U21 Euros starlet is son of feared MMA icon who accosted burglars at his home

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Hazing rituals can sometimes to be common youth teams – but there's one member of the Netherlands under-21 squad who's unlikely to get any grief this summer.

The Oranje begin their quest for the U21 European Championship against Belgium on Wednesday in a Group A clash that could define their competition. Vitesse's Million Manhoef will be eager to have a big say in that regard, and he's got the athletic background to suggest he'll be a major asset.

That's because the 21-year-old is the son of retired mixed martial arts and kickboxing legend Melvin Manhoef, who is himself known for his kicking ability. Granted, Manhoef Sr's reputation is more for booting opponents into unconsciousness in a cage, while his son has chosen a more glamourous life on grass.

Manhoef Jr made his senior debut for Vitesse in 2020 and was a prominent member of the first team as he bagged nine goals and five assists in 33 Eredivisie appearances this past season. The speedster was named in the league's Team of the Month back in May after bagging three goals and one assist in a 6-0 drubbing of Groningen.

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Able to play on either wing, up front or either full-back position, one can understand why Netherlands U21 boss Erwin van de Looi though it prudent to bring him along this summer. Then again, all it might take is one threat put a call in to his dad in order to curry favour with coaches.

'No Mercy' was born in Suriname and immigrated to the Netherlands as a child, making his MMA debut in 1995 at the age of 19. It wasn't long before Manhoef established himself as a stoppage machine, and the jacked 5'8" terror went on star in major combat promotions like Bellator, K-1, Strikeforce, Dream and ONE FC.

Who is the greatest father-son duo to have starred in two different sports? Let us know in the comments section below.

The 47-year-old made headlines outside the cage in March 2022 when it emerged he had chased down three would-be burglars who had been casing his home. Manhoef ran the criminals off the road before punching through their window and holding them until police arrived, but he told reporters he'd do it all again for his family.

"I got out of the car shouting, going crazy saying 'my family' and this and that, and I went over to their car and threw one punch through the window, opening all my hand," he told BBC Sport. "I got the guys, I was shouting and pulled them out. I didn't hit them, but I had to say it, I was going out of my mind.

"I know [speeding] is a risk, but it was to protect the family. It isn't good, but the adrenaline takes over. This is who I am and I want to protect my family. I said to them [while waiting for police to arrive], 'listen, do something with your life, but not this, man. Don't steal from people. I know life is hard but don't do this.'"

Manhoef holds a special place as a cult icon in combat sports, owing to his longevity in the sport as well as his highlight reel of finishes. He also holds a unique record as the first man to knock out UFC legend Mark Hunt.

After almost 30 years as a professional fighter, former Cage Rage light heavyweight champion Manhoef hung up his gloves for good in late 2022. The veteran left the sport with a 32-17-1 record (as well as two no-contests), losing to former UFC stars Yoel Romero and Corey Anderson in two of his final fights.

As for Million, the youngster is still only at the start of his own legacy and will have international audiences watching on in the coming weeks. The 2002-born talent – who also trains in martial arts – may even eclipse his father's footprint on sport, albeit in a much less violent manner.

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