10 facts about Kolo Toure
Liverpool today announced an agreement in principle to sign defender Kolo Toure – but how much do you know about the Ivorian? Brush up on your knowledge with our 10 facts about the centre-back.
1. Toure's trophy haul boasts 11 honours, including league titles at all three of his previous clubs - ASEC Mimosas, Arsenal and Manchester City. His other medals came from winning the FA Cup and Community Shield on three occasions each, along with lifting the CAF Super Cup at the age of 18.
2. Kolo is one of three brothers plying their trade in professional football, with his siblings Yaya and Ibrahim playing for Manchester City and Al-Nasr respectively. He had previously played alongside Yaya since the start of the 2010-11 campaign, when his sibling arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Barcelona.
3. Highlighting his leadership qualities, Toure has captained Arsenal, City and the Ivory Coast national team in his career. While accumulating 105 international caps, the defender has been a runner-up in the Africa Cup of Nations twice and has appeared in five matches at the World Cup. Toure has also found the net six times for his country.
4. Toure will become the first Ivorian to join Liverpool in the club's history and becomes the latest player from the African continent to represent the Reds. Moroccan winger Oussama Assaidi was the last African to sign for the club. Kolo is the eighth player Brendan Rodgers has brought to Anfield since being appointed manager in the summer of 2012.
5. Having played as a winger or a striker in the very early stages of his career, Toure reverted to a defensive midfield role before eventually being deployed as a defender. After initially being a utility player for Arsenal, the 32-year-old consolidated his position at the heart of their defence and has remained a centre-back ever since.
6. In a quirky twist of fate, Toure made his first-ever Arsenal appearance against Liverpool in the FA Community Shield in 2002 and also donned the Gunners' armband for the first time when facing the Reds in the League Cup five years later.
7. Toure will become the fifth player to swap Manchester City for Liverpool, following in the footsteps of Patrick Finnerhan, Matt Busby, Robbie Fowler and Craig Bellamy. The centre-back's free transfer means each of the last three deals have included no money changing hands. Eight players have travelled in the opposite direction, with the most recent being Nigel Clough in January 1996.
8. During his spells with former clubs, the Ivorian clashed with the Reds 21 times - he ran out victorious on 10 occasions, drawing seven times and losing just four matches. The defender found the net against Liverpool once, in a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in November 2006.
9. Kolo should not be short of conversation with Australian goalkeeper Brad Jones when he is introduced to the Liverpool squad - the pair share a birthday, March 19. The Ivorian is one year older than his new teammate, however - Toure was born in 1981, while Jones was born in 1982. The aforementioned Nigel Clough also celebrates his birthday on that date - he was born in 1966.
10. Brendan Rodgers will become Toure's fourth different club manager since arriving on English shores, and the fourth different nationality the Ivorian has worked under. Frenchman Arsene Wenger brought the defender to Arsenal, Welshman Mark Hughes signed him for Manchester City, where Italian Roberto Mancini took the reins shortly after. Now Toure will look forward to working with Northern Irishman Rodgers.
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