Erling Haaland, Enzo Zidane and 4 Football Stars Who Played for the Same Team As Their Father

The world of football has witnessed several noteworthy father-and-son duos gracing the same team. Some have achieved iconic status, while others have operated more quietly under the radar.

Players such as Federico Chiesa of Juventus and Daley Blind of Girona have adeptly navigated the expectations associated with their family names. On the contrary, individuals like Justin Kluivert and Enzo Zidane have struggled to live up to the heightened anticipation linked to their renowned surnames.

Among the latest entrants into this lineage is Erling Haaland, who, following his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City in the summer of 2022, has seamlessly adapted to the pressures tied to his family legacy.

As he makes his mark in Manchester City, Sports Brief delves into the stories of four footballers who have trodden the same path as their fathers by donning the colours of a shared club.

Erling Haaland and Alf-Inge Haaland (Manchester City)

The Norwegian striker, who initially rose to prominence as a rookie forward with Molde, has evolved into one of Europe's premier stars.

The 23-year-old, who joined Manchester City in the summer of 2022, followed in the footsteps of his father, who played for the Premier League club between 2000 and 2003.

While a few players have failed to eclipse the legacy of their fathers, Haaland has made light work of his. According to data courtesy of Fotmob, the Norwegian has been involved in 75 goals and 14 assists since his transfer to the club.

Justin Kluivert and Patrick Kluivert (Netherlands)

Similar to his father, Patrick, Justin Kluivert emerged from the ranks of the Ajax Amsterdam academy. After making his debut with the first team in 2017, the Dutch youngster went on to accumulate 56 appearances for Ajax across various competitions, finding the net 13 times, as per data provided by Whoscored.

His noteworthy performances earned him a spot in the Netherlands squad in 2018, where he secured his first cap against Portugal. This achievement marked the Kluiverts as the first father-son duo to debut for the Netherlands at a teenage age in the country's history.

However, in contrast to his father's illustrious career with Barcelona and Valencia, Justin has taken a different path, embarking on a journey across various European clubs. Ahead of the 2023-24 season, the 24-year-old Dutch forward completed a transfer to the Premier League side Bournemouth.

Enzo Zidane and Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)

Bearing the burden of being the eldest son of one of football's all-time greats can be an immense challenge, and this has certainly been the case for the son of Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane.

Enzo, the eldest among Zidane's children, has struggled to carve out a reputation as one of the finest players in the world. The journey for the French footballer's son has been marked by difficulties in securing a stable position in the top division of Spanish football. Consequently, he has often found himself striving to make a name for himself in the Spanish second division.

Currently aged 28, Enzo burst onto the scene with Real Madrid in 2016 but is now affiliated with Fuenlebrada, as reported by Fotmob.

Timothy Weah and George Weah (PSG)

Having grown up in the United States, Timothy Weah relocated to France in 2014 and joined the Paris Saint-Germain youth team. Three years later, he signed with the first team.

Primarily featuring for the club's reserves and youth squads, the 23-year-old forward made his first-team debut in March 2018, entering as a substitute in a 2-0 victory against Troyes. He notched his inaugural goal for the team during the Trophee des Champions against Monaco. In the same month, he received his first senior call-up to the USMNT.

During the second half of the 2018/19 season, the teenager embarked on a loan spell with Celtic, contributing four goals in 17 matches. Despite this, PSG opted to part ways with him, transferring him to Ligue 1 counterpart Lille in the summer of 2019, where he eventually became a Ligue 1 champion.

Celtic legends: Who are the top 10 all-time greats for the Bhoys

Football

Now donning the colours of Italian powerhouse Juventus, the 23-year-old is grappling to find his footing under the management of Massimiliano Allegri. His current performance is a noticeable departure from the impressive heights his father reached, culminating in winning the Ballon d'Or in 1995.

Michel on Girona’s title chance

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that despite the impressive performances that placed them as frontrunners, manager Miguel Angel Sanchez Munoz emphasised that winning the league is not Girona's primary goal.

The manager, known as Michel, helped the team coast to a 10th-place finish through the 2022-23 season. He has expressed doubt about his team’s chances of upstaging Real Madrid and Barcelona for the title.

While the Girona manager's words convey a sense of realism about the team's objectives in the Spanish top flight, the on-field performances suggest they are a determined side eager to compete for the La Liga title.