Elite athletic pedigree does not guarantee a career on the green pitch, as a growing roster of football icons’ children forge successful paths in cricket, athletics, equestrianism, gymnastics, and horse racing. While many offspring of former players step directly into their fathers’ boots, others pursue entirely different sporting disciplines, capturing international titles, national records, and elite-level caps away from association football, according to a report published by Al Bayan.
Cricket Stardom for David Cross’s Daughter Kate
Kate Cross carved out an elite career in women’s cricket rather than following her father onto the football pitch. As the daughter of former West Ham United and Manchester City striker David Cross—who scored 224 goals across 599 appearances—she established herself as a cornerstone of the England women’s national team.
Her resume includes a victory in the 2014 Ashes series in Australia and stints captaining England in Women’s One Day Internationals. A long-time stalwart for Lancashire, Kate Cross built an athletic legacy in cricket that mirrors the longevity of her father’s professional football career.
Romeo Beckham Explores Tennis and Entertainment
Romeo Beckham initially trained within the Arsenal FC academy before stepping away from the family trade to pursue tennis. The son of Manchester United and Real Madrid legend David Beckham underwent intensive training sessions overseen by former British singles star Andy Murray, drawing praise from figures such as Grigor Dimitrov.
Though he later returned briefly to football with Brentford’s B team, Romeo’s athletic path ultimately shifted toward creative pursuits, including an association with a tennis-themed film project.
Wayne Rooney’s Sons Split Between Combat and Golf
Wayne Rooney’s household reflects a split sporting identity. While his son Kai chose to pursue football—matching the position of England’s and Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer—other siblings gravitated toward alternative sports.
Certain members of the Rooney family entered amateur boxing, a sport that captured their father’s interest during his early years, while others took up competitive youth golf. The varied disciplines underscore an intentional effort to develop independent athletic identities free from the immediate pressures of association football.
Dylan Robben Swaps the Wing for the Swimming Pool
Dylan Robben bypassed the tactical demands of professional football to focus on competitive swimming. Rather than matching the footsteps of his father Arjen Robben—the former Bayern Munich and Netherlands winger renowned for his dominant left foot—Dylan entered youth swimming development programs.
His progression through regional racing circuits demonstrates that elite footballing pedigree does not automatically translate into identical career ambitions for the next generation.
George Mills Smashes a Mo Farah British Record
George Mills walked away from association football entirely to focus on middle- and long-distance running. The Harrogate-born athlete captured a silver medal in the 5,000 meters at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome, followed by a silver in the 3,000 meters at the European Indoor Championships the subsequent year.
His defining breakthrough arrived at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo, where he clocked 12:46.59 in the 5,000 meters. That performance eclipsed the long-standing British record previously held by Mo Farah for 14 years by nearly seven seconds.
Gemma Owen Champions Dressage After Michael Owen
Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen transitioned from football to managing a premier racehorse training facility, passing his equine passion down to his eldest daughter, Gemma. Aged 23, she specialized in dressage and represented Great Britain at youth level, including the 2021 European Championships.
While she gained broader public recognition through television appearances in 2022, competitive equestrianism remains the core arena where she builds her individual professional standing.
Gabby Logan Pivots from Rhythmic Gymnastics to Media
Before establishing herself as a prominent face in British sports broadcasting, Gabby Logan competed as an elite rhythmic gymnast. She represented Wales at the 1990 Commonwealth Games during her teenage years before transitioning into sports journalism.
Her family background bridges multiple codes: her father Terry Yorath captained the Wales national football team and played for major English clubs including Leeds United, Coventry City, and Tottenham Hotspur before moving into management. Logan bypassed the pitch to excel in gymnastics before forging her career in the media sector.
Ryan Sidebottom Wins World Cup Cricket Honors
The Sidebottom family showcases a direct cross-sport transition across generations. Arney Sidebottom played professional football for Manchester United, Huddersfield Town, and Halifax Town before switching codes to play first-class cricket.
His son, Ryan Sidebottom, committed exclusively to cricket from the outset. The 6-foot-5-inch left-arm fast-medium bowler claimed more than 1,000 first-class wickets, captured five County Championship titles, earned 22 Test caps for England, and lifted the ICC World Twenty20 trophy in 2010 before retiring in 2017 at the age of 48.
Jack Channon Takes the Reins in Horse Racing
Mick Channon put together a 22-year football career as a prolific striker, scoring 21 goals for England—tying the international tallies of Steven Gerrard and Kevin Keegan—while remaining Southampton’s all-time leading goalscorer ahead of Matt Le Tissier.
His son, Jack Channon, inherited the competitive drive but directed it toward horse racing rather than association football. Obtaining his training license in 2023 to manage the historic West Ilsli stables from his father, Jack Channon secured a victory at Royal Ascot, cementing the family name within elite British horse racing.
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