Football is arguably the most popular sport in the world right now. What makes it quite unique is the family ties that so exist in the beautiful game. In the first part of this series, we’ll be taking a look at players who are related by blood one way or the another. Enjoy!
Jerome and Kevin-Prince Boateng (Brothers)
Half brothers Jerome Boateng and Kevin-Prince wrote their own piece of football history as they played against each other in the FIFA World Cup two years ago
Born in Germany to a Ghanaian father but different German mothers, the siblings chose different paths during their with Jerome playing for Germany and Kevin Prince Ghana.
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| Jerome (Left) and Prince (Right) |
The boatengs different personalities are reflected in their playing styles. Jerome is a disciplined defender, keeping tracks of things and remaining calm on the ball. Kevin on the other hand has a nice control and finish but is more physical and aggressive.
Jerome has never been to his native country Ghana but he loves to listen to Ghanaian music while Kevin prefers to listen to a German rapper called Bushido. Quite contrasting!
Do you know that: This pair stopped talking to each other for a while after Kevin Prince injured Michael Ballack who was at that time the captain of Jerome’s country Germany.
Yaya and Kolo Habib Toure (Brothers)
Kolo and Yaya Touré were born in Bouake, but moved to Abidjan, where they attended a soccer academy which prepared them for the big time in Europe.
Kolo’s first Premier League team was Arsenal, which he joined in 2002, and he moved to Manchester City in 2009 when big spending owners came on board.
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| Kolo (Left) and Yaya (Right) |
The following year, his younger brother Yaya 29, formerly at Barcelona joined his brother at Manchester. Since his move, Yaya’s star has steadily risen above that of his elder brother and has become an integral part of City’s midfield
Kolo 31, admitted that even though he is the older one, he often receives tips from his brother, who at the end of last year was crowned African Footballer of the Year. “I try to help him, but there’s not a lot I can do – he helps me because he has more football experience.
The Ivorians are considered among the best brother pairings currently in football.
Do you know that: Kolo Toure was banned for 6 months after testing positive for a banned substance. The drug was actually his wife’s diet pills which he took because he wanted to shed some weight.
Edgar Davids (Uncle) and Royston Drenthe (Nephew)
The dreadlocks and the impressive range of eye wear made Edgar Davids one of the most iconic footballers of the last decade.
Born in Suriname to an African father and a Jewish mother, he began his career with Ajax, he subsequently played in Italy for Milan, Inter and Juventus, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur before returning to Ajax. What a superb career he had I must confess.
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| Drenthe (Left) and Davids (Right) |
On the other hand, his nephew Royston Drenthe made a name for himself with Feynoord, before he made a “career ending” move to Real Madrid where he barely managed to play for 5 minutes. He went on loan to several clubs with his best spell at Everton where he played as a midfielder but the Toffees could not make his move a permanent one. He is currently without a club.
Do you know that: Both players are similar in many ways. Aside the dreadlocks they both carry (though Drenthe has shaved his dreads now), they are both versatile and can play in different areas switching from left back to left wing and then to central midfield.
Abedi Pele (Father) Andre and Jordan Ayew (Sons)
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| Jordan (Far left), Andre(Second Left) and Abedi |
Andre and Jordan, are attempting to follow in some very big footsteps. Their father, Abedi Pele, won the Nations Cup with Ghana in 1982 and has a second-place medal from 1992. He also won the African footballer of the year 3 consecutive times. Both brothers play for their father’s previous clubs, Olympique Marseille, with 20-year-old Jordan a striker, while Andre, 22, is a midfielder.
Andre Ayew has had the larger part of the success though having won the BBC african footballer of the year and also captained Ghana’s U-20 team to win the world cup in 2009 defeating Brazil in the final with 10 men.
Do you know that: Abedi Pele was nicknamed “Pele” in recognition of his superior ability that evoked comparisons to Brazilian Legendary footballer Pele
Bacary Sagna and Ibrahima Sonko (Cousins)
Bacary Sagna is a French footballer who plays for Arsenal. He was snapped up from Auxerre and made the PFA team of the year in his debut season with an outstanding display at right back.
But though impressive, his first season at the club was far from easy. Indeed, it witnessed the most traumatic event of his life as his brother, Omar, was found dead in February 2008
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| Sonko (Left) and Sagna (Right) |
His Cousin Ibrahima Sonko now with Turkish side Akhisar Belediyespor is a Senegalese defender who rose to prominence after helping Reading gain promotion in 2007.
The pair didn’t know they were related until just before Sonko’s Reading played against Sagna’s Arsenal in 2007.
While Sagna chose to France, Sonko on the other hand plays for Senegal.
Do you know that: Sagna’s hairstyle “blond braids hanging down like a beaded curtain” was as a result of the bet he had with his dad who told him he could have his hair whichever way he wanted it if he can score.
More to come in the latter parts…
Written by Oluwole Ola
About Author: Oluwole is a student studying at the University of Lagos. He is also a writer and blogger. You can check out his blog www.wolexis.blogspot.com
I guess our own are not worth celebrating…kalu & ikechukwu uche…
Its high time we start appreciatN/peomotN local content…if we don’t talk about dem,who will?
These are the only few names you know, not the whole (names) list of relatives in professional football. Pls go & do more research on this.