International football's Band of Brothers: Part-2

The Toures – Kolo and Yaya

The Cote d’Ivoire has a fair share of such brothers, none more famous than Yaya and Kolo Toure. The two of them in fact have even played for the same club – Manchester City – since 2010.

Yaya is one of the most dominating, physical midfielders around who also happens to have great technique. He has 78 caps for his country and after starting with Olympiacos and Monaco, secured his move to Barcelona where he caught everyone’s attention. He has won league titles in 4 countries – in the Cote d’Ivoire, Greece, Spain and England. He received the prestigious African Footballer of the Year award twice in a row in 2011 and 2012.

Kolo, 2 years elder, first arrived in the English Premier League in 2002 with Arsenal and spent 7 seasons with the Gunners before making the switch to Manchester City. He was part of the winning ‘Invincibles’ squad at Arsene Wenger’s disposal in 2003. He has a century of caps (103) to his name and with Arsenal, won 1 Premier League title and 2 FA Cups. With Manchester City he added another league title and another FA Cup. He has moved to Liverpool FC in the summer transfer window as a free agent after his contract expired with City.

They have another brother, Ibrahim, who plays football but has not donned national colours yet.