Fulham star Sone Aluko reveals his love for footballer sister Eniola and says he is her number one fan despite all her success
For a long time, Sone was not even the best footballer in his family, let alone in a team - but now he is coming into his own at promotion-chasing Cottagers
FOR a long time, Sone Aluko was not even the best footballer in his immediate family, let alone in a football team.
Older sister Eniola Aluko used to upstage her kid brother on the pitch before his formative teenage years saw him improve rapidly.
But in many ways Chelsea star Eniola, 29, has outshone Sone her whole career, having earned 90 caps for England and won a host of team and individual honours, including the FA WSL golden boot for 2016.
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Sone has by no means a bad CV to his name, having won two promotions to the Premier League with Hull and seven caps for Nigeria.
But his inspirational elder sibling, who is also a qualified lawyer, continues to drive him on to achieve more.
Aluko, who joined Fulham in the summer, told SunSport: “I’m her biggest fan and I’m sure she’s mine.
“She’s a very similar player to me so when she watches my games and I watch her games I know what she was thinking and trying.
“We played a lot together when we were young. Because she was a couple of years older she was a lot better than me when I was younger.
“But when we got to 11, 12, with the amount I was playing then, I improved a lot quicker than women’s football because they were semi-pro at the time.
“The achievements she’s done in her career I still haven’t done in male football. She’s a golden boot winner this season, so I’m proud of her for that.
“She’s been to World Cups, been to Euros, won FA Cups, she’s done it all.”
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The Alukos grew up on a Birmingham council estate and in many ways are the shining success story of UK immigration - even though Sone would not be drawn on the tumultuous politics of our time.
Eniola was born in the Nigerian capital of Lagos but the family moved over to England and Sone was born in Hounslow before the switch to the Second City.
Sone is perhaps more intellectual than your average footballer - not surprising given his family’s achievements, including his dad being a Nigerian senator - and is a keen reader, currently working Shoe Dog, the memoirs of Nike creator Phil Knight.
But asked what he would have done had he not made it as a player, his response is “a failed footballer” - underlining his passion and dedication to succeed in the sport he loves.
He and Eniola grew up idolising the likes of Eric Cantona and Brazilian Ronaldo - and Sone says Eniola is keen to help women’s football continue to grow.
The well-spoken ex-Rangers striker added: “Off the back of the 2012 Olympics, there has been a noticeable growth in women’s football. The game has become professional so straight away the standard improves.
“It’s still a long way from where it could be and should be but you see growth there.
“She’s happy with the direction of it and I’m sure she wants to continue the growth of the game even when she finishes playing.
“Football has done wonders for our family. I thank God because a lot has come from football.”
Meanwhile, Sone has his own targets in mind.
He is desperate for a third promotion to the Premier League with Fulham, who host Sheffield Wednesday today.
And this time he is keen to play a pivotal role after being sidelined for much of Hull’s play-off triumph last term.
Aluko, who won the Championship Player of the Month award for October, said: “The next aim is to take Fulham up. Hopefully we’ll have a strong season and get the club to where it needs to be.
“There’s nothing I would want more as I’ve been happier here than I have been for many years in football.
“I was buzzing when we went up (at Hull) and now I can say I’ve been promoted twice.
“But when you’re young you dream about getting promoted and playing at Wembley. You don’t vision being in a stand in a suit.”