The incredibile Williams brother relationship

Brotherhood is the unification of two individuals composed of the same core ingredients held together by a lifelong familial bond. I myself am fortunate enough to be the slightly older (and much to my chagrin slightly shorter) brother. I simply have no memory from all of my years of existence that doesn’t, to some degree, involve my younger brother. We were considered a duo from the very beginning of his life, and I sincerely hope it is a bond that lasts for many decades to come. Ultimately, what I am trying to say is that the relationship between two brothers, especially brothers of similar ages, is wonderfully unique. Despite the occasional difficulties families experience, brotherhood provides one of the strongest foundations for success - you know that you are never fully alone. European football has played host to a collection of footballing brothers who, at their very best, have harnessed their relationship to push themselves and their teams further. It goes without saying that, love aside, brothers are one thing above all else: competitive. When thinking of footballing brothers, the chances are you dear reader will have Yaya and Kolo Toure pop into your mind (perhaps with the soundtrack of their joint song), the Neville brothers, Rio and Anton Ferdinand, Eden and Thorgan Hazard, and for the slightly older reader, images of the Koeman, De Boer, and Laudrup brothers are likely to be at the ones first thought of. Brothers in football adds an element of je ne sais quoi, an extra layer if you will. Footballing brothers are a necessary component in football - there is simply something fantastic about it. Two individuals, similar in almost every way, being talented enough to be professional footballers, occasionally even in the same team, never fails to produce a smile.

Perhaps the best example of this in contemporary European football is that of the Williams brothers, Inaki and Nico, currently plying their trade in red and white colours of Athletic Club Bilbao. Inaki Williams will undoubtedly be the more recognisable of the two given his consistent appearances for Los Leones over the last decade. Raised in Spain by Ghanaian parents who themselves had walked across the Sahara Desert and jumped the Melilla border fence in order to attain a better quality of life, Inaki Williams demonstrated a penchant for footballing quality throughout his years at CD Pamplona before he was spotted by Athletic Club who signed him to their famed Cantera academy. Given a chance in the first team by Ernesto Valverde on December 6th in a 1-0 loss to Cordoba. Inaki took some time to notch his first goal for Bilbao, scoring in the February of the following year in a 2-2 Europa League draw against Torino, becoming the first black goalscorer in Bilbao’s history.

Ever since, Inaki has become one of the stars of the Athletic Club first team, racking up north of 400 appearances, close to 100 club goals, two Spanish Cup titles and, although it is much said, had played a La Liga record 251 fixtures in a row until a small hamstring strain in January 2023 meant he had to spend a full 90 minutes out of the team. Having been repeatedly scouted by and linked to some of the very biggest clubs in world football, Inaki Williams signed a nine year contract in 2019 with a €135m release clause. Athletic Bilbao really do cherish their own, and their love for Inaki runs deep. Imagine then, that one of their star players had a younger brother just as, if not slightly more, technically gifted ready to make his own mark in the Athletic Club first team.

Welcome, Nico Williams. Eight years younger than his Inaki, is currently enjoying a breakthrough season that has seen Athletic Club make yet another Copa Del Rey Final - to be played next month. Nico profiles differently to Inaki despite both players operating as wide attackers. Nico’s three goals and eight assists this season highlight his willingness to create rather than directly score, yet this is a common trait amongst young wingers at the start of their first-team careers. Whereas, Inaki, in a typical brotherly reversal, has scored nine and assisted three. Nico joined Athletic Cub in 2013, a year after his brother, aged eleven. Inaki, acting in his role as the older brother, would support Nico throughout school and throughout his football journey from the very beginning due to his father having to leave the country finding work in London. Whether it be getting him up in time for class, or refereeing games in the park, Inaki and Nico were joined at the hip despite the age gap. As former Athletic Club and current Villareal manager Marcelino explained to the Daily Mail that “[Inaki is] a true father, whose influence on how Nico is and how he behaves is absolutely decisive…I can't overstate what an extraordinary human being Inaki is. Nico can't have a better role model, someone who is a consummate professional, who is in the dressing room with him, and who is his brother. Who better to tell him; this is the right path to fulfil your talent.” In perfect exemplification of their unity, as Nico netted in a 2-0 win against Atletico Madrid, the young winger marked his 100th Athletic Club appearances whilst Inaki marked his 400th all the while the club was celebrating their 125th year. Oh, not forgetting arguably the most iconic celebration of the season between the two brothers as Inaki got down on one knee to symbolically shine the boots of his younger brother. 

Given the age difference and the now massive interest in Nico Williams, there is a chance that football's favourite brotherhood may not be adorning the same kits for too much longer despite Athletic Clubs ability to retain their best players. Nico will be looking ahead. Despite Inaki playing for Ghana, Nico has opted to represent Spain and is likely to be a mainstay in the national team for the next decade. Inaki would have been presented with chances to join a more important club, yet chose to stay with Bilbao, there is a chance Nico may opt to take a different path. As for now, whilst both Inaki and Nico are in the same team, Athletic Club fans can enjoy this impermanent yet beautiful collection of moments that these two brothers weave together. As mentioned earlier, Athletic Club are in yet another Copa Del Rey Final, and this time, they are the favourites, facing up against Mallorca. If all goes to plan, Inaki and Nico have the chance to attain glory together, a moment that will live long in the memory for them and fans alike. Brotherhood in football has a deep meaning hard to define, yet, it is always something easy to enjoy.