Kolo Toure Biography
Kolo Abib Touré (born March 19, 1981 in Sokoura Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire), is an Ivorian footballer. He currently plays for Arsenal in England. Kolo Touré is 1.83m tall and weighs 76kg and has an impressive vertical leap, making him strong in the air.He is deployed by Arsène Wenger at centre-back, but is also capable of playing as a full-back or a right sided midfielder, as well as a defensive midfielder.
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 seen as cover for Arsenal's right back Lauren.
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. However, since the ageing Martin Keown was never properly replaced in the transfer market, Wenger increasingly utilised him as a central defender alongside Sol Campbell.
Touré quickly established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premiership. He is now a fixture in the Arsenal starting eleven. He was a key member of the Arsenal team that won the premiership title without a single defeat. 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 labelling him the 'African Fabio Cannavaro'.
Kolo scored his second European goal on April 19, 2006, a vitally important winner in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Villarreal. It was the final European goal scored at Highbury; and the goal that effectively decided the tie (the score remained 1-0 over two legs), to send Arsenal through to their first ever Champions League Final in Paris.