A MALIAN international who starred in the Premier League is now watching on proudly as his son follows in his footsteps at his former club.
Former midfielder Mamady Sidibe, 44, was a huge favourite at Stoke City after previously playing for Swansea City and Gillingham.
After being signed in 2005, he went on to become a key player for the Potters under Tony Pulis.
Sidibe, who was capped 14 times for his country, appeared to love life at Stoke and settled down roots there for the long-term during his eight years at the club.
He played over 250 times, scoring 24 goals, in the league and celebrated promotion to the Premier League with them in 2008.
After loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Tranmere Rovers, he left Stoke in 2013 for a brief spell in Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia.
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
The following year he retired from football and along with Bineta, his wife, he opened a patisserie in the Potteries Shopping Centre near to Stoke.
But these days there is another Sidibe making a name for themselves at his father’s former stomping ground.
Mamady’s son Sol penned a long-term deal with Stoke last summer after turning pro and impressing on the pre-season training camp in Costa Blanca.
He was born in 2007, right when his dad was helping the club to promotion from the Championship, and joined their academy at the age of eight.
Most read in EFL
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
And his progress was rewarded at the start of the season when the ace, who turned 17 on Saturday, signed his three-year contract.
Speaking at the time, Sol said: “It is a really proud moment for me and my family.
“I know this is a football club where you can earn the opportunities to progress.
“I have enjoyed – and been grateful for – the chance to play for the Under-21s and be in the first team environment in recent times.
“My immediate focus is on training hard and preparing myself for the new season but, of course, my long-held ambition is to represent the first team and that is what I will be giving my all to achieve.”
Despite his young age, Sol has gone on to achieve that dream already this season.
He came off the bench during Stoke’s 4-1 victory over Rotherham on the opening day of the Championship season to make his senior debut.
And he has gone on to make six further appearances for the club, including outings in both the League Cup and FA Cup.
However, it is not only at club level that he is catching the eye.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Despite his African heritage, Sol has already represented England on the international stage.
He made his debut for the U17s in a 3-2 defeat to Portugal in September and has gone on to add another cap to his collection since.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
