Klay Rooney can mould himself in Wayne’s image

The Maldinis, the Laudrups, the Ameobis: professional football is awash with familial dynasties. It seems that hard working isn’t everything when it comes to forging a career in The Beautiful Game, and that genetics can afford an aspiring pro a significant head start.

With the birth of his son Klay, Wayne Rooney has just doubled his odds of fathering a professional footballer, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest the latest addition to the Rooney clan can follow in his illustrious father’s footsteps.

Wayne’s brother John has also experienced life as a professional footballer, playing mainly for Macclesfield Town and New York Red Bulls, suggesting that the footballing gene runs strongly in the Rooney bloodline.

Klay Rooney is 50/1 to adorn the red of Manchester United, but given the existing tension between that club and his father, 100/1 that he represents Everton may well attract more support, especially when one considers the boy’s family are Toffees fans.

100/1 is also the price Ladbrokes are offering that the Rooneys’ latest offspring pulls on the white of England.

However, should Klay prove more Jordi than Johan, and find himself struggling to make his mark in the higher echelons of the game, speculators may consider backing him to play in the Premier League at 10/1, or professional football anywhere in the world at 20/1.

The Rooneys evidently have a penchant for the letter K, so Ladbrokes are also offering prices on the name of Wayne and Coleen’s next born. They go 5/4 that the next family member completes a hat-trick of K-named kids, and 4/6 against.

One would be inclined to think that if you do it for two, you’d do it for the third so as to not leave them feeling left out, and on that line of thought, Kassius – should they have another son – certainly appeals at 40s.

Ladbrokes are also offering odds of 20/1 that one of the family appears in an advert for the cereal Special K, though whether the suits at Kellogg’s think the Rooneys would be fitting ambassadors for the brand remains to be seen.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing