WE all know the footballing pedigree the Toures, Charltons, De Boers, Nevilles and the Laudrups brought to the beautiful game.
But did you know that these stars were also related?
Gary and Phil Neville were famous footballing siblingsCredit: EPA
SunSport reveals footballers you never knew had family ties, including two Brazilian legends who graced the Premier League.
Prepare to be shocked!
LIONEL MESSI AND BOJAN KRKIC
It’s quite fitting that in one moment in time both Bojan and Messi were considered wonderkids at Barcelona, and played together.
One would go on to become a club legend with the La Liga giants, while the other flopped at Stoke.
Incredibly, they are (very) distant cousins.
The Argie superstar’s great grandfather has Catalan roots and was the brother of Bojan’s great grandfather.
Messi and Bojan played together for BarcelonaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
JAY-JAY OKOCHA AND ALEX IWOBI
So good they named him twice, and his nephew became a £35million Premier League star.
Okocha graced the Premier League in the early to mid-2000s with Bolton – becoming a club legend under Sam Allardyce.
Former Gunner Iwobi move to Everton this summer, and has been backed by Okocha to become a success.
Well he would, because his sister is Iwobi’s mum.
Jay-Jay Okocha starred in the Premier League for BoltonCredit: PA:Press Association
Alex Iwobi is Okocha’s nephewCredit: Getty Images – Getty
PHILIPPE COUTINHO AND JUNINHO
Perhaps the most brilliant, and unexpected, are these two former Brazilian stars of the Premier League.
Juninho came to our shores in the mid-90s to much furore – and had Middlesbrough fans dreaming of an unlikely success.
They even gave him the unlikely nickname TLF, or the ‘The Little Fella’ because of his 5ft 5in size.
Barcelona star Coutinho was a star at Liverpool, before forcing a £142million move to the Catalans.
The pair are reportedly distant cousins thanks to a great-relative in their family trees.
Astonishingly, Juninho held the record for most goals by a Brazilian in the Premier League until Coutinho broke it.
Juninho was a hit at Middlesbrough the moment he arrived at the clubCredit: PA:Press Association
Former Liverpool star Coutinho is the distant cousin of JuninhoCredit: PA:Press Association
LUKA MODRIC AND MARK VIDUKA
An unlikely pairing, but said to be related.
The former Leeds United striker Viduka was born in Australia, but has Croatian roots through his father.
Viduka Sr emigrated Down Under in the 1960s.
Former Ballon d’Or winner Modric, of course, hails from Croatia.
The pair are distant cousins, but share one thing in common – being fine footballers.
Mark Viduka’s dad emigrated from Croatia to Australia in the 1960sCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ballon d’Or winner Modric is Viduka’s cousinCredit: Reuters
GINI WIJNALDUM AND ROYSTON DRENTHE
A family link must mean you end up playing in the same part of the world.
Both Dutch internationals, these two ended up in Merseyside – Gini with the Reds, while Drenthe had a spell on loan at Everton.
Wijnaldum has been an unsung hero for Liverpool this season, but it didn’t work out for Drenthe who left the Toffees after falling out with boss David Moyes.
The pair are cousins with Surinamese roots.
Royston Drenthe, formerly of Real Madrid and Everton, is related to Gini WijnaldumCredit: AFP – Getty
THE BOATENGS
The Boatengs have a rich history in football.
George was a Premier League legend for both Middlesbrough and Aston Villa, as well as a fans’ favourite.
He grew up with younger brother Kevin-Prince, formerly of Spurs, with their mum in Berlin.
The pair shared the same father with Germany World Cup-winner Jerome Boateng, who is their half-brother.
Kevin-Prince Boateng has a famous football brotherCredit: Instagram @princeboateng
Jerome Boateng is Kevin-Prince’s half brotherCredit: AFP or licensors
DIDIER DROGBA AND OLIVIER TEBILY
Both wore blue with pride, but in contrasting situations.
Drogba was a Chelsea legend, winning the Premier League four times, as well as a Champions League title.
Tebily played with Birmingham City from 2002-2008, until they were relegated.
The pair are cousins from the Ivory Coast, with their dads being brothers.
Drogba actually shares the Tebily last name, but dropped it when he went into football.
Didier Drogba was a club legend at ChelseaCredit: AP:Associated Press
Olivier Tebily is Drogba’s cousinCredit: Getty Images – Getty
THIAGO ALCANTARA AND RAFINHA
Although Rafinha dropped the Alcantara name when he made it pro, he is the brother of Bayern Munich playmaker Thiago.
They both rose through the ranks at Barcelona together, and have sports in their blood.
Their father is former Brazil international Mazinho, who won the World Cup in 1994.
While mum Valeria is a former volleyball player.
Interestingly, both chose different international pathways too – with Thiago opting for Spain and Rafinha going with Brazil.
Rafinha of Barcelona hugs brother Thiago Alcantara of Bayern MunichCredit: AFP – Getty
THE STURRIDGES
Through generations the Sturridges have terrorised defenders.
Simon Sturridge kicked it all off with Birmingham City in the late 80s, eventually ending his career at Shrewsbury Town.
His younger brother Dean became a feared Premier League striker at Derby County, before spells at Leicester City and Wolves.
But it was their nephew Daniel who would enjoy must success, playing for Liverpool and England.
Former Derby County star Dean Sturridge has a famous footballing nephewCredit: PA:Press Association
Daniel Sturridge, whose uncle is Dean, is now playing for Trabzonspor in TurkeyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
LEROY FER AND PATRICK VAN AANHOLT
Both capped at international level by Holland, Fer and van Aanholt are in fact cousins.
Their parents came from the small island of Curacao, before emigrating to the Netherlands to raise their kids.
And lucky for them, they both discovered football and went on to play at every youth level before appearing for the first team.
The pair even played against each other in 2014, when Fer’s QPR faced off against van Aaanholt’s Sunderland – with the West Londers winning 1-0.
Wonder if they were on talking terms after the match?
Leroy Fer scores against SunderlandCredit: Action Images – Reuters
Patrick van Aanholt is the cousin of FerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Chelsea ‘close’ to sealing Philippe Coutinho transfer as agreement grows near with Barcelona amid interest from Arsenal
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
