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Personal
Fullname: Kolo Abib Touré
aka: Kolo Toure, Kolo Touré
Born: 19 March 1981
Birthplace: Bouaké, Ivory Coast
Signed: 24 July 2016 (Free)
Left: 1 July 2017 (retired from playing)
Position: Central Defender
Debut: Celtic 2-1 Astana, European Cup, 3 Aug 2016
Squad No.: 2
Internationals: Ivory Coast
International Caps: 120
International Goals: 7
Biog
“The atmosphere was unbelievable. I think the greatest I’ve ever experienced in my career was in Scotland at Celtic Park.”
Kolo Touré Apr 2021
Kolo Toure arrived at Celtic as an experienced and respected defender in England. Brendan Rodgers himself had just arrived, and clearly from the off after the 1-0 defeat to Lincoln Red Imps, the defence needed some major repair work, and fast.
Kolo was in the twilight of his years, and wanted a final challenge. He had a brother at Man City making a name for himself, and Kolo Toure had been a popular player recently at Liverpool, his last game being a 3-1 defeat v Seville in the UEFA Cup final only a few months before arriving at Celtic.
At arrival, he stated that Celtic could also match Arsenal’s unbeaten record. He was questioned if Celtic could emulate Arsenal and remain unbeaten domestically, and he replied yes, which not unsurprisingly was overplayed by the media and criticised sharply by some, with the more rabid in TheRangers camp getting stuck in. It was nothing really, but he was to have the last laugh.
A stout no nonsense central defender, he was simply a total professional. He could have just picked up a pension at Celtic as one or two others in similar predicaments have done so at Celtic, but he got stuck in and impressed everyone, his debut game was a major 2-1 win over Astana in the the Champions League qualifiers.
If ever, he was to pay back Celtic for the faith they placed in him, then it was in the 2nd leg v Hapoel in the vital playoff match for the Champions League. Celtic held a 5-2 lead from the first leg, so should have been easy street. It was anything but, and it was Toure who with his experience and some nous really made the difference. Celtic still lost 2-0 but really could have (or should have) lost by far more, and Toure was heralded as possibly Celtic’s only notable performer that day, and Celtic really did need someone to pull the finger out that vital day, just one more goal by Hapoel would have knocked Celtic out and it was close.
The European games were his forte, and in some ways were a big issue for Rodgers. Domestically Celtic were on top, but against European teams Celtic could come unstuck, and Toure was really the difference between qualification to the Champions League group stages and being knocked out. Having been knocked out by lower tier opposition in the past two seasons, Toure’s contribution was invaluable. His intelligence and experience in defence paid dividends (esp in the European Cup qualifiers).
However, his age was showing and was found culpable for two goals lost in the 2-0 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach in Champions League (Oct 2016). He actually had a good game but it was clear that maybe the coaching team had to look beyond him going forward even into the current season. It was going to be too much to place on his shoulders at this stage in his career, he had already more than repaid the club with his performances to date.
After Celtic had defeated Motherwell 4-3 away in a pulsating league match in December 2016, he was to be pushed down the pegging order.
During a February 2017 match v Hamilton at Celtic Park , you could see his impact on the team. This is a guy who has played at the highest level for nearly 20 years, won trophies, broken records, earned millions, played with some of the greatest players in the game, and there he was playing keepy uppys with De Vries and Izaguirre at half-time against Hamilton and having an absolute whale of a time. Just sheer joy and enthusiasm. He must have been worth his weight in gold in the dressing room.
To further reflect this, Celtic and Kolo Toure celebrated their title win in Apr 2017 with the Toure dance/chant, and it was absolutely perfect, with the video going viral across social media. Everyone simply loved this guy, and he was clearly loving his time at Celtic.
As Rodgers man management boosted the squad, the other players were fighting for a place, and Simunovic and Sviatchenko were preferred ahead of Toure. Still Toure was kept as a back-up, and a popular player he was too for the supporters.
He was given some token final run-outs at the end of the 2016-17, and as a squad player, he has been perfect value.
As a matter of record, Kolo Touré has played a part in an incredible set of records: Arsenal unbeaten in the full league campaign in 2003/04 and repeated same feat with Celtic across all domestic competitions in 2016/17. No coincidence as he more than played his part in both achievements. He actually arrived stating Celtic could emulate Arsenal’s record, and understandably got criticised but he never said it arrogantly just as an aim, and it was journalists playing on his words. Fast forward to the end of the season, as Celtic achieved this incredible target and he was the one laughing at the critics whilst all the support was in debt to him.
We all were to wish him the very best.
Post-Playing Career
After 2016-17, he originally opted to join the Ivory Coast national side for coaching, but in Sep 2017, he re-joined Celtic as Technical Assistant, as part of the club’s coaching team.Kolo was to be part of the club’s football management team, supporting on all first-team coaching matters, as well as using his knowledge, experience and expertise to assist across the club’s various youth levels. Only a few days before Celtic had been beaten 5-0 by Paris St Germain at home, so his input was to be very welcome.
He left Celtic to Leicester with Brendan Rodgers in the controversial departure, which was before the end of the season with 11 league games to go and Celtic still in the hunt for the treble that season. It was poor and unprofessional many thought, but ire was more for Brendan Rodgers than for Toure and others.
Part of the reason that Toure likely escaped much criticism for his departure unlike Rodgers was as Celtic were generally seen as very poor defensively, and as Toure was meant to be partly responsible for this coaching, it wasn’t seen as a major loss to many commentators.
He moved onto Wigan for his first managerial role, but got cut after just 59 days after a very poor spell of results.
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Quotes
“Players like that retain the values of a club and they understand the levels expected and the pressures, and they can help in that perspective.”
Brendan Rodgers on Toure (2017)
“Toure should engage his brain before he opens his mouth as he had made a rod for his own back with the ‘unbeaten’ remark. He’s heaped pressure on himself before a ball has been kicked as Celtic aren’t capable of getting back to back wins at the moment, never mind an entire season.”
Daily Record phone-in (July 2016), Celtic did go through the whole season unbeaten domestically, and defeated Sevco four out of five times.
“The atmosphere was unbelievable. I think the greatest I’ve ever experienced in my career was in Scotland at Celtic Park.”
Kolo Touré Apr 2021
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2016-17 | 5 (4) | 0 (1) | 1 (0) | 5 (1) | 11 (6) |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 5 (4) |
0 (1) | 1 (0) | 5 (1) | 11 (6) |
| Goals: | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish League
Scottish League Cup
Scottish Cup
Pictures
Forums
Sevco fans’ remarks on Toure in Daily Record (2016)
Andy Paterson, Bellshill, said: “Toure should engage his brain before he opens his mouth as he had made a rod for his own back with the ‘unbeaten’ remark.
“He’s heaped pressure on himself before a ball has been kicked as Celtic aren’t capable of getting back to back wins at the moment, never mind an entire season.”
George Wilson, West Sussex : “Someone really ought to have a word with Toure. He obviously hasn’t seen his new team play. I remember last year or the year before when Celtic lost a big game and of the players said they would make up for it by winning the last 10 league games. They lost the next one.
John Bruce, emailed: “Toure, has said that he wants to go through the entire season unbeaten. Did he mean an entire month unbeaten? He obviously hasn’t seen any footage of his new team’s defence – especially their European antics.
Grant McPherson, Kilsyth, said: “Celtic fans should know that Toure is over the hill and is only moving to Scotland as he’s no longer up to playing down south.
“His comments are laughable and he’ll soon end up with egg on his face.”
Kolo Toure on Rodgers: “Brendan is a man who changed my life,” on Celtic Park: “The atmosphere was unbelievable”
By Editor 3 April, 2021 No Comments
Photo: Graham Wilson
Kolo Toure played for Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City in various European competitions but nothing he experienced playing for those top English sides prepared him for the atmosphere at a Champions League night under the lights at Celtic Park.
The Place that we call Paradise simply blew big Koule away! The European game that had the biggest impression on him over an illustrious paying career was the 2016 Champions League match at Paradise between Celtic and Manchester City which ended in a 3-3 draw, and the Ivory Coast defender was waxing lyrical about his amazing a night that was at Celtic Park.
“The atmosphere was unbelievable. I think the greatest I’ve ever experienced in my career was in Scotland at Celtic Park.” pic.twitter.com/NE07TjJvHm
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) April 3, 2021
Speaking to Four Four Two Magazine Toure said: “Celtic was a fantastic experience. It’s another club with a history of winning matches and winning trophies.
“Going there was a big challenge, because you have to win every game, but I enjoyed it. I remember drawing 3-3 with City in the Champions League. I was quite leggy and old, but we managed to get a terrific result.
“The atmosphere was unbelievable. I think the greatest I’ve ever experienced in my career was in Scotland at Celtic Park.”
Kolo moved over to the coaching staff at Celtic under Brendan Rodgers and was among the group of sudden departures who left the club after the former Celtic manager’s sudden departure mid-season to join Leicester City in February 2019. but despite the hasty exit and the inevitable fall-out that followed, Toure remains a big Hoops fan, but ultimately he is a committed member of the Rodgers coaching team and where the Irishman goes he is likely to follow.
“It’s like I said about relationships – at some point, one of you might want to move on, but the love is still there. We always respect fans and have a great consideration for them, but sometimes we have to leave for other things. We had an amazing experience and it was a privilege to work there.
“I do love Brendan! He doesn’t need to love me. He’s already shown how much he cares about me, though. I played for him at two clubs and now he’s taken me on as a Leicester coach – that shows me everything.
“But Brendan is a man who changed my life as well. Managers take you on because they trust you, and that’s all that matters for me.
“I’ll never forget what he has done and is doing for me every day, as he’s like my big brother. I’m now learning the other side of the game with him and his assistant, Chris Davies.
“It was always my intention to get into coaching, as I wanted to stay in football. What you learn in matches you can always pass on to the younger generation, and I felt my experience was the best thing I could give them.”