KOLO NOT READY TO HANG UP BOOTS YET
KOLO TOURE has insisted that he is still fighting for his place at Celtic – despite also looking to learn the coaching side of things from one of the “best managers in the world”.
The 35-year-old Ivorian was a mainstay in the opening months of the season as Celtic navigated their way through the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
However, he has since slipped out of the fray with Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko holding court for the last few months, while Dedryck Boyata
has also re-emerged into the reckoning.
Toure is moving into the coaching side of things with Brendan Rodgers looking to utilise his vast experience in a player-coaching role but the former Arsenal defender has maintained he is still on the hunt for game time.
“I am still fighting for a place,” Toure told the Celtic View. “I still feel very good and for me to keep playing is very important.
“In my mind I am still a player, mentally, but, of course, I have the opportunity to learn from who is, for me, one of the best managers in the world.
“Brendan Rodgers is a great manager and a great guy to learn from.”
Transferring from playing to coaching isn’t a new ambition. The player has revealed that the long-term plan was always to venture into the dug-out with his natural leadership qualities standing out even when young.
“Since I started my career, at any club I’ve been at, the managers have all said ‘Kolo, you are going to be a manager one day!’.
“When I go home I only watch football channels. I have about 200 channels but I only watch games. When I wake up, first thing I want to know is what game is going to be on.
“I have my ‘B’ licence and I’m looking forward to doing my ‘A’ licence. I started the ‘B’ licence when I was at Liverpool. My thinking right now is to keep learning as a coach, but, of course, I still want to play.”
Toure’s name repeatedly comes to the fore in interviews with younger Celtic players who cite his influence. And the mentoring role is one which Toure takes great pride in.
“When I was younger I had Martin Keown at Arsenal and I took his place, but he was the one who was always supporting me,” said Toure.
“So I am just doing what I learned from these guys and that’s normal for me to help young players coming through. They are the future so we have to help them.”