Coral’s 10 footballers overshadowed by their famous brothers
Juventus and France star Paul Pogba’s brother Mathias has joined Netherlands legend Wesley Sneijder’s younger sibling Rodney in the Scottish Premiership, with the duo signing for Partick Thistle and Dundee United respectively.
So, in light of this, Coral writers find 10 other footballers whose career has been overshadowed by their famous brother…
A warm welcome is extended to new signing Mathias Pogba. pic.twitter.com/LSAj0BXV7J
— PartickThistle FC (@ThistleTweet) August 3, 2015
SNEIJDER SIGNS >> http://t.co/FvR429efog pic.twitter.com/y4ArlMqRTH
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) July 25, 2015
Mikel Alonso (brother of Xabi)
The midfielder started off with Basque outfit Real Sociedad, along with younger brother Xabi, who’s played for the likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, and has since spent spells in England with Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic.
The 35-year-old now plies his trade for Spanish Segunda Division B side Real Union.
Nicolas Cambiasso (Esteban)
Unlike his far more famous younger midfielder sibling Esteban, who helped Premier League club Leicester City (10/3 top 10 chances) to safety last term, Nicolas is actually a goalkeeper.
Both brothers signed for Real Madrid as youngsters, but it was the former Inter Milan legend that prospered most. Nicolas was restricted to just appearances in Los Blancos’ reserves, but now plays back in Argentina for All Boys.
Digao (Kaka)
Like the Cambiassos, the Izecson dos Santos Leite siblings spent time together in their youth with the same team in Europe, this time with AC Milan.
Younger brother and tall centre back Digao, though, played just once for the Rossoneri before going out on loan with a number of lesser clubs and eventually signing for MLS side New York Red Bulls.
Thorgan Hazard (Eden)
Hazard junior, too, were on the same books at a club, 15/8 Premier League title favourites Chelsea, but unlike his older brother he has since moved on. After a loan spell last term at German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach, Thorgan has now joined them permanently.
Simone Inzaghi (Filippo)
Again, these striker siblings Simone and Filippo started off at the same club Piacenza, and the former was actually more successful with them in terms of goals per game.
However the latter went on to become one of the deadliest finishers in the game for Juventus, AC Milan and Italy, although Simone did carve out a decent career with Lazio.
Felix Kroos (Toni)
The Kroos’ have never played senior football together, but 24-year-old Felix has risen in the sport and has turned out for Werder Bremen for the last five seasons. It seems he’ll never match the potential of older brother and Real Madrid star Toni, though, who is a World Cup winner.
Hugo Maradona (Diego)
While his older brother was gaining recognition and being lauded by many as the greatest ever, Hugo was quietly going about his own business for the likes of Rayo Vallecano and Ascoli, and even came up against Diego for the latter.
John Rooney (Wayne)
Sometimes, though, it is difficult living in your brother’s shadow, as Rooney junior knows. Like Wayne, he started off in the Everton academy, but hasn’t been able to progress at the same speed.
He tried it out in MLS with New York Red Bulls and Orlando City, before a couple of unsuccessful spells in England’s lower league, but is now seemingly settled at Conference club Chester.
Tobias Schweinsteiger (Bastian)
Germany captain and Schweinsteiger junior Bastian only recently left his boyhood club Bayern Munich to joining 5/1 title shouts Manchester United, and he leaves behind his older brother, who is still in their reserves.
Tobias has played for a number of lower German clubs, but has been successful wherever he’s gone, being a prolific attacking player.
Paul Terry (John)
Although he may not have won the high end trophies that his younger brother has earned such as the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup etc, but Paul has managed to claim the League Two and FA Trophy with Yeovil Town and Darlington respectively.
