Soccer: 5 Players with Unusual Names

Soccer is a pretty mad game.

Crazy fans, nutty managers and even wackier players.

We have also had our share of players with odd names such as: former Reading keeper Steve Death; the infamously-named Terry Butcher, who was a tough-tackling center back in the 1980s; and, the aptly-named Steve Bull, who was a rampaging centre forward for Wolves.

Here are a few modern-day players with unusual names. 

Yaya Banana

Apparently Yaya Banana, yes that's really his name, is an up and coming Cameroonian defender who plays for Sochaux. He has been linked with Arsenal, like half the players in France. At least this name would put a smile on Gooners faces. And imagine the headlines, "Banana gives forwards the slip," etc. 

Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure is the first footballing Yaya, to my knowledge.

Fans used to giggle at his name, but not anymore as the Manchester City midfielder has steamrolled opponents across the Premiership.

He is widely recognized as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe. He is so good that Barca have been rumored to be trying to get him back.

If you wonder why he goes by Yaya, consider that his first name is Gnégnéri.

Kolo Toure

The elder brother of Yaya, Kolo Toure became famous as a member of Arsenal's Invincibles.

That is where he formed a formidable defensive partnership with "man mountain" Sol Campbell.

Like his brother, he is an Ivory Coast international.  

Joseph Yobo

Yobo was a skillful defender who played more than 200 times for Everton before moving to Fenerbahce.

He is captain of the Nigerian national team and the country's most capped player.  

Danny Shittu

You can barely say his name in polite company, but Nigerian international Shittu was a stalwart defender for QPR who was nothing like his name.

He racked up more than 150 appearances for the Super Hoops and also played for Bolton, Watford and Charlton. He currently plays for Millwall.