Sometimes being a footballer is destiny, especially when other relatives within the family are already establishing themselves as professionals or have already stolen the spotlight in the sport. Some familial connections can span many years, with modern-day footballers being related to some of the greats, extending back well before the advent of live casino games.

With this in mind, here are some footballers who you may not have known were related.

The Alcantara Family

When the name Alcantara is mentioned, it’s common for people to think of the former Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool superstar midfielder who combined Spanish Tiki Taka with Brazilian flair, derived straight from his ancestors. However, what is less commonly known is his family’s relationship with the sport. Thiago is an iconic figure who lit up the midfield for many years despite overcoming many injury concerns, winning the Champions League, several league titles in both Spain and Germany, as well as a couple of domestic cups in England with Liverpool.

Unlike Thiago, his younger brother, Rafinha, opted to represent his birthplace, Brazil, rather than his mother’s country, Spain. Rafinha’s career was marked by numerous silverware wins, despite not being as highly rated as his brother. A Champions League and several league titles in both Spain and France are just a few, alongside his Brazil Under-23 Summer Olympics Gold Medal. While his career may not be as well-remembered as his brother’s, they were able to share the pitch together on a few occasions, etching the family name into the sport.

However, that isn’t all from the Alcantara family. The brothers’ dad was also a football player known as Mazinho, who represented various clubs across Brazil, Spain and Italy. Unlike his sons, he was able to take his home country of Brazil to a World Cup victory in 1004, proving that footballing ability ran through the blood in the Alcantara family.

Alex Iwobi and Jay-Jay Okocha

The now Fulham midfielder, Alex Iwobi, made a name for himself in Arsenal’s academy, even shining during his cameos for the Gunners at a senior level. The potential for Iwobi was huge, even receiving England youth call-ups in 2013. Towards the back end of his Arsenal career, the buzz and hype surrounding him faded, leaving him no choice but to join Everton in 2019, where he gained his spark back and thrilled the Goodison Park crowd. After spending 4 seasons in blue, he moved back to London with Fulham, an ambitious project back in his home city. Making over 90 appearances for the Super Eagles since his initial call-up in 2015, and continuing to put on a show at Craven Cottage, Alex Iwobi made a name for himself as a reliable midfield choice; however, he is not the only Nigerian in his family to play in the Premier League.

During his time, Jay-Jay Okocha was unstoppable, with an abundance of pace, an obscene amount of flair, and vision like no other. The attacking midfielder travelled the world in his 22-year-long career, but really made an impact in Germany, France with PSG and England with Bolton Wanderers. Jay-Jay Okocha is the uncle of Alex Iwobi, and while Iwobi may not have lived up to the quality of his uncle, he has become a fan favourite at Craven Cottage and has even picked up some silver during his time at Arsenal.

Harry Redknapp and Frank Lampard

While not particularly known for his career as a professional footballer, Harry Redknapp is an iconic figure in English football, whether it was for the 7 years he spent at West Ham as a player, or for his impact as a manager across the country. From winning the First Division with Portsmouth to even winning an under-18 Euros with England, Redknapp’s career has not been short of interest. During his managerial career, he spent time at many Premier League clubs, and during his spell as manager at West Ham in 1994, he was able to introduce another member of his family to the professional game.

Frank Lampard made his debut for West Ham United in 1996 under his uncle, Harry Redknapp. After impressing, Lampard was brought on at the age of just 17, where he received some mixed reviews from Hammer’s fans. Nonetheless, Lampard’s career only went up from there, making a move to Stamford Bridge in 2001 in his pursuit of silverware and getting his hands on the Premier League trophy. Lampard did just that, spending 13 years at the Blues, captaining his side and winning 3 Premier League titles and a Champions League. His career was so successful that he found himself in the Premier League Hall of Fame and was discussed as one of the greatest midfielders to have graced the Premier League.

Georginio Wijnaldum and Royston Drenthe

Georginio Wijnaldum and Royston Drenthe share a family bond as cousins, though many remain unaware of the connection. Both individuals emerged from the rich talent pool of Dutch football, yet their careers followed different trajectories. Wijnaldum progressed through Feyenoord and PSV before reaching the Premier League, where he became a central figure in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2019 and their first league title in 30 years the following season. Drenthe, on the other hand, burst onto the scene with Feyenoord and earned a high-profile move to Real Madrid in 2007, but his career proved nomadic, with spells in Spain, England, Russia and beyond. While Wijnaldum achieved consistent top-level success, Drenthe’s journey showcased the unpredictable nature of football careers.

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