<
>

Coronavirus lockdown: Dejan Lovren takes out son with sliding tackle

With almost all football postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic, star players have found themselves at a loose end.

With many training grounds off-limits, clubs have sent footballers home, where they're adhering to an isolation period for the next few weeks. How are they passing the time?

ESPN will be keeping a daily eye on what the world's best are up to, as well as how clubs are keeping busy by battling in online competitions against each other.

- Stream new episodes of ESPN FC Monday-Friday on ESPN+
- Stream every episode of 30 for 30: Soccer Stories on ESPN+

Dejan Lovren

He may be quarantined, but Dejan Lovren proved that old habits are tough to shake while playing football in the back garden with his kids.

With his son in possession, the Liverpool man instinctively kicked into "rugged centre-back" mode and went flying in with a sturdy sliding tackle.

View this post on Instagram

VAR CHECKING POSSIBLE FOUL YELLOW FOR DIVING 🟨

A post shared by Dejan Lovren (@dejanlovren06) on

The decision went to VAR but Lovren Sr. definitely took the ball before following through and taking the man out.

"VAR checking possible foul, yellow for diving," the Croatian quipped on Instagram.

Certainly looked like a legal tackle to us, with no caution required for simulation.

Sergio Aguero

At a loose end at the moment, Sergio Aguero has signed up to give introductory Spanish lessons to kids during the lockdown.

The Man City striker will teach young people to count in his native tongue as part of a BBC homeschooling initiative.

Aguero is joined by several other stars of television and sport, including Dr Who herself (Jodie Whittaker), who will be giving lessons from April 20 onwards -- when children would ordinarily be returning to school after the Easter holidays.

Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona shared a throwback from his playing days, posting the famous clip of his incredible warm-up before Napoli's 1989 UEFA Cup game against Bayern Munich.

The famous video sees Maradona playfully juggling the ball around while "Live is Life" by Opus plays over the public address system.

The Argentine also revealed that he posted the video because it's a favourite of his grandson, Benjamin.

"Today it's 31 years since this warm-up, so I couldn't stop myself from sharing it," Maradona wrote.

Benjamin, 11, is the son of Sergio Aguero and Maradona's daughter, Giannina.

James Rodriguez

James Rodriguez is obviously missing football and in particular the thrill of travelling to away matches in far-flung countries.

Without leaving his house, the Colombian star recreated the visceral experience of going to the airport and boarding a flight using nothing but his treadmill.

Marcelo

Marcelo is staving off the boredom by mastering a few new dance routines.

The Real Madrid left-back posted a video of himself jigging along to a Drake track in the privacy of his own living room.