Kolo Touré

Kolo Habib Touré (born March 19, 1981 in Sokoura Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire), is an Côte d'Ivoire Football (soccer) who plays for Arsenal F.C.. Touré has a great vertical leap and is one of the fastest players at his club (the other being Theo Walcott).

He is deployed by Arsène Wenger at Defender (football) Centre back, but is also more than capable of playing as a Defender (football) Fullback, as well as anywhere across the midfield. He is Arsenal F.C.'s longest serving current player.

Biography

Career in the Côte d'Ivoire

Kolo Touré was discovered in the Côte d'Ivoire and was a scholar at the Abidjan football school run by Jean-Marc Guillou. Touré established himself as a player for leading African club ASEC Mimosas. He earned his first full international cap (sport) for the Côte d'Ivoire at the age of 19 in 2000.

Career in Europe

Arsenal and Belgium club KSK Beveren had links through Guillou to Ivory Coast Football. 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 a British work permit. He was initially played as an attacking midfielder.

Touré did not make his debut for the first team until the next season, against Liverpool F.C] in the FA Community Shield August 2002. Initially regarded as a 'utility man', he started his Arsenal career as a midfielder as well as in defence. At the start of the 2003/04 season Wenger began using him as a central defender alongside Sol Campbell.

Touré quickly established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the FA Premier League. He is now a fixture in the Arsenal starting eleven, and a firm fans' favourite. He was a key member of the Arsenal team that won the Premiership title without a single defeat. In the 2005-06 in English football 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 F.C. 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. Toure is now widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world.

Kolo scored his second European goal on April 19, 2006, a vitally important winner in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Villarreal CF. It was the final European goal scored at The Arsenal Stadium 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.

In [50 August 2006] Touré signed a new four-year deal with Arsenal worth [round £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.”

Touré is seen by many as a future Arsenal F.C. Captain (football) and was the junior vice-captain in the 2006-07 season after Vice-captain (football) Gilberto Silva and former captain Thierry Henry. He captained Arsenal for the first time on January 9 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.
He was handed the No. 5 shirt for the 2006-07 season, which had been vacant since the departure of Martin Keown. He is currently the longest serving Arsenal player following the departures of Jeremie Aliadiere, Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg during the summer transfer window in 2007.

International career

He has played for the Côte d'Ivoire national football team since 2000. His debut was in April 2000 against Rwanda national football team. He is a first choice central defender. He played in all 5 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 Michel to the 2006 FIFA World Cup and made his first appearance in a World Cup on June 11, 2006 in Côte d'Ivoire's 1-2 loss to Argentina national football team.

Style of play

Touré is known for his pace and strength, which enables him to bustle weaker attackers off the ball and to keep up with pacy strikers. He also possesses great marking ability and most of his tackles are timed to perfection. His defensive abilities mean that he usually does not get carded as he commits few fouls.

His attacking instincts have enabled him to score a few goals. Occasionally, if he finds space, he will shoot from long-range, if he does go forward. He also likes to take long distance free-kicks and tries to surprise the goalkeeper by powerfully shooting at goal.

Family

Kolo has two brothers who play professional football as well: Yaya Touré and Ibrahim Touré. His brother Yaya is also an Ivory Coast International and recently signed for FC Barcelona which maintained the Toure's alliance with new FC Barcelona striker Thierry Henry. A devout practicing Muslim, Touré lives with his wife Awo, daughter Sania and son Yiassin in North London.

Arsenal career statistics

(- FA Cup, Football League Cup and FA Community Shield)

Honours

International

- African Cup of Nations: runner-up 2006

With Arsenal

- FA Premier League: 2003-04
- FA Cup: 2003, 2005
- FA Community Shield: 2002, 2004 runner-up : 2005
- Emirates Cup : 2007
- Amsterdam Tournament : 2005, 2007
- UEFA Champions League runner-up 2006
- Football League Cup runner-up 2007