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Kolo Touré

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Kolo Touré
Personal information
Full name Kolo Habib Touré
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 5
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:00, 13 July 2006 (UTC)
Touré with a young fan

Kolo Habib Touré (born 19 March 1981 in Bouake), is an Ivorian footballer who currently plays for English Premier League club Arsenal F.C. and the Ivorian national team. Touré is renowned for his pace, strength and athleticism. He is the older brother of FC Barcelona midfielder Yaya Touré and Al-Ittihad striker Ibrahim Touré. He is primarily deployed by Arsène Wenger as a central defender, but has played in midfield.

Club career

Arsenal

Arsenal and Belgium club KSK Beveren had links through Guillou to Ivory Coast football. At his previous club, Touré played as a right midfielder or winger but after his move to Arsenal, he was played primarily as a centre back. It was through these links that Arsenal became aware of Touré's talent. After a short trial, Touré joined Arsenal in February 2002 from ASEC Mimosas for £150,000. His status as a full international meant Touré was able to secure an English work permit. He was initially played as an attacking midfielder.

2002–03 season

Touré did not make his debut for the first team until the next season, against Liverpool in the FA Community Shield in August 2002. Initially regarded as a utility player, he started his Arsenal career as a midfielder as well as in right back. He scored his first Arsenal goal at Stamford Bridge in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea. Arsenal failed to retain the Premiership crown that season, but Touré made a big step in his career nonetheless, winning the FA Cup.

2003–04 season

At the start of the 2003–04 season, Wenger began using Touré as a central defender alongside Sol Campbell. He formed a terrific partnership with Campbell, and had a great season when Arsenal went undefeated for the entire season. He, having previously been a striker or attacking midfielder, made a reputation for himself as being an attacking defender, although he only scored one goal and had one assist; he was very enthusiastic with his runs forward and from set-pieces.

2004–05 season

Touré was in and out of the Arsenal team during the 2004-05 season, battling for a first team place with the likes of Phillipe Senderos and Pascal Cygan to play alongside Sol Campbell in defence. Touré ended the season with a FA Cup winners medal playing 50 times for Arsenal that season and scoring one goal. His only goal of the 2004-05 season came in the 90th minute of Arsenal's Champions League last sixteen round tie against Bayern Munich of Germany. Arsenal lost the game 3-1.

2005–06 season

Touré quickly established himself as one of the best centre backs in the Premier League. He is established as a permanent fixture in the Arsenal starting XI, and a firm fan favourite. In the 2005–06 season, he established a formidable defensive partnership with Philippe Senderos. Both centre backs had immaculate form towards the end of the season, helping the Arsenal team reach the 2006 Champions League Final after keeping 10 consecutive clean sheets (a European competition record). After his imperious displays in the Champions League, his stock rose dramatically, he was now regarded as one of the finest in the world in his position. The Italian press even went as far as labeling him the "African Fabio Cannavaro" after Arsenal knocked Juventus out of the competition. Touré became widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world after the UEFA Champions League run in 2006.

Touré scored his second European goal on 19 April 2006, a vitally important winner in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Villarreal CF. It was the final European goal scored at Highbury and the goal that effectively decided the tie (Arsenal won 1–0 on aggregate), to send Arsenal through to their first ever Champions League Final in Paris, France.

2006–07 season

Touré was handed the No.5 shirt for the 2006–07 season, which had been vacant since the departure of Martin Keown. In August 2006, Touré signed a new four-year deal with Arsenal worth around £70,000 a week. "I can see myself staying here [at Arsenal] for the rest of my career," said Touré. "Why would I want to leave? I love my football here, my family is settled here, and the club is ambitious. It is fantastic." Despite the fact that Arsenal had a disappointing League campaign, Touré was his consistent self, and earned himself third place in the Arsenal Player of the season behind Gilberto Silva and Cesc Fàbregas.

2007–08 season

Touré captaining Arsenal during a match in the 2007–08 season

Touré was the junior vice-captain in the 2006–07 season after former vice-captain Gilberto Silva and former captain Thierry Henry. He captained Arsenal for the first time on 9 January 2007 during a 6–3 victory over Liverpool in the Carling Cup. He also led the Gunners out for the final of this competition, having also captained them in the semi-final first leg against Tottenham Hotspur. He became the longest-serving member of the current Arsenal squad following the departures of Jeremie Aliadiere, Thierry Henry, and Freddie Ljungberg during the summer transfer window in 2007. He also captained Arsenal in a string of games early in the 2007–08 season after captain William Gallas was injured in the game against Blackburn Rovers. He has been having another great campaign in 2007–08, forming a very effective partnership with fellow defender William Gallas. He scored a free kick in a match against Bolton Wanderers, where his shot was low and went under two Bolton players and beat Jussi Jääskeläinen. However, during the Africa Cup of Nations, he suffered an injury and looked a bit out of place when he returned, and then injured himself again in the UEFA Champions League against AC Milan when he blocked Alexandre Pato's shot with his leg, and was carried off the pitch after treatment. Touré returned to the starting lineup against Middlesbrough on 15 March and scored the equalising goal for Arsenal in the final 10 minutes. In the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, he was pushed into the unfamiliar right back position where Arsenal were drawing 2-2 with Liverpool. But, in the 86th minute, Touré was judged to have pushed Ryan Babel in the box to give them a penalty. Arsène Wenger, however, defended Touré, saying that the referee made a wrong decision. Steven Gerrard took the penalty and scored. The score ended 4-2 to Liverpool with an injury time goal from Babel.

2008–09 season

On 1 January 2009, Touré demanded a move away from Arsenal after a reputed bust-up with defensive partner William Gallas. He reportedly handed in a transfer request which was later turned down by Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood.[1] However, Touré temporarily reversed his decision and committed to the Gunners at least until the summer.[2]

2009-10 season

After much transfer speculation, Sky Sports announced that Manchester City were close to agreeing a fee in the region of £16 million for the signature of Touré on 28 July 2009. It was also reported that he was to leave Arsenal's Austria-based training camp in order to speak to City boss Mark Hughes.[3]

International career

Touré has played for Côte d'Ivoire since 2000. His debut was in April 2000 against Rwanda. He is a first choice central defender. He played in all five games for the Côte d'Ivoire as they finished runners up to the hosts in the African Cup of Nations in Egypt in January 2006.

He was named in the 23-man squad taken by coach Henri Michell to the 2006 FIFA World Cup and made his first appearance in a World Cup on 11 June 2006 in Côte d'Ivoire's 1–2 loss to Argentina.

Style of play

Touré is known for his pace and power, which enables him to force weaker attackers off the ball and to keep up with pacy strikers. He possesses good marking ability and most of his tackles are well timed which has contributed to his relatively good disciplinary record. Although relatively short for a centre-back, he makes up for it with an impressive vertical leap.

His attacking instincts have enabled him to score a few goals. At times, if he finds space, he will shoot from long range, if he does go forward. He also takes long range free kicks occasionally.

Touré has recently contributed to the team in a more attacking form. This was shown as he picked out Emmanuel Adebayor with a great ball against Reading on 19 April 2008, who then promptly opened the scoring after some great control. He followed up the feat with another good 35-yard long ball over the top against Derby County on 27 April 2008, which Robin van Persie converted for the second goal of the match.

Arsenal career statistics

(Correct as of 25 May 2009)
Club Season League Cup* Europe Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Arsenal 2002–03 26 2 1 7 0 0 7 0 0 40 2 1
2003–04 37 1 1 8 2 0 10 0 0 55 3 1
2004–05 35 0 0 7 0 0 8 1 0 50 1 0
2005–06 33 0 0 1 0 0 12 1 1 46 1 1
2006–07 35 3 3 8 1 1 10 0 0 53 4 4
2007–08 30 2 3 2 0 1 9 0 0 41 2 4
2008–09 29 1 1 3 0 0 9 0 0 41 1 1
Total 225 9 9 36 3 2 65 2 1 326 14 12

(* FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield)

International career statistics

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
October 8, 2006 Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire  Gabon 5–0 Won 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

Mimosas

Arsenal

Winner

Runner-up

International

Runner-up

References

  1. ^ Toure to leave in January 2009? Retrieved on January 1 2009
  2. ^ http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=628244&sec=england&cc=4716
  3. ^ http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5457641,00.html
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