This Sunday, June 21 -- Father's Day in North America -- 14 MLS players will be wishing a happy Father's Day to former professional athletes near and dear to them. Nine of the League's 15 clubs currently have players on their rosters whose fathers were also professional athletes -- competing in four different sports.
Following directly in their father's footsteps by becoming professional soccer players are 10 of the 14 MLS players. These soccer dads include former Irish, Iranian, Nigerian and Senegalese National Team players who had playing careers in England, Ireland, France, South Africa and the U.S.
The remaining four sons bucked family trends when they chose to pursue careers in professional soccer. Marvell Wynne, Nate Jaqua, Danny O'Rourke and Jarrod Smith took advantage of their inherited athleticism, but chose not to follow their fathers into baseball, football or cricket - to the benefit of MLS.
Marvell Wynne Jr., a stalwart on the backline for Toronto FC, is the son of Marvell Wynne, Sr., who played Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jaqua, a standout player for Seattle Sounders FC is the son of former Washington Redskins safety Jon Jaqua, while O'Rourke is the son of Dan O'Rourke a wide receiver for the Houston Oilers. Smith, a Seattle Sounders FC forward and member of the New Zealand National Team, is the son of Ian Smith, a former professional cricket player.
New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman - the son and nephew of North American Soccer League players - had to think hard about his choice of sport. Twellman, a standout baseball and soccer player growing up in St. Louis, was recruited by the University of Maryland on a baseball scholarship, before deciding to make the crossover to the Terps' men's soccer team. Twellman's grandfather, Jay Delsing, played 17 years of professional baseball, including 10 years in Major League Baseball. Twellman turned down a professional baseball contract offer before beginning his professional soccer career in Germany. He returned to the United States in 2002 to ply his trade in Major League Soccer, and recently became the youngest player in League history to score 100 MLS goals.
Unlike many soccer-centric countries, the United States is the home to a wide-range of top-level sports leagues. Major League Soccer is attracting players from families with strong sporting backgrounds and would like to take the opportunity to recognize those fathers who helped make their sons the athletes that they are today.
The Soccer Dads
Driss Ballouchy
- father of Colorado Rapids midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy - played professionally in France.
Daniel "Dot" Borman
- father of New York Red Bulls midfielder Danleigh Borman - played professionally in South Africa.
Kenny Cooper Sr.
- father of FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper Jr. - played professionally for Blackburn Rovers in England and in the NASL for the Dallas Tornadoes.
Andranik Eskandarian
- father of Chivas USA forward Alecko Eskandarian - played professionally in the NASL for the New York Cosmos and played for Iran National Team in the 1978 World Cup.
Tony Igwe
- father of New England Revolution defender Amaechi Igwe - played for the Nigerian National Team in the 1968 Olympic Games.
Cheriff Kandji
- father of New York Red Bulls forward Macoumba Kandji - played for the Senegal National Team.
Fran O'Brien
- father of Colorado Rapids defender Ciaran O'Brien and Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Leighton O'Brien - played professionally in Ireland and in the NASL for the Philadelphia Fury, Montreal Maniac and Vancouver Whitecaps (was also capped four times by the Irish National Team).
Tim Twellman
- father of New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman - played professionally in the NASL for the Minnesota Kicks, Tulsa Roughnecks and the Chicago Sting.
Norman Wingert
- father of Real Salt Lake defender Chris Wingert - played professionally in the NASL for the Philadelphia Atoms.
The Non-Soccer Dads
Jon Jaqua
- father of Seattle Sounders FC forward Nate Jaqua - played professional football for the Washington Redskins.
Dan O'Rourke
- father of Columbus Crew defender Danny O'Rourke - played professional football for the Houston Oilers.
Ian Smith
- father of Seattle Sounders FC forward Jarrod Smith - played professional cricket in New Zealand.
Marvell Wynne Sr.
- father of Toronto FC defender Marvell Wynne Jr. - played professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
