Top-class footballers tend to pave the way for their offspring to enter the world of football. Some sons have made a name for themselves. However, many sons never reached the heights their old men did. Many young footballers have big boots to fill and that is why it is difficult for them to make it.

Like Father, Like Son: Young footballers following in their dads’ footsteps

Jordi Cruyff – Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff was one of the greatest footballers of all-time. However, he wasn’t just a great player, he was also a great coach and mind. Barcelona have Cruyff to thank for the heights they have reached since the 1970s.

His son Jordi started in the Ajax academy before moving to Barcelona’s training school. He had big boots to fill from the start. Between 1994 and 2000, Cruyff played 75 matches combined for Barcelona and Manchester United scoring 19 total goals.

He later bounced around to a number of teams before moving into management. He worked as Maccabi Tel Aviv’s sporting director from 2012 and 2017 helping to make the club a dominant domestic force. Cruyff now manages Chongqing Dangdai Lifan.

Kasper Schmeichel – Peter Schmeichel

It must have been difficult for Peter Schmeichel to watch his son Kasper join the Manchester City academy rather than the Manchester United training school. The good news for father Peter was his son wasn’t in the club’s first team for very long.

The young Schmeichel played just eight times for Manchester City after being promoted to the first team in 2005. After a host of loans away from the club, Schmeichel landed at Notts County. A successful season saw Leeds United sign the Danish shot-stopper. Another successful season influenced Leicester City to purchase the goalkeeper.

Schmeichel solidified his place in goal for the Foxes in his first two seasons at the King Power Stadium. His play even influence the club to retain his services after earning promotion to the Premier League. Now, in their sixth straight season of Premier League football, Scheimechel is a league winner and the first name on Leicester City’s team sheet.