Fun Fact x Trivia

It runs in the family. Through out the history of the game, there has been numerous examples of football talent and ability flowing through generations of families and siblings. From the Charltons, to the Maldinis, the Nevilles to the Schmeichels, football has witnessed family members having varying levels of success and displaying of different grades of skills.

The Hazard clan is most notable at the moment. Born to Carine and Thierry Hazard (two former footballers), Eden, Thorgan, Kylian and Ethan have all put on boots and followed the footsteps of their parents onto the grassy pastures.

The more memorable of footballing siblings tend to be those who make it to international level and score goals. The majestic Laudrups are a prime example. They hold the record for the highest number of goals scored by siblings. Michael scored 37 and Brian scored 21 for Denmark, making an unsurpassed total of 58 goals, a record currently subject to Hazardous warnings.

Michael and Brian also had a father who played professionally. Finn Laudrup scored 9 goals for his country, ensuring the Laudrup clan hit the back of the net 67 times for Denmark. This, surprisingly, is not the record for the number of goals scored by a group of family members for their country in international football.

So which footballing clan is the most prolific at goal-scoring on the international stage? Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the Ayews. Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew was one of Africa’s greatest footballers and he contributed 33 goals and 3 sons to Ghanaian football. His sons have achieved various degrees of success and have represented their country at the highest level. Kwame has scored 9 goals, Andre has 14 and Jordan, 12. The total of 68 goals for Ghana by the Ayews is currently unsurpassed by any footballing family.

Other less noteworthy footballing clans include the Thills of Luxembourg and the Gudjonssons of Iceland. Serge Thill played for Luxembourg but never scored, a feat which was achieved by his three sons; Vincent, Sebastien and Olivier. On the other hand, the Gudjonsson brothers Thorjur, Bjarni, Johannes and their half-brother Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdason have all scored for Iceland. They deserved a rousing round of thunder-claps!!

 

Oladimeji Sapoloso