Kolo Toure became City’s sixth signing of a busy summer when he arrived on a four-year contract on July 29, 2009 from Arsenal for a fee of £14million.The new skipper led by example in his first campaign, returning from his mid-season stint in the African Cup of Nations to reclaim his place and marshall a defence that only once shipped more than one goal after February.
Bizarrely for a man who has made his name as a high class central defender, Kolo began his football career as a winger and even when he first pitched up at Highbury - Where the Gunners played in 2002 - he was deployed in an attacking midfield role.
When he was finally switched to the heart of the back four, those ball playing skills swiftly came into their own and he quickly established himself as one of the best around in his position.
In seven years with Arsene Wenger’s side he clocked up 225 appearances, winning a Premier League title and two FA Cups. Until his move north he was the only surviving member of the Gunners ‘Invincibles’ who romped to the title.
He is also a defensive fixture for the Ivory Coast, helping them to a runners-up spot in the 2006 African Cup of Nations and leading them into the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. |
