Famous Football Families

 

It’s commonplace for most young boys to idolise their fathers and have a burning desire to please and make them proud.

This desire is no different for the offspring of some of the biggest names to star in the English Premier League who long to follow in their footballer father’s footsteps and make a name for themselves at one of England’s top Premier League clubs.

Some are led to believe that a boy whose father was a former professional footballer would benefit from certain doors opening for them over the course of their burgeoning career.

This is certainly not the case because every professional player within the modern game at some point would have been subjected to numerous tests and trials as a youth in order to prove their worth.

If a club feels that the player won’t go on to make it they are released, it’s as simple as that.

Just because you have a famous father and surname it doesn’t give you a right to expect to be signed up by a professional club.

Brooklyn Beckham for example was famously released by Arsenal’s academy which shows that this practice clearly doesn’t happen in the game.

Here we have a list of fifteen current professional players who have followed their father’s career path into the game:

 

Kasper Schmeichel – son of the “Great Dane” Peter Schmeichel, Schmeichel Junior currently plays as goalkeeper for Leicester City and the Danish national side.

Growing up in Manchester when his Dad was at United, Kasper often played football in the streets with Alex Bruce, son of Steve Bruce and they ended up playing together in the same side at Leeds United in 2010.

When Leicester City won the 2015-16 Premier League it made Kasper and Peter Schmeichel the first father and son winners of the title.

For the best odds on the 2017-18 Premier League title, check out NetBet Sport.

 

Alex Bruce – son of former Manchester United defender Steve Bruce is a defender with a playing style much like his footballing father.

He currently plays for Wigan Athletic and has also previously played under his father at Hull City and Birmingham City.

 

Niall Keown – son of former Arsenal defender Martin Keown is also a defender and currently plays in the Scottish Premiership for Partick Thistle.

He has also played for the Republic of Ireland under 21 squad.

 

Thomas Ince – son of former Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince, Thomas Ince currently plays in the Premier League as a winger for Huddersfield Town.

Now 25 years-old, Ince has made over 200 professional club appearances including spells at Hull City (under his father’s old Manchester United team-mate Steve Bruce), Derby County and also at Blackpool.

 

 

Tyler Walker – son of former Nottingham Forest defender Des Walker currently plays as a striker for Nottingham Forest.

He has recently broken into the first team and has caught the eye of a host of Premier League sides after some eye-catching displays for the Forest youth side.

 

Dan Potts – son of former West Ham United defender Steve Potts, Potts Junior also plays as a defender at League Two side Luton Town.

He has represented England at under 18’s, under 19’s and under 20’s.

Jack Barmby – son of former Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Everton, Middlesbrough and Hull City player Nick Barmby currently plays in the MLS for Portland Timbers after spending much of his youth career at Manchester United.

He has represented England at under 16’s, under 18’s and under 19’s.

 

Devante Cole – son of former Manchester United striker Andy Cole currently plays as a striker for League One side Wigan Athletic.

Devante Cole has represented England from under 16’s to under 19’s.

 

Elliot Lee – youngest son of former Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee, Elliot Lee currently plays alongside his older brother Olly Lee at League One side Luton Town.

 

Oliver Lee – Rob Lee’s eldest son currently plays as a midfielder for League Two side Luton Town alongside his younger sibling Elliot.

 

Darnell Furlong – son of former Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea striker Paul Furlong plays as a defender and is a regular starter for Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

Angus Gunn – son of former Norwich City keeper Bryan Gunn is goalkeeper for the Manchester City Elite Development Squad and is widely tipped to become their number one in the future.

He is currently playing in the Championship for Norwich City where he is on a season long loan.

Gunn has also represented England at under 21 level. 

 

Diego Poyet – son of former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Gus Poyet currently plays as a midfielder for Argentine side Godoy Cruz.

He has represented England at under 16 and under 17 level and also for the Uruguayan under 20’s team as he qualifies for them through his father.

 

Josh Windass – the son of former Hull City and Middlesbrough striker Dean Windass is currently playing for Scottish giants Rangers where he has enjoyed a success as a goal-scoring midfielder.

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Bradley Wright-Phillips – son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, Wright-Phillips moved to the MLS in 2013 to sign for the New York Red Bulls.

Since joining the New York side, Wright-Phillips has been a goalscoring sensation and has scored over 100 goals for the club.

Callum Saunders – son of former Aston Villa striker and Welsh international Dean Saunders currently plays as a forward for League Two side Notts County.

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George Hirst – the highly-rated forward is son of legendary Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst and currently plays for the same side as his father did in the 1990’s.

With a host of Premier League clubs tracking the England under 20 international’s progress it is surely only a matter of time before he gets a move to one of the big clubs.

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Tyrese Campbell – son of former Everton, West Brom and Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, he made his Premier League debut for Stoke City in February 2018.

A former England under 17 international, Campbell was playing for the Manchester City academy until 2016 when he turned down the offer of a professional contract to move down to Stoke.


Visit our site Premier League Heroes for information and statistics on all of your favourite ex Premier League players.