Rooney, Huntelaar & Co.
© Imago
They bear big surnames – and even greater expectations. For sons of well -known footballers who emulate their fathers, the footsteps are often gigantic. Some make the leap to the professional, some – like Erling Haaland – even shine their fathers, and others are still looking forward to their dream. Transfer market looks at the offspring of long-standing top players, who is currently active in youth teams and has not yet made its breakthrough.
The latest example is Seb Huntelaar. The 16-year-old recently switched to PSV Eindhoven to the U17. His father Klaas-Jan had already kicked there in his youth. Like the senior, Huntelaar-Junior is a striker and is described as a real goalkeeper with torriachers. SEB was born in Madrid in April 2009, shortly before Madrid’s father moved to AC Milan and about a year before the way to FC Schalke 04 continued to the Bundesliga. In the royal blue, the 42-year-old became the best goal scorer in the younger club history. Klaus Fischer still leads the Schalke ranking.
But not only Huntelaars Filius could cause a sensation in the Netherlands in the future, the sons of other previous Oranje stars are also working on their climb. These include Viana Seedorf (18, AC Milan U18), who also has Brazilian citizenship, Liam van Nistelrooy (17), in the future in attack with Seb Huntelaar in the PSV-U17, Damian van der Vaart (19, Ajax Amsterdam II), Shaqueel van Persia (18, Feyenoord Rotterdam U21), Shane) Kluivert (18, FC Barcelona U19) and Jessey Sneijder (19, FC Utrecht II).
The latter also recently signed his first professional contract. Father Wesley, who ran 134 times for the Dutch national team, was overjoyed afterwards. “I am so proud of you! Your persistence and willpower have been rewarded. Now it really starts. All the best my son, I love you!” He wrote on “Instagram”. A few steps further is Ruben van Bommel (21), son of Mark van Bommel, who debuted in 2023 in the Eredivisie and is there this season with Eindhoven in the Champions League.
Big expectations at Rooney-Sohn Kai-Cristiano Júnior also fits father
In England, too, talents with famous surnames are on the way. Among them Jaden (19) and Regan Heskey (17, both Manchester City U21), Tate (Brighton U18) and Lorenz Ferdinand (19, Brighton U21), the children of Emile Heskey and Rio Ferdinand, and Wayne Rooneys Spross Kai (15, Manchester United Youth), on which there are above all great expectations. The teenager was recently surprisingly appointed to the U19 of the Red Devils. After that, however, he injured himself and showed himself on his “Instagram” profile with a medical shoe and crutches. Many Man-United fans will keep their fingers crossed for him to make a similar career as his father, who had debuted in the Premier League at the age of 16. Kai, who, since he was 11, is trained by the English record champions, also feels most comfortable in the attack, both on the wing and number 9.
The son of Cristiano Ronaldo, Cristiano Júnior, who whirls on the offensive outside in the U15 of the Al-Wet Rassr FC is only 15 years old. He had also played in the relevant youth teams before, depending on where his father was under contract. In May, the left wing also ran for Portugal’s U15 for the first time. “Congratulations on your debut in Portugal’s selection team, son. I’m very proud of you!”, The five-time balloon d’or winner, European champion and Nation League champion then wrote at “X”.
A number of titles in their careers also collected Zinédine Zidane, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Marcelo. While France icon Zidane with Luca, and Enzo have already made three sons into professional football, but did not get the quality of her father, Elyaz Zidane (19) is still at the beginning. The central defender is currently active for Betis Deportivo in the third Spanish league. Ibrahimović in turn sends two offspring into the race and Marcelo: Maximilian Ibrahimović (19, AC Milan U20) and Vincent Ibrahimović (17, AC Milan U18) and Enzo Alves (16, Real Madrid U17).
Reyes wants to continue legacy of his late father
The real jersey once also wore José Antonio Reyes, who in 2019, in 2019, had a fatal accident in a traffic accident. His son José Reyes (17) wants to continue his legacy. After signing his first professional contract with the royal in October 2023, the attacker had explained: “This is a very special moment for me. I will continue to work and do my best to get far!” The youngster of the youth department of Real had joined the Real youth department just around a month after the death of his father, and he is currently hunting goals for the U19.
Likewise, ISAGO Silva (16, FC Chelsea U18), son of Thiago Silva, who won the Champions League, or Mattia Barzagli (15, AC Florence Youth), the descendant of Andrea Barzagli, who became world champion with Italy in Germany in 2009, with VfL Wolfsburg, for example. Sacha Mandanda (16, Stade Rennes U19), Junior of the recently resigned goalkeeper Steve Mandanda – the part of the team, who became world champion in 2018 – or Ricardo Bordon (18, Lazio Rom U20), offspring of the former Stuttgart and Schalkers Marcelo Bordon, bear well -known surnames in the business.