Football is a sport that often runs in the blood, with many players following in the footsteps of their relatives. While some footballing families are well-known, there are also several surprising connections that you may not be aware of. In this article, we will explore 11 footballing relatives that you probably didn’t know about.
1. Luka Modrić and Mark Viduka
Did you know that Luka Modrić, the Croatian midfield maestro, is actually related to former Australian striker Mark Viduka? The two players are distant cousins, sharing their Croatian heritage.
2. Georginio and Giliano Wijnaldum and Rajiv van la Parra
The Wijnaldum brothers, Georginio and Giliano, both have footballing careers, with Georginio playing for Liverpool and Giliano currently plying his trade in the Dutch leagues. Their cousin, Rajiv van la Parra, is also a professional footballer who has played for clubs like Huddersfield Town and Red Star Belgrade.
3. Kaká and Digão
Brazilian legend Kaká is not the only footballer in his family. His younger brother, Digão, also had a career in the sport, playing as a defender for various clubs in Brazil and Italy.
4. Didier Drogba and Olivier Tébily
Didier Drogba, the Ivorian striker who made a name for himself at Chelsea, is related to Olivier Tébily, another Ivorian footballer who played for Birmingham City. The two players are cousins.
5. Gianfranco and Andrea Zola
Gianfranco Zola, the Italian footballing legend, has a nephew who followed in his footsteps. Andrea Zola is a professional footballer who has played for clubs in Italy and England.
6. Romário and Romarinho
Romário, the Brazilian football icon, has a son who is also a professional footballer. Romarinho has played for clubs in Brazil and Qatar, following in his father’s footsteps.
7. Manuel, Gelson, and Edimilson Fernandes and Cabral
The Fernandes and Cabral families have produced multiple professional footballers. Manuel Fernandes, Gelson Fernandes, and Edimilson Fernandes are all related and have represented their respective national teams. Cabral, who is related to the Fernandes family, has played for clubs in Switzerland and Portugal.
8. Carl and Leon Cort and Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Carl Cort, the former English striker, has two footballing relatives. His brother, Leon Cort, also had a career in professional football. Additionally, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the talented midfielder who plays for Chelsea and the England national team, is a cousin of the Cort brothers.
9. McDonald Mariga and Victor Wanyama
McDonald Mariga, the Kenyan midfielder who played for Inter Milan, is the older brother of Victor Wanyama, who has represented Kenya and played for clubs like Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur.
10. Bobby and Nikolay Mihaylov
Bobby Mihaylov, the former Bulgarian goalkeeper, is the father of Nikolay Mihaylov, who also had a successful career as a goalkeeper and represented Bulgaria at the international level.
These are just a few examples of the surprising footballing relatives that exist in the world of football. It’s fascinating to see how talent and passion for the sport can run in families, creating a legacy that extends beyond individual players. Who knows, there may be even more undiscovered footballing relatives out there, waiting to be uncovered.