Toure thrilled to join coaching set-up

KOLO TOURE claims he ‘couldn’t be happier’ after joining the Celtic coaching staff as a technical assistant. The 36-year-old made 17 appearances for the club last season, but has now formally retired from playing to concentrate on coaching. Toure had taken up a coaching role with the Ivory Coast national set-up in the summer and has been doing some work with Brendan Rodgers and his backroom staff in recent weeks. ‘I couldn’t be happier to be back at this great club,’ said the former Arsenal and Liverpool defender. ‘This is a new chapter in my career, a new beginning. The football is over now. I can officially say I am retired from playing and now I am fully concentrating on coaching. ‘For me, there is no big change in terms of what I will be doing. I have always been the kind of player who tries to help those around me. ‘Now I will try to give advice, help the young players and just guide them and pass on all the experience I have acquired during my career.’ Toure had been given some coaching experience in the second half of last season and is thirsty for more knowledge. ‘I can learn so much from working with Brendan Rodgers, he is a top manager,’ he said. ‘I will be working with him and his staff very closely each day. ‘He is one of the best young managers in the world right now. What he’s doing for Celtic is there for all to see, he’s doing amazingly right now.’ Rodgers added: ‘This is great news for Celtic that we are able to bring a man of Kolo’s experience into our coaching team. In everything he does, he is quite simply a fantastic example to anyone.’