The world of soccer is littered with great examples of successful brothers playing the game. It should come as no surprise that brothers can both do well playing football, as sharing the same genes will give them similar physiques and spacial awareness abilities. In this article I'm going to look over some of the legendary siblings that have graced the beautiful game.



One of the best central defenders in the world at the moment, Rio Ferdinand is hailed as a key to the success of Manchester United. He combines composure on the ball and defensive ruggedness with a down-to-earth attitude and a keen eye for goal. He is consistently picked in Premier League team of the seasons and will surely be remembered as the greatest defenders of all time.

As Rio makes his mark on the world of football in the 21st Century so did his older brother Les during the 1990s. Les Ferdinand was one of the deadliest finishers the league has ever known, in his prime only Iain Dowie could compare to his lethal finishing ability. Les Ferdianand was known for his grace and power, traits that his brother has inherited. Les Ferdinand will be remembered for years to come for his mesmerising dribbling ability and cool finishing.

The Alan Smith brothers are also great examples of footballing brothers making a success of the game. Alan Smith lead the line for Arsenal during the early 90s, scoring many goals and helping his team to a cabinet full of trophies. As the decade ended his younger brother Alan spearheaded the deadly Leeds United attack. When he left for Manchester United in 2001 Leeds dropped off the football map, nearly going into administration. This shows just how vital he was for the team.

Of course not all great football brotherhoods are English. The Ronaldo brothers have become synonymous with flair and outrageous skill. Ronaldo helped Brazil to a World Cup victory in 2002 almost single-handedly, a testament to his ability. His younger brother, Cristiano Ronaldo, now plays for Manchester United and helped them to win several major trophies. They are both lauded for their complete mastery of a football.

Perhaps the greatest footballing family are the Coles. Ashley, Joe, Andy and Carlton are known as the four greatest footballers to ever play the game. The fact that they are all from the same family is staggering. Comparisons have been made to the Jackson 5 for their dominance of their respective fields. In much the same way as the pop band the Coles were an instant success, with Andy leading the way first, topping scoring charts in every league in which he performed.

Hopefully this goes to show that if your brother is an amazing footballer then there is no reason that you can't be as well. Put in enough practise and maybe one day you'll be as good as Duncan or Barry Ferguson.