Wayne Rooney’s son ALREADY has a contract with Puma, Cristiano Ronaldo Jnr has played in some of the best academies… and ex-Everton star Phil Jagielka’s boy plays for Liverpool! TEN former stars with sons to watch out for

• The next generation of players from football families are impressing as youths
• Wayne Rooney’s son is following in his footsteps as a Man United goal machine 
• Aaron Ramsdale’s dad has every right to support his son – It’s All Kicking Off

If there’s any advantage in tackling ‘Project Mbappe’ – the pursuit of raising your own wonderkid footballer – it’s having had a professional career yourself. 

After Emile Heskey’s son scored on his debut for Manchester City in the UEFA Youth League earlier this month, it got Mail Sport wondering: which other former stars have talented footballing offspring? 

As it turns out, quite a lot. 

Darren Fletcher has two footballer sons, both of whom switched from Manchester City to their dad’s old stomping ground, Manchester United, in the summer, but Djibril Cisse beats him with three. 

United legend Wayne Rooney’s son already has a contract with Puma, while Everton favourite Phil Jagielka’s son is defying his father by playing for Liverpool’s academy.

Here are 10 ex-Premier League stars with sons to watch out for. 

Kai Rooney (Wayne Rooney)

Fourteen-year-old Kai Rooney has a contract with Puma and scored 56 goals in 2021/22 

He joined father Wayne Rooney on the pitch when Manchester United won the league in 2013

Your browser does not support iframes.

Manchester United’s record goal-scorer Wayne Rooney has left more than just his goals to the Red Devils.

Rooney’s eldest son, Kai, is coming through at the club’s academy with hopes of a successful professional career in football.

The 14-year-old is also a striker and impressed with 56 goals and 28 assists in the 2021/22 season gaining the recognition of Puma, who he signed with aged just 12.

Shaqueel van Persie (Robin van Persie)

The Netherlands’ all-time top scorer Robin van Persie and wife Bouchra have raised a prodigy of their own.

Shaqueel van Persie is a 16-year-old forward currently playing in Feyenoord’s academy, after signing his first professional contract with the club where his father is a youth coach and where the legendary striker first started out.

Shaqueel, formerly of Manchester City’s academy, claimed a Feyenoord goal of the month award in 2020 after an acrobatic over-head kick and also netted for the Netherlands’ U17s.

Shaqueel van Persie, 16, signed a pro contract with Feyenoord and plays for their academy

Robin van Persie started at Feyenoord himself and is now a youth coach with the club

Zach Giggs (Ryan Giggs)

Thirteen-time Premier League champion Ryan Giggs also has a son looking to follow in his footsteps: Sheffield United’s Zach Giggs.

The 17-year-old was released by Manchester United but is still a touted prospect with the Guardian highlighting Zach as one of the Premier League’s best first-year scholars of 2023, citing his versatility across both wings.

The Wales youth international is in safe hands at an academy that boasts success stories such as Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire.

Zach Giggs is a Wales youth international and joined Sheffield United this summer after leaving his father’s former club

Thirteen-time Premier League winner Ryan Giggs shared his successes with his young son

Jacob Fowler (Robbie Fowler) 

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has passed on some skills to son Jacob Fowler, but seemingly not the goal-scoring knack as Fowler Jr is a midfielder.

At 16, Jacob joined Oxford United on a two-year scholarship in 2022/23.

Jacob featured as a substitute in his side’s FA Youth Cup first round win over Bridgewater and they will face Sutton United in the next round.

Jacob Fowler is part-way through a two-year scholarship with League One’s Oxford United 

Robbie Fowler was a great goalscorer but his son, Jacob, has grown up into a midfielder 

Jack and Tyler Fletcher (Darren Fletcher)

With over 300 appearances for Manchester United and currently being the club’s technical director, Darren Fletcher knows his way around Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, his twin boys Jack and Tyler hope to be able to grace the theatre of dreams one day as first-team members.

After coming through at Manchester City, Fabrizio Romano reported that Manchester United paid a United Kingdom record fee for U16 players to recruit the twins.

Jack (left) and Tyler Fletcher (right) are Scottish Young internationals and joined Manchester United in the summer 

Darren Fletcher had a long Premier League career playing for United, West Brom, and Stoke

Cristiano Ronaldo Jnr (Cristiano Ronaldo) 

Thirteen-year-old, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, was born into stardom. Having played for some of the best academies in Europe, often relocating with his dad, he could have a professional career ahead of him.

His resume includes the academies of Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United. During his time at Manchester United, he played with Rooney’s son Kai and boasts a similarly impressive record as the Puma-signed athlete scoring 58 goals during 23 games for Juve.

He has followed his five-time Ballon D’or father to Al-Nassr too, playing for their U13 team and could be evidence of progression in Saudi talent-development if he becomes a success story.

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr has played for some of Europe’s best academies and plays for Al-Nassr’s U13s team

He scored 58 goals in 23 outings for Juventus, proving his immense talent like his father

Zac Jagielka (Phil Jagielka)

Imagine giving your all to a club over 17 years, going through the emotions of 300 games, only for your son to play for their rivals. That is the reality for Phil Jagielka and son Zac.

The Everton legend’s son is coming through the academy at Liverpool and has also opted to represent Wales nationally, making appearances at youth level.

Also unlike his dad, the U17 player is a striker. Maybe he has a different insight of how to outwit a centre-back with inside tips from his old man.

Zac Jagielka is rising the ranks of Liverpool’s academy and is a Wales youth international player

Everton icon Phil Jagielka spent 17 years with the Toffees but never wore Liverpool red

Liam Delap (Rory Delap)

Already familiar across English football leagues, Liam Delap is making a name for himself but his name was already recognisable thanks to dad Rory.

Instead of long throw-ins, it’s his goals that have excelled Liam’s career taking him from Derby County’s academy to Manchester City and since loan spells at Stoke City, Preston North End and now Hull City.

England U21 international, Liam, scored on his debut for Hull City against Norwich and has since scored four more Championship goals this season.

Liam Delap is on his third Championship loan at Hull City and has played for Man United

His father, Rory Delap, was known for his exceptionally long and menacing throws for Stoke

Cassius Clay, Prince Kobe Cisse, and Marley Jackson Cisse (Djibril Cisse)

Seventeen-year-old Cassius is currently in the Notts County youth set-up, whilst 15-year-old Prince is at Cisse’s former side Liverpool and younger brother Marley Jackson has played at a youth tournament with Shrewsbury. 

Due to the origin of Djibril Cisse’s ex-wife Jude Littler, the former two have appeared for Wales across youth levels – though their French-born dad represented Les Bleus. 

Cassius could set a good example for younger brother Prince if he is able to make his mark after signing with Notts County in July.

Djibril Cisse has three footballing sons: Cassius Clay (centre-left), Prince Kobe (middle), and Marley Jackson (right). Steven Gerrard, also pictured, is not one of Cisse’s sons 

The ex-striker knew where the net was and scored in the 2006 FA Cup final against West Ham

Sonny Ramsey (Aaron Ramsey)

It might be a while until Aaron Ramsey’s son gets anywhere near a first team but it’s worth a mention for the wholesome images that came out of Cardiff.

A Welsh great, Ramsey, unveiled his return to boyhood club Cardiff City showing him singing a contract with his son Sonny in a double coup for the club.

Seven-year-old Sonny signed an intent-to-sign contract, which will see Ramsey’s eldest son join the academy when he turns eight.

Aaron Ramsey returned to Cardiff City on the same day that his son, Sonny, penned an intent-to-sign deal 

The ex-Arsenal midfielder is helping his boyhood club after a strong start to the season

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

Your browser does not support iframes.

 

Source: Read Full Article