Emile Heskey has opened up about the approach he took while guiding his sons, Jayden and Reagan, as they embarked on their professional football journeys.
The former Liverpool striker made a conscious effort to avoid imposing his authority on them, choosing instead to keep a respectful distance:
I always kept my distance. I didn’t stand right by the touchline so the kids wouldn’t look over at me thinking I was judging their every move.
I stepped back to the point where they couldn’t even see me. That way, they could focus on what the coach was asking of them.
It’s tough for a child when parents say one thing and the coach says another. It creates two conflicting messages in their heads. Sometimes it’s best to step aside because this is not my career — it’s their career.
The former England forward also addressed parents who over-involve themselves in their children’s sporting lives:
Watching those overly pushy parents raises the question: who is this all for — themselves or the child? I don’t think it’s for the child, especially when you hear how some parents speak to their kids.
Twenty-year-old Jayden Heskey completed his academy journey at Manchester City and made his first-team debut in the League Cup alongside his younger brother in 2025. He now plays in League One for Sheffield Wednesday.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Reagan Heskey, who operates as a winger, has continued his career in Germany with a move to Cologne, where he has already made his Bundesliga debut this season.
