I'm sorry there haven't been any recent posts. I haven't been able to spare the time due to becoming a father for the first time. I'm pleased to say it is a boy, so I'm able to introduce him to the beautiful game, buy him a football kit and all the other football things boys like to do. With this in mind I decided to look into the fathers and sons who have both been part of the footballing fraternity.
Johan and Jordi Cryuff
Cryuff is a name almost synonymous with Dutch football. Johan Cryuff played a major part in implementing "Total Football" for Holland and Ajax Amsterdam and then exporting the concept to Barcelona where his tactics have become a mantra espoused by the coaches at the club. His son Jordi also played for the Dutch and Catalan sides. Jordi was also capped by Holland and most notably played in Euro 96.
When the independent compared the careers of father and son it noted that Jordi may have benefited from his fathers name but he may have also been underrated as a player due to the often comparisons between the father and son.
"The thought has always lingered that had Jordi's surname been (say) Beaglehole, then his career would not have touched the dizzy heights of Barcelona and Manchester United. Johan was one of the best players ever to grace the game and a legend at Barcelona and Ajax. When dad was manager at Ajax, so Jordi was in the youth set-up there. When dad took over at Barcelona, so Jordi joined him. In truth, he was a decent player (decent enough to play for Holland) but not a superstar like his dad. And when Johan was sacked, Jordi was sold. He failed to really establish himself at United and returned to Spain to play for Alaves and Espanyol. He is now in management in Malta."
Cesare and Paolo Maldini
Between them they played 994 games for AC Milan the most successful Italian club in European competition. Son Paolo is a record holder for caps for Italy and games played for AC Milan and father Cesare has managed both club and country.
They also became the first and only father and son to lift the European Cup when Paolo as captain lifted the trophy exactly forty years after his father, captained the Rossoneri to victory over the legendary Eusebio's Benfica side in 1963.
In the 1998 World Cup Cesare managed Italy with Paolo as the captain. In most countries there would be murmurs of nepotism, but in Italy such is their standing there was no such discontent.
When Paolo retired, so did his number 3 shirt, but will be issues again only if another Maldini makes it into the AC Milan first team. So far, Paolo Maldini's oldest son and Cesare Maldini's grandson Christian is shaping up well to take up the challenge. Just seventeen he is currently a member of the Milan youth squad, displaying the sterling defensive talents that made the Maldini dynasty so long a feature at Milan and on the Italian international scene
Diego Maradona and Sergio Aguero
Benjamin aside, Maradona is possibly the greatest player of all time leading Argentina to 1986 World Cup victory. Famous goals against England in that tournament have ensured that Maradona's name is etched in World Cup history.Aguero on the other hand doesn't have the legendary status of "El Diego" but he has played in a World Cup for Argentina and scored 113 goals in 274 club games for Independiente and Athletico Madrid.
Peter and Kasper Schmeichel
"Kasper Schmeichel has followed his father into the family business of keeping clean sheets. Two Premier League games, two shut-outs.
Now all he has to do to emulate dad is to play 129 games for his country, win five titles and a European Cup. Oh, and score 11 goals at the other end."
Kasper has made a promising start to his goalkeeping career and is currently playing for Leeds United in The Championship. Most recently he put in a superb performance in the FA Cup against Premiership side Arsenal, pulling off one particularly good save which even his father would've been proud of.
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