More Than The Score - What is it like following a family member into professional football? - BBC Sounds

"What's it like to follow a family member into professional football? Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele and his sons André, Jordan, and Ibrahim Ayew all played at the highest level. There's also George Weah - the only African player to win the Ballon d'or. His son Timothy plays for USA. Zinedine Zidane's son Luca has been playing for Algeria at Afcon, while Guiliano Simeone plays under his father at Atletico Madrid."

"Tuva has over 50 caps for her country and has won multiple titles in Germany. Her dad, Hugo, played professionally in Norway and went on to represent his country too. Tuva's older siblings, brother Cato and sister Hege, both also played professionally. Natasha's uncle Iain played for Northern Ireland and went on to have a managerial career in the Premier League, while her father Bob, is a former football coach, Director of Football at Crystal Palace and played a significant role in her football journey."

"More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from athletics to Formula 1, boxing to bobsleigh, and football to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts"

The episode examines the experiences of players who follow family members into professional football, using high-profile examples across generations. It highlights cases such as Abedi Pele and his sons, George Weah and his son Timothy, Zinedine Zidane's son Luca, and Guiliano Simeone playing under his father. Guests Tuva Hansen and Natasha Dowie describe family football backgrounds, international caps, and professional achievements. The conversation explores whether a famous name helps or hinders career development and when players outgrow familial influence. The episode appears on More than the Score, a BBC World Service daily podcast about stories from global sport.

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