The Legendary Toure Brothers Chant That Echoes Through Football Stadiums Worldwide
Years after hanging up their cleats, only a handful of footballers continue to be embedded in the fabric of English football culture. Having your name chanted repeatedly, match after match, across venues throughout the nation represents an exceptional honor—reserved for those who created an impact extending far beyond silverware and records.
Kolo Touré stands among this elite group. Over ten years since his playing days ended, the song bearing his name continues to resonate throughout stadiums, serving as a genuine source of pride for the former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool centre-back.
"Had someone told me a decade and a half ago, 'Kolo, supporters will chant your name at every stadium across Britain,' I would have assumed they were kidding," Touré previously stated. "I've never had the opportunity to express gratitude to those who do this. It deeply moves me."
However, Kolo represents just one part of this tale. The chant's companion verse features his younger sibling, Yaya—whose name rounds out a melody that has evolved into one of English football's most iconic supporter songs.
The tune is universally recognized. But what are its origins, and how did it spread from Manchester City's terraces to become a countrywide sensation?
"Yaya Toure! Kolo Toure!" Football Chant Origin
"Yaya Toure! Kolo Toure!" Football Chant Origin
The minimalist rhythm that forms the foundation of the Touré siblings' song stems from No Limit, the 1993 electronic dance anthem by Belgian-Dutch act 2 Unlimited. This track achieved worldwide success, topping charts in 35 nations—including Britain—and its immediately identifiable beat proved captivating to football supporters.
Multiple teams have experimented with this melody throughout the years, but Manchester City fans truly claimed it as their signature, permanently connecting it with Kolo and Yaya Touré during the 2012–13 campaign.
When the chant initially appeared in September 2012, the siblings had already featured in 82 games together representing club and nation. Its first public performance occurred before a journey to Stoke City's bet365 Stadium.
Yaya was named in the starting lineup, while Kolo remained on the bench as an unused replacement, though this detail was irrelevant to the visiting City faithful. Assembled in the stadium concourses prior to kickoff, they delivered what would rapidly become one of English football's most contagious supporter anthems—a memorable tune that would swiftly expand well beyond Manchester and the Premier League.
"Yaya Toure! Kolo Toure!" Football Chant Video
"Yaya Toure! Kolo Toure!" Football Chant Video
The chant's beginning is frequently incorrectly attributed to footage of enthusiastic City supporters performing it — along with the coordinated movements—outside a food establishment in Madrid, during the Sky Blues' encounter with Real Madrid in the Champions League on Sep. 18, 2012.
Actually, two days prior to that European match—which City lost due to a final-minute goal from Cristiano Ronaldo—James Martin had already uploaded video of fans celebrating the Ivorian brothers at Stoke.
Though the footage from Spain's capital received significantly more attention, both recordings helped distribute the irresistibly memorable chant throughout the football community. By Sep. 22, 2012, it had been officially incorporated into Manchester City's recognized collection of supporter songs.
Three years following its introduction, Steven Gerrard was captured delivering an enthusiastic version of the chant during the final phase of his Liverpool tenure, a team where he had played alongside Kolo Touré for two seasons.
In 2012, the brothers were personally presented with the chant by the club's media department. Viewing the supporter recordings, Yaya Touré chuckled and commented: "They consume too much alcohol."
Behind him, Kolo imitated the gestures of the celebrating fans, cheerfully moving to the rhythm of the song he continues to hear today.