Alonsos join select group
The Alonso family have entered a select group of families that have seen three consecutive generations be selected for its national team's squad after Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso was called up to Spain's squad for the friendlies against Germany and Argentine later this month.
Julen Lopetegui's decision to call up Marcos Alonso this week saw him follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both supremely talented players. Marcos Alonso Imaz, the most senior of the trio, made his national debut in March 1955 before his son Marcos Alonso Pena received his first cap for Spain in 1981.
Marcos began his career at Real Madrid, where his grandfather forged a legacy. Imaz won five league titles with Los Blancos and was part of that all-conquering side which won five back-to-back European Cups from 1955-56. Marcos's father, Pena, won just one league title, but notably played for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
There are very few cases like this in the football world, including the Forlans of Uruguay. Diego Forlan's father Pablo and maternal grandfather Juan Carlos Corazzo both won the Copa America. Another example is that of Javier Hernandez, whose father and maternal grandfather played for Mexico.
However, both those instances are not direct continuations (father-son-grandson) due to the inclusion of the maternal grandfather. Direct continuations feature lesser known families such as Slovakia's Vladmir Weiss and family, Northern Ireland's Feeney family, Egypt's Emam family and the Salvinu's of Malta.
There will perhaps be more in future. The Malidinis were touted as the next direct continuation. Cesare captured AC Milan's first European Cup as captain in 1963 and his son Paolo won seven league titles and five European Cups/Champions League titles with Milan also. However, at 21 years of age, Christian Maldini is plying his trade for Serie C side RC Fondi.
Another interesting case is that of Sergio Aguero's nine-year-old son, Benjamin Aguero. Benjamin also happens to be the grandson of none other than Diego Maradona.
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