Marcus Thuram and Timothy Weah are on the brink of moving to Inter and Juventus, respectively, to join a large contingent of sons of former Serie A icons. Let’s take a short trip down the memory line to remember those who once wrote history in Italian football and can now enjoy watching their sons follow their path.
Household players don’t necessarily develop into top managers. Likewise, their kids don’t always follow in their footsteps. More often than not, sons have tarnished their parents’ legacies. But in some cases, they achieved greatness like their predecessors. Football is a nasty business. Only those talented and tenacious enough get to see their names filling the headlines.
Genetic predispositions are significant but not decisive. However, when you burst on the big stage with a pedigree, the expectations ought to go through the roof. Some crack under pressure. Throughout history, there are numerous examples of the hex of ‘being a son of a famous father.’
Others embrace it and take it into their stride. You don’t need to look beyond the Maldini family to grasp the concept. From Cesare through Paolo to Daniel, three generations of the house of Maldini have pledged their careers to Serie A. Well, the former two had, and it’s now up to the latter to carry on the family tradition.
Federico Chiesa, son of the former Parma, Sampdoria, and Fiorentina talisman Enrico, is already an established Serie A star. At 25, the explosive winger is a senior player at Juventus following his well-documented exploits at Artemio Franchi. That’s not to mention his influential role in Italy’s stunning Euro 2020 success.
It’s fair to say that Giovanni Simeone, who helped Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years, made the legendary Diego proud. His father, the current boss of Atletico Madrid, used to be one of the fiercest midfielders in Serie A, wearing the colors of Inter, Lazio, and Pisa. ‘Cholito’ has picked up where ‘Cholo’ left off, with both taking a Serie A title to Argentina.
Riccardo Sottil has yet to reach the heights of Chiesa and Simeone, but the son of the Udinese manager Andrea is still a hot prospect. Known for his blistering pace and fancy footwork, Sottil has a bright future ahead of him, but it’s up to Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano to unlock his potential.
There are other examples. Lecce forward Federico Di Francesco didn’t disappoint his father, Eusebio, upon his Serie A return, playing a massive part in the Giallorossi’s successful survival battle. Simone Birindelli, son of the former Juventus ace Alessandro, was part of the Monza team that secured another top-flight season in their first-ever foray into the elite division.
Now it’s time for Thuram and Weah to show what they’re made of. But the pressure will be at an all-time high.
To be the son of Lilian Thuram, who shaped one of the most successful generations in French football history and left an eternal mark at Juventus, could be self-destructive. Marcus must find a way to deal with it as he prepares to enroll in Giuseppe Meazza as a new Inter player.
What’s there to say about George Weah? One of the all-time greats inspired Milan to two Serie A titles toward the tail-end of the 20th century. He set the bar high for his son Tim, who hopes to reignite his career at Juventus after an underwhelming episode in Ligue 1.
Good luck boys!
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