Having had a professional career yourself is a huge benefit when taking on ‘Project Mbappe’, the quest to raise your own wonderkid football player.

Following Emile Heskey’s son’s goal on his Manchester City debut in the UEFA Youth League earlier this month, Mail Sport inquired as to whether any other former players have gifted football children.

Quite a bit, as it happens.

Darren Fletcher is surpassed by Djibril Cisse, who has three football sons. Both of his sons moved from Manchester City to Manchester United, their father’s former hаunt, in the summer.

The son of United great Wayne Rooney already has a deal with Puma, and the son of Everton great Phil Jagielka is playing for Liverpool’s academy in defiance of his father.

 

Here are some former Premier League players to be aware of if they have sons.

Kai Rooney (Wayne Rooney)

Fourteen years old Kai Rooney scored 56 goals in 2021–2022 and is under contract with Puma. When Manchester United won the league in 2013, he joined his father Wayne Rooney on the field.Wayne Rooney, the all-time leading goal scorer for Manchester United, has given the Red Devils more than just his goals.Kai, Rooney’s oldest son, is progressing through the club’s academy in the hopes of having a fruitful football professional career.The 14-year-old, who is also a striker, impressed Puma by signing them when he was just 12 years old, scoring 56 goals and providing 28 assists in the 2021–2022 season.

Shaqueel van Persie (Robin van Persie)

The legendary goal scorer for the Netherlands, Robin van Persie, and his spouse, Bouchra, have brought up a prodigy of their own.16-year-old forward Shaqueel van Persie is presently a member of Feyenoord’s academy after securing his first professional contract with the team where the renowned striker made his debut and where his father works as a junior coach.Formerly from Manchester City’s academy, Shaqueel scored for the Netherlands’ U17 team and won the 2020 Feyenoord goal of the month award with an impressive over-head kιck.16-year-old Shaqueel van Persie plays for Feyenoord’s academy after signing a professional contract with them.Having started at Feyenoord himself, Robin van Persie currently works with the team as a young coach.

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 prоspect 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.This summer, Zach Giggs, a Wales youth international, left his father’s previous club to join Sheffield United.Ryan Giggs, a 13-time Premier League champion, celebrated his victories with his little son.

Jacob Fowler (Robbie Fowler)

Son Jacob Fowler, a midfielder, has inherited some qualities from his father Robbie Fowler, the legendary player of Liverpool, but not the ability to score goals.Jacob began his two-year scholarship at Oxford United in 2022–2023 at the age of 16.Jacob had a substitute role in his team’s victory over Bridgewater in the FA Youth Cup first round. They will now play Sutton United in the next round.Halfway through his two-year scholarship with Oxford United of League One, Jacob Fowler The late Robbie Fowler scored a lot of goals, but his son Jacob has become a defender.

Jack and Tyler Fletcher (Darren Fletcher)

Darren Fletcher has played over 300 games for Manchester United and is now the club’s technical director. He knows his way around Old Trafford.At the same time, his twin boys, Jack and Tyler, want to be on the first team at the theater of dreams one day.Fabrizio Romano said that Manchester United paid a UK record fee for U16 players to get the twins after they came through at Manchester City.In the summer, Jack (left) and Tyler Fletcher (right) joined Manchester United. They are both Scottish youth internationals. Darren Fletcher played for United, West Brom, and Stoke during his long Premier League career.

Cristiano Ronaldo Jnr (Cristiano Ronaldo)

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., who is thirteen years old, was born into fаme. He may be able to play professionally because he went to some of the best schools in Europe and often moved with his dad.He has worked in the youth teams of Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United. He played with Rooney’s son Kai at Manchester United, and both of their records are very good. He scored 58 goals in 23 games for Juventus, just like the Puma-signed athlete.He went to Al-Nassr with his five-time Ballon d’Or-winning father and plays for their U13 team. If he becomes a success story, it could show how talent development in Saudi Arabia is getting better.Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. has played for some of the best youth teams in Europe and now plays for Al-Nassr’s U13s team.Like his father, he got 58 goals in 23 games for Juventus, showing how talented he was.

Zac Jagielka (Phil Jagielka)

What if you gave your all to a club for 17 years and watched 300 games, only for your son to play for their rivals? That’s the trutҺ for Phil Jagielka and his son Zac.The son of a legendary Everton player is going through the Liverpool school and has also chosen to play for Wales at the youth level.The U17 player is also a shooter, which is different from his dad. He might have a different idea of how to trιck a center back because his grandfather taught him that.Zac Jagielka is rising through the ranks at Liverpool and plays for Wales at the young level.Icon of Everton Phil Jagielka played for Everton for 17 years, but he never wore Liverpool red.

Liam Delap (Rory Delap)

With the help of his dad Rory, Liam Delap is already well-known in English football leagues. He is making a nаme for himself.Liam’s career has gone from the Derby County youth team to Manchester City, with loan stops at Stoke City, Preston North End, and now Hull City. It’s not long throw-ins that have helped him get there.Liam, who plays for England’s U21 team, scored on his first game for Hull City against Norwich. He has since scored four more goals in the Championship this season.He has played for Man United and is now on his third Championship loan at Hull City.For Stoke, his father, Rory Delap, was known for throwing very long and dangerous balls.

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

Cassius, who is 17, is in the youth system at Notts County right now. Prince, who is 15, is at Liverpool, which used to play against Cisse, and Marley Jackson, who is younger, played in a youth game with Shrewsbury. Because Jude Littler, Djibril Cisse’s ex-wife, is from Wales, the two of them have played for Wales at different age levels, even though their dad was born in France and played for Les Bleus. Cassius could show his younger brother Prince how to be a good person if he does well after signing with Notts County in July.Djibril Cisse has three kids who play football: Marley Jackson (right), Prince Kobe (center-left), and Cassius Clay (center). The person in the picture, Steven Gerrard, is not one of Cisse’s kids. The ex-forward knew where the goal was and scored against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup final.

Sonny Ramsey (Aaron Ramsey)

Aaron Ramsey’s son might not play for a first team for a while, but the good vibes that came out of Cardiff make it worth mentioning.Ramsey, the great Welsh player, announced his return to Cardiff City, the team where he grew up, by signing a deal with his son Sonny. This was a double win for the club.A contract to “intent to sign” was signed by Sonny, who is seven years old. Ramsey’s oldest son will join the school when he turns eight.Aaron Ramsey went back to Cardiff City on the same day that his son Sonny signed a deal to join the team. After a good start to the season, the player who used to play for Arsenal is now on loan to his old team.