen him thrive at such a young age.
Son of Patrick, left winger Justin was nurtured by the Ajax academy and is now starring in Serie A for Italian side Roma after signing in 2018 for £14.9million.
Manchester United were also believed to be after the youngster – who bagged five goals and two assists last campaign.
He is currently on loan at RB Leipzig, where he has enjoyed a return to top form.
Daniel Maldini, 19
Daniel Maldini, left, is following in the footsteps of father Paolo, right, and grandfather Cesare at AC Milan
The Maldini dynasty continues, with Daniel following in father Paolo and grandfather Cesare’s footsteps in Milan.
Daniel operates at the opposite end of the pitch to his father and has displayed his talents as a second striker.
The talented teen made his first-team debut against Hellas Verona in Serie A – becoming the third generation of Maldini’s to play for AC Milan.
Giovanni Simeone, 25
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone’s son Giovanni, left, is a winger at Italian side Fiorentina
Son of Atletico Madrid boss Diego, Giovanni is one of the few in this group to have already established themselves.
Usually deployed as a second striker, Giovanni has broken into the Argentina team where he has been capped on five occasions.
He joined Cagliari in the summer after a successful loan spell where he has scored five goals in six Serie A matches.
Erling Haaland, 20
Former Man City man Alf-Inge Haaland, right, has a son Erling, left, who is starring at Dortmund
Erling Haaland, son of Man City’s Alf-Inge whose career was ended after a horror tackle from Manchester United legend Roy Keane, is one of Europe’s hottest properties.
The 20-year-old was mentored by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Molde, before smashing in the goals for RB Salzburg.
The hulking centre forward then rejected interest from the Red Devils and moved to Borussia Dortmund in January, and he has not stopped scoring since.
Sydney van Hooijdonk, 20
Sydney van Hooijdonk, left, could be on the move to a British side in January
Son of former Nottingham Forest striker Pierre, the 20-year-old has been in fine form for NAC Breda in the Dutch second tier this season.
The towering centre-forward has chipped in with eight goals and two assists in 12 outings.
And football fans could see him in the UK in the New Year with Forest, Swansea and Sheffield Wednesday all keen on signing him.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
