Kolo Toure has won three league titles, two FA Cups and one Africa Cup of Nations. He
Kolo Toure has won three league titles, two FA Cups and one Africa Cup of Nations. He

has over 500 club appearances and 120 international caps to his name. Those bare facts make up
has over 500 club appearances and 120 international caps to his name. Those bare facts make up

a career that most would be utterly delighted with, but combined with a style of play that
a career that most would be utterly delighted with, but combined with a style of play that

you might call 'enthusiastic', he was one of the most likeable Premier League players
you might call 'enthusiastic', he was one of the most likeable Premier League players

of the last 15 years. Born in 1981, Toure started his career at
of the last 15 years. Born in 1981, Toure started his career at

ASEC Mimosas, in the Ivory Coast capital of Abidjan. Toure is one of a long line of players
ASEC Mimosas, in the Ivory Coast capital of Abidjan. Toure is one of a long line of players

to come from the club, such as Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Boubacar Barry and of course his brother,
to come from the club, such as Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Boubacar Barry and of course his brother,

Yaya. In early 2002, he travelled to London for a trial with Arsenal, a trial that was
Yaya. In early 2002, he travelled to London for a trial with Arsenal, a trial that was

a little more eventful than most. In journalist John Cross's book about Arsene
a little more eventful than most. In journalist John Cross's book about Arsene

Wenger's tenure at the club, Ray Parlour tells a story about how Toure began charging around
Wenger's tenure at the club, Ray Parlour tells a story about how Toure began charging around

the training ground. “I remember the ball was rolled into Thierry Henry and Kole Toure,
the training ground. “I remember the ball was rolled into Thierry Henry and Kole Toure,

from nowhere, smashed into him from behind,” said Parlour. It was a terrible tackle, a
from nowhere, smashed into him from behind,” said Parlour. It was a terrible tackle, a

red card in a normal game, and our best player was rolling around.
red card in a normal game, and our best player was rolling around.

“Wenger was shouting: ‘Kolo, what are you doing? Don’t tackle!’ The next minute,
“Wenger was shouting: ‘Kolo, what are you doing? Don’t tackle!’ The next minute,

the ball was into Dennis Bergkamp and Kolo did exactly the same. Wenger said: ‘No more
the ball was into Dennis Bergkamp and Kolo did exactly the same. Wenger said: ‘No more

tackling’.“Next thing you know, Kolo Toure took Wenger out with a two-footed tackle!
tackling’.“Next thing you know, Kolo Toure took Wenger out with a two-footed tackle!

All you could hear was Wenger screaming.” Parlour went to the physio's room, where Wenger
All you could hear was Wenger screaming.” Parlour went to the physio's room, where Wenger

had an ice pack on his injured ankle, to make the case for the young player, and reassure
had an ice pack on his injured ankle, to make the case for the young player, and reassure

Wenger that Toure was probably just being over-enthusiastic. He need not have worried.
Wenger that Toure was probably just being over-enthusiastic. He need not have worried.

“We're signing him tomorrow,” said Wenger. “I like his desire.”
“We're signing him tomorrow,” said Wenger. “I like his desire.”

Toure made his debut in the 2002 Community Shield, and initially performed a utility
Toure made his debut in the 2002 Community Shield, and initially performed a utility

role, but it wasn't until the following season that he really made an impact at the club.
role, but it wasn't until the following season that he really made an impact at the club.

With only Martin Keown, who was 37, and Pascal Cygan, who was Pascal Cygan, as alternative
With only Martin Keown, who was 37, and Pascal Cygan, who was Pascal Cygan, as alternative

partners for Sol Campbell, Toure was moved to the centre of defence and it was there
partners for Sol Campbell, Toure was moved to the centre of defence and it was there

he stayed for the season. He played in 37 games of the unbeaten league season, as Arsenal
he stayed for the season. He played in 37 games of the unbeaten league season, as Arsenal

became the first team in over 100 years to achieve that feat in the English top flight.
became the first team in over 100 years to achieve that feat in the English top flight.

"Kolo is genuine, honest, highly motivated, good at work every day," Wenger said of his
"Kolo is genuine, honest, highly motivated, good at work every day," Wenger said of his

player. "The problem was to get him off the pitch, it was not to put him on.” Toure
player. "The problem was to get him off the pitch, it was not to put him on.” Toure

established himself as one of the better defenders in the Premier League over the next few seasons,
established himself as one of the better defenders in the Premier League over the next few seasons,

eventually being named Arsenal vice-captain. He scored the goal that eventually sent Arsenal
eventually being named Arsenal vice-captain. He scored the goal that eventually sent Arsenal

to the Champions League final in 2006, which they lost 2-1 to Barcelona.
to the Champions League final in 2006, which they lost 2-1 to Barcelona.

By 2009, his form had been up and down, and after a training ground argument with William
By 2009, his form had been up and down, and after a training ground argument with William

Gallas, he asked to leave Arsenal. “One of us had to leave, and it was me,” said
Gallas, he asked to leave Arsenal. “One of us had to leave, and it was me,” said

Toure later. He moved to Manchester City for a fee of £16million, joining Emmanuel Adebayor
Toure later. He moved to Manchester City for a fee of £16million, joining Emmanuel Adebayor

in moving north. It was around this time that Toure also appeared
in moving north. It was around this time that Toure also appeared

on the front pages of newspapers, after reportedly having an affair with a young model during
on the front pages of newspapers, after reportedly having an affair with a young model during

which he told her he was a car salesman from Ghana called Francois. It was only after a
which he told her he was a car salesman from Ghana called Francois. It was only after a

friend of the woman recognised him, and she took a photo of him peering out from behind
friend of the woman recognised him, and she took a photo of him peering out from behind

a shower curtain, that his ruse was uncovered. On the pitch, Toure was appointed City captain
a shower curtain, that his ruse was uncovered. On the pitch, Toure was appointed City captain

by manager Mark Hughes, and was a key part of their team as they established themselves
by manager Mark Hughes, and was a key part of their team as they established themselves

as a challenger for a Champions League place. Yet when Hughes left and Roberto Mancini took
as a challenger for a Champions League place. Yet when Hughes left and Roberto Mancini took

over, Toure became more marginalised, less of a first-team player.
over, Toure became more marginalised, less of a first-team player.

After a game against Manchester United in 2011, when Toure was an unused substitute,
After a game against Manchester United in 2011, when Toure was an unused substitute,

he was called for a random drug test. He failed it, blaming the result on some diet pills
he was called for a random drug test. He failed it, blaming the result on some diet pills

given to him by his wife. He was banned for six months, which stretched into the following
given to him by his wife. He was banned for six months, which stretched into the following

season and was at least part of the reason that he was only a bit-part player in the
season and was at least part of the reason that he was only a bit-part player in the

team that so dramatically won the league title. When Sergio Aguero scored that 94th minute
team that so dramatically won the league title. When Sergio Aguero scored that 94th minute

goal against QPR and everyone around him was losing their minds in celebration, Toure could
goal against QPR and everyone around him was losing their minds in celebration, Toure could

be seen shuffling around the touchline with his hands in his jacket pocket, a look of
be seen shuffling around the touchline with his hands in his jacket pocket, a look of

quiet satisfaction on his face. He remained a squad player in the following
quiet satisfaction on his face. He remained a squad player in the following

season, before moving to Liverpool on a free transfer. There he became something of a cult
season, before moving to Liverpool on a free transfer. There he became something of a cult

hero, not a first-team regular but popular nonetheless. In March 2015, he came on as
hero, not a first-team regular but popular nonetheless. In March 2015, he came on as

a substitute against Manchester City, making it the first ever time he had faced his brother
a substitute against Manchester City, making it the first ever time he had faced his brother

Yaya in a competitive game. Then in 2016 he made what would be the last
Yaya in a competitive game. Then in 2016 he made what would be the last

move of his career, spending a year at Celtic as they went unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership,
move of his career, spending a year at Celtic as they went unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership,

the second such season of his career. He announced his retirement this summer, and joined Celtic
the second such season of his career. He announced his retirement this summer, and joined Celtic

as a coach. “Even when he was a baby, we knew there
as a coach. “Even when he was a baby, we knew there

was something different about him,” said his brother, Yaya. Different, enthusiastic,
was something different about him,” said his brother, Yaya. Different, enthusiastic,

eccentric: maybe he was all of those things, which is part of what made him one of the
eccentric: maybe he was all of those things, which is part of what made him one of the

most endearing players
most endearing players

of the era...
of the era...