KOLO: I’LL BE A TOURE DE FORCE FOR CELTIC
New Bhoy Kolo aims to repeat Arsenal feat and go whole season undefeated
KOLO TOURE has the medals to show that he talks as well as he plays.
Part of the fabled Arsenal ‘invincibles’ side of 2003/04, the defender has featured in Champions League and Europa League finals.
And he is one of just six players who can boast of winning the English Premier League with two different teams – in Toure’s case with Arsenal and Manchester City.
He has also played at three World Cups with the Ivory Coast as well as seven African Cup of Nations tournaments.
And yet, there was ahumility and awarmth about the 35-yearold as he was formally unveiled at Celtic Park yesterday.
Toure’s first remit will be to bring stability to what has been anotoriously soft centre in the Celtic backline. And although he has scaled heights and seen sights that few of his Parkhead colleagues will hope to, his ambitions remains acute.
And recreating the ‘invincibles’ at Celtic Park is something he was quick to look to.
“I can say that it was the pinnacle of my career,” he said “It was unbelievable.
“I got to the point where I was calling a friend of mine who played for another club and I asked him ‘How does it feel when you lose agame?’. I had forgotten how it felt!
“We were winning every game, it was something special.
“You don’t get that all the time, obviously, so it was really special. For me, it was aprivilege to be part of that team.
“Why not? Why not?” he continued, when quizzed on whether he could be part of aCeltic team who achieved something similar. “That would be agreat achievement for the team and for myself as well–to do it in two countries.”
And yet, though, it is not exclusively on the pitch where Brendan Rodgers can expect to see Toure’s yield considerable influence. The defender has expressed awish to pass on to the younger players at the club the kind of advice that he believes will play apart in them releasing their own potential.
Kieran Tierney, the SPFA Young Player of the Year last term, has been monitored by Toure’s former club, Arsenal, and has been tipped by both Rodgers and previous manager Ronny Deilato play at the top level. Toure will be a considerable dressing room mentor for players of that ilk to lean on.
“It is not easy for young players sometimes,” he said. “When they have the chance to speak to aguy who has had a long career it can help them to improve themselves and to try to avoid things that I done that I can tell them. They can avoid doing the same mistake.
“I was doing that at Liverpool under Brendan, and even under Jurgen Klopp last season.
“Mr Klopp wanted to change the team and play his own style.
“With Brendan, everything was perfect for me. I gave everything for him on the pitch and at the same time I was able to speak to the younger players and advise them when I could.
“I had Martin Keown. I was in the team and he wasn’t playing, but he gave me advice all the time. I have kept that mentality ever since.
“I learned that from those guys – Martin, Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. I was par t of that environment and that’s why we did so well. Together, we were strong and we helped each other to get better.”