The country’s limited population – less than two million – may partly explain why Gabon fielded Aubameyang Sr’s three sons in 2010.
Courtesy of their father, who worked as a scout at Milan, all three had come through the ranks at the Italian giants.
Eldest son Catalina made a brief appearance in the Rossoneri’s victorious 2002-03 Champions League campaign and although he never broke through, it was still some feat to play alongside Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo, Andriy Shevchenko et al.
Second son Willy also played for Milan, making his debut in 2007, but also failed to break through before – like Catalina – dropping down European football’s pecking order.
Indeed the only brother who didn’t turn out for Milan’s first team – even if he did shine at junior level and sit on the first-team bench on occasions – was Pierre-Emerick, who has since achieved the most.
Having signed for Milan in 2007 and with Ronaldinho, Shevchenko and Pippo Inzaghi ahead of him, he was sent out on a series of loan deals – Dijon, Lille, Monaco, Saint-Etienne – before the latter signed him permanently in 2011.
It was in central France that the player we recognise today started to emerge, Aubameyang scoring 35 league goals in two seasons.
Offers swiftly followed – including one worth 10m euros a year to play in Qatar – whereupon his father came to the fore, later advising his son to turn down a move to Newcastle United to accept a lower salary at Borussia Dortmund, arguing Jurgen Klopp’s style suited him better.
“His father gives advice but the final decision rests with Pierre-Emerick as he is the one that must choose,” said Crespos.
The rest, as they say, is history – with Aubameyang having scored 136 goals in 204 games for Dortmund.
He has become the first Gabonese to be crowned the Confederation of African Football’s Player of the Year (in 2015) and, in May, only the fourth person in Bundesliga history to score more than 30 goals in a season.