Enzo following in father’s footsteps
Weve all read the stories about such and such a player being the new Zidane, but with one young man there’s really no denying it.
Enzo Zidane, named after his fathers idol, the graceful Uruguayan international Enzo Francescoli, is 12 years old and has started his footballing career on the right foot.
Young Enzo won his first trophy for one of Real Madrids youth teams last weekend when they beat arch-rivals Barcelona to win the Mediterranean International Cup in the Catalan coastal resort of Palamos.
Match reports said that Enzo, who plays in the same position as his dad, even dared to showcase one of his fathers trademark pirouettes as he slipped past an opponent in midfield.
“My father gave me a couple of tips on how to do the ‘ruleta’,” Zidane junior told Marca. “The rest is down to me.”
Whether he can go on and enjoy anything like the success of his father is quite another matter, of course. Few footballing sons have managed to live up to expectations and emulate or even better the achievements of famous fathers. Which ones have managed it, or even come close?
Simon Baskett is a Reuters sports correspondent based in Madrid
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The Wall
Cesare Maldini was captain of Milan (so he was a pretty good player, I assume) while Paulo went on to do even better. He’ll be in the final again this year, too:)
Beckham’s dad was semi-pro in England but never good enough to be in the premiership. His son captained the nation
Wasn’t Michael Owen’s dad a pro as well. Still, it’s hard to think of a really great player whose son was even half as good. I heard recently that the Laudrup boys are maybe going to Barcelona.
Frank Lampards father played for West Ham, and his father is brother in laws to Harry Redknapp who is the father of Jaime Redknapp.
Zinedine Zidane is like a one in a whole generation of soccer talents.
Enzo would have a difficult time to meeting the crowd’s expection, if he was to become a professional footballer. Jordi Cryuff was a good footballer, but he wasn’t as great enough as his father Johan Cryuff. Cryuff and Zidane holds equal stature at being the world’s greatest footballers. I wish Enzo all the best and we hope he becomes not as good, but better than his father Zizou. Because the modern game is evolving fast. In 6 years time when he turns 18, he’ll be eligible to be first team football in the EU. When players like Pato gets signed by AC Milan at age 17 and is now valued at 20 million. Enzo’s footballing skills needs to mature fast if he was going to make it.
Enzo will progress and get better as he gets older,so i do see him playing for a european club when 19,i only wana see him at madrid,dont leave madrid,become a madrid legend.
Hala Madrid