Euro 2024: Spain v Georgia – Nico Williams’ remarkable journey to the top

Despite their new found security, life was far from easy for the Williams family. They moved 150 kilometres south east to Pamplona.

Nicholas Williams Arthuer was born there on July 12, 2002, but unable to find enough work to keep his family, Felix moved to London doing whatever he could to send money home.

He cleared tables in a food hall in a Chelsea shopping centre and worked as a security guard, even on the turnstiles at Chelsea FC.

He was away for 10 years – he is back in Bilbao now – during which time Inaki became like a father to Nico, while their mother worked up to three jobs at a time in her efforts to provide for her family.

When they go for lunch at their mum’s, she reminds them to clear the table, wash the dishes, and tells them off if they step out of line. The education from their parents is constant.

Inaki, who decided to play for Ghana as a homage to them, would watch over Nico all the way.

From picking him up from school and giving him a ‘bocadillo’ (sandwich) when they come out of class, to later instructing him in the behaviour that he needed to follow if he wanted to make it as an elite athlete.

“For me he is a reference, he is everything for me,” said Nico. “He has helped my parents and me so that we can eat, so that I could go to class, so that I could get dressed.

“He corrects me, he advises me, he has always done it actually, but we get along very well. He is my brother, but he also acts as a father a little.”

On 28 April 2021, the brothers were brought on as second-half substitutes in Athletic’s 2-2 draw at home against Real Valladolid to become the first siblings to play for the club together since 1986.

After the final, they immediately went to visit their mum, who was unable to watch the match as fans were banned from the stadium because of the Covid pandemic.