Ivorian · Bouaké, Ivory Coast · Born 19 March 1981Fearless Ivorian defender who was a key figure in Arsenal's 'Invincibles' season and later won the Premier League with Manchester City.
Kolo Abib Touré was born on 19 March 1981 in Bouaké, Ivory Coast, the eldest of the Touré football brothers — younger siblings Yaya and Ibrahim both also became professional footballers, with Ibrahim tragically dying of cancer in 2014 at just 28. Their father, Mory, was an army officer, and their mother, Fanta, a small-scale trader, raising a household in which football became a unifying passion. Kolo joined ASEC Mimosas' academy before Arsenal signed him in 2002, and he became a key part of the club's famous "Invincibles" side that went unbeaten through the entire 2003-04 Premier League season. He spent seven seasons at Arsenal before moving to Manchester City in 2009, where his younger brother Yaya joined him a year later, making them one of the few sibling pairs to play together in the Premier League. Touré helped Manchester City win their first league title in 44 years in 2012, becoming one of only ten players to have won the Premier League with two different clubs. He later played for Liverpool and Celtic, winning a domestic treble in Scotland, before retiring in 2017 as the African player with the most Premier League appearances in history, with 353. Touré earned 120 caps for Ivory Coast, representing his country at three World Cups and seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, finally winning the trophy in 2015 after two runner-up finishes. He moved into coaching after retiring, serving as an assistant at Leicester City and Wigan Athletic before returning to Manchester City in an assistant coaching role.
Being part of Arsenal's unbeaten Invincibles season
He is one of only a handful of players to have won league titles in three different countries — England, Scotland and Ivory Coast.
Did You Know?How They Played
Calm, composed centre-back with good pace and reading of the game
Lasting Impact
Respected defender who captained Ivory Coast and was a key figure in Arsenal's golden era
Career Honours
- Premier League 2x
- FA Cup 2x
- Invincibles 2004
- AFCON 2015
- Scottish Premiership 2017
- Premier League 2004
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASEC Mimosas | 1999–2002 | — | — |
| Arsenal | 2002–2009 | 225 | 9 |
| Manchester City | 2009–2013 | 82 | 2 |
| Liverpool | 2013–2016 | 46 | 1 |
| Celtic | 2016–2017 | 9 | 0 |
 Ivory Coast | — | 120 | 4 |
Ivorian Athletes