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Football is a game that ignites passion, but sometimes it goes just beyond players, coaches and fans assembling inside a stadium to witness a game. Although players from different nationalities come together to form a club team, there are also families that have donned the same club colours and did so at the same time.
For some, the sport simply runs in the blood of every family member and it is easy to see most of them developing into footballers. It is common for footballers who come from the same family reunite at the international level, but what is not common is having brothers playing for the same club at the same time.
Many such pairs of brothers get the chance to play together at youth level but are separated before they even make their professional debuts. That said, there are still some exceptions. In recent years, the sport has seen a few pairs of brothers feature in the same team at club level.
Here are five pairs of brothers who were lucky enough to play together for the same club.
#5 Gary and Phil Neville
One of the most famous pairs of brothers in football is Gary and Phil Neville. The two were part of Manchester United’s famous ‘Class of 92’ and won many trophies together in their time at Old Trafford. Gary is two years older than Phil, but the little difference in their age often confuses people to think they are twins.
The brothers played together for the Manchester United senior team for 11 years, before Phil left the Red Devils to join Everton in 2005. Gary, however, remained at the Old Trafford outfit for a further six years, before hanging his boots in the summer of 2011.
Both have now taken different paths after retirement, but are widely remembered for their cordiality on the field of play. While Gary is currently focusing on punditry duties, Phil has also taken to management and is currently the coach of England women's national team.
“The first time we played in the same school team together was a big deal. Phil had to step up a couple of school years to do it. Then he played above his age group in my Sunday team, Boundary Park Juniors, as well as Bury Juniors. I’m the older one, so when we played together as kids I was physically stronger – that toughened him up,” Gary once said about his younger brother.
#4 Yaya and Kolo Toure
Another famous pair of siblings who played together in the same team is Yaya and Kolo Toure. The Ivorian duo started their youth careers at local side ASEC Mimosas and later reunited in the Premier League when they signed for Manchester City.
Kolo was the first to move to the Etihad after a big-money transfer from Arsenal in the summer of 2009. However, just a year later, Yaya also joined from Barcelona. Both went on to win multiple trophies, including the league and FA Cup with the Manchester club.
“When I was young I was a big, big dreamer. I think in the beginning it was my brother [Kolo] and sometimes we would work together in the morning, early at 5am I remember,” Yaya recalled how his elder brother helped him develop.
“He was waking me up to try and go outside to do some jogging. At 5am it was dark in Africa and I said: ‘What are you waking me up for?’ He said we had to go jogging.”
Kolo currently is currently the technical assistant at Celtic, while Yaya joined Greek side Olympiakos in the summer after being released by Man City.
#3 Andre and Jordan Ayew
Ghanian players, Andre and Jordan Ayew have also been fortunate to play together at club level. In fact, the brothers have played alongside each other at two different clubs – Olympique Marseille and Swansea City.
Both players developed in the Marseille academy and went on to feature for the French giants in numerous Ligue 1 and Champions League games. Both have also featured for Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations and at the FIFA World Cup.
“We have played together at Marseille and with the national team. Now it’s happening again. I am happy that Jordan is in the squad here – he has progressed a lot and he is playing really well,” Andre said when he reunited with his younger brother at Swansea City.
Although Andre is on loan to Fenerbahce and Jordan is on loan to Crystal Palace, there is a likelihood that they will again play together for Swansea next season.
#2 Rafael and Fabio
Exciting Brazilian brothers Rafael and Fabio are one of the most adorable pairs of siblings in football history. The twin brothers, now 28, became popular when Sir Alex Ferguson signed both of them to Manchester United in 2008.
Rafael went on to become a regular in the Red Devils first team, but Fabio failed to gain enough minutes on the pitch and was constantly loaned out until his permanent departure in 2014. Rafael was also shipped out of the Old Trafford door a year later, after falling out with then Man United manager Louis van Gaal.
Currently, both brothers are playing in the French Ligue 1, with Rafael contracted to Lyon while Fabio also plays for Nantes.
Rafael later revealed in an interview with FourFourTwo magazine that even Ferguson used to get confused about their identities during training.
“It wasn’t rare that before training he’d look at me and say: ‘Come on, go to the left wing.’ When that happened, I used to just look at him. Then he’d go: ‘I meant right wing, Rafael!’ It’s funny to remember it – Fergie is a special person in my life.”
#1 Thiago and Rafinha Alcantara
Brothers Thiago and Rafinha Alcantara may have decided to play for different nations, but their story remains very inspiring. Having both joined Barcelona as youngsters, Thiago decided to move to Bayern in 2013 over a lack of game time.
While Thiago has opted to play for Spain, Rafinha plays for the Brazil national team. The brothers, however, played together at Barcelona, albeit for a short period, before finally being separated.
However, their father said he hopes to see them play together in the same team in the near future.
“Hopefully, Thiago may one day come back to Barca,” their father Mazinho once told Radio Barcelona.
“He is a player with the DNA of FC Barcelona.”
“You never know what twists exist in the world of football. The doors are always open, and who knows whether one day they’ll play together.”
Indeed, Thiago and Rafinha, being 27 and 25 respectively, may one day play together again like their father hopes.
