Kolo Toure ‘riles a few up’ when speaking for the first time on becoming the new Wigan Athletic manager, replacing Leam Richardson.
The Latics, who sit in the Championship relegation zone, have appointed the former Arsenal, Manchester City, Celtic and Liverpool defender as their new manager on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Toure, 41, spent the past five years coaching at Celtic and Leicester City under Brendan Rodgers but this is his first role in management, and his first game in charge will be the trip to Millwall on the 10th of December.
đđŒ The new era begins…#wafc đ”âȘïž #BELIEVE pic.twitter.com/BmghKbvxNe
â Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) November 29, 2022
Kolo Toure said: “I would like to thank all of the fans, players and staff of Leicester City Football Club, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Susan Whelan, Jon Bodkin and of course Brendan Rodgers for making me feel so welcome for so many years.
“The experiences that I have amassed under Brendan Rodgers have been invaluable and I’m sure they will help me in this next chapter of my career.
“I am extremely proud to be named Manager of Wigan Athletic.
“Wigan Athletic is a big club with hugely passionate fans.
“Together, we can continue to make the right steps forward.
“I’m excited to work with this talented group of players and staff, and immensely look forward to my time ahead.”
WIGAN STATEMENT:
Wigan Athletic Football Club is delighted to confirm the appointment of Kolo TourĂ© as the Clubâs new First Team Manager.
TourĂ© arrives at the Club on a three and a half-year deal from Leicester City, where he was operating as First Team Coach as part of Brendan Rodgers’ coaching staff.
Having played under and learnt from elite managers throughout his career from the likes of ArsĂšne Wenger, Roberto Mancini, JĂŒrgen Klopp and Brendan Rodgers – as well as years of top flight, European and International coaching experience â TourĂ© will now focus on his own managerial career at First Team level.
Also arriving at Latics will be Kevin Betsy and Ashvir Johal, with both joining the backroom coaching staff at the Football Club that includes Rob Kelly – who has agreed to continue in his role as Assistant Manager.
All three will now fly out to Turkey to meet up with the First Team, who are currently on a mid-season training camp as Kolo, the second highest capped player in Ivory Coast history, will look to hit the ground running and implement his philosophy and ideas onto the first team environment.
Starting his career at Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas in 1999, the former central defender had an illustrious playing career with Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Celtic FC all on his footballing resume, as well as 120 caps for his native Ivory Coast.
TourĂ© made more than 500 senior appearances over a 15-year period, with an honours list that includes two Premier League titles – one as an Arsenal âInvincibleâ, two FA Cups, two Scottish Premiership titles, as well as success on the international stage with an African Cup of Nations back in 2015.
Betsy, a former professional footballer with over 400 senior appearances, has established himself in the world of coaching post-retirement.
Starting with Fulham, Betsy then progressed to a role within the England youth setup, operating as Head Coach at U15s, U16s, U17s and then U18s, before becoming the Head Coach of Arsenalâs U23s last season prior to his most recent role of manager at Crawley Town.
Ashvir joins Latics from Leicester City as an exciting, up and coming coach, having completed the Premier League Elite Coaching Scheme before starting his role at the Foxes.
Johal, along with Betsy, will join the Club as First Team Coach and will link up with Touré once again, having worked with him and Rodgers for a number of years at the King Power Stadium.
Wigan Athletic can confirm that James Beattie has left the Football Club with immediate effect, with the Board thanking James for being instrumental in the Clubâs promotion last season.
TourĂ©âs first game in charge of Wigan Athletic will be away at The Den, taking on Millwall on Saturday 10 December.
Commenting on Koloâs appointment, Chief Executive Malachy Brannigan said:
âWe are delighted that Kolo has become the new manager of Wigan Athletic Football Club, and the Board are pleased that he is the man to take us forward.
âWe received a high calibre of applicants for the managerâs job in recent weeks, in a very thorough recruitment process as we looked to appoint the right person for the role.
âFrom the earliest of conversations we had with Kolo, it was evident to us that he had instantly bought into the values of the Club – with his enthusiasm, knowledge and immense desire to work and be part of Wigan Athletic shining throughout the process.
âThere is no doubt that this appointment is an exciting one for the Football Club. Kolo is a manager who wants to play a positive brand of football and will strive every day to make the Club stronger.
âThe work starts immediately with the first team squad, as the season is just a couple of weeks away from restarting.
âAs a Board of Directors, we look forward to working closely with Kolo and his team as the work begins collectively to establish Wigan Athletic as a Championship Club.
âI am sure that all Latics supporters will get behind the appointment of Kolo TourĂ©, give their backing to the staff and the players, as the Football Club begins a new, exciting era – starting at Millwall on December 10th.â
Mike Minay of BBC Radio Manchester sport, said: “It’s an exciting appointment for Wigan but perhaps one that creates an edge of nervousness due to the element of the unknown.
“Kolo Toure clearly feels this is the right opportunity for him. After previously completing his coaching badges and spending the past five years as the right hand man for Brendan Rodgers he’s now decided this is the right time and right job for him.
“I believe his playing days under Arsene Wenger, Roberto Mancini and later working with Rodgers gives him a grounding for playing football in an attractive way – something that I also believe appealed to the Wigan board.
“But, as stated, there’s the unknown. Toure has never played or managed in the Championship and now needs to lift a group of players out of form and in the relegation zone of the division.”
Twitter users reacted as Kolo Toure ‘riles a few up’ when speaking for the first time on becoming new Wigan manager…
My Gaffer! This’ll rile a few up though đ pic.twitter.com/Yz4YnAPdjT
â đŽó §ó ąó „ó źó §ó żHugh WAFCđŽó §ó ąó „ó źó §ó ż (@WafcHugh) November 29, 2022
@JackRourke15: Kolos tricky tics
@priisek: Well said Kolo đ
@IanBalmer2: Welcome to the tics family Kolo đ
@RobertO04849490: Welcome aboard Gaffer. Up the Kolotics!
@WillJPatterson: In contrast to all the garbage we’ve had to handle around the World Cup, this is a big moment. Eight years ago, #wafc decided Malky MacKay was a good fit for the club. Today we sign (I think) the first African-born manager in English football. It can get better for everyone.
@emwafc_27:
âWigan Athletic is a big clubâ
Youâll do for me, gaffer đ
@WAFCRob: Uwe Rosler used to talk about us every interview like we were Manchester United, more of that please Kolo #wafc
@KaI_WAFC: I do find it hilarious that with Koloâs appointment, weâve suddenly got an influx of Arsenal, City and Liverpool fans whoâll be looking out for us and âsupporting usâ for the duration of his tenure. Not to mention plenty of Ivorians too. The TourĂ© effect #wafc
@Lt_wafc: Back the board, back the boys, back Kolo
@DannyLannon: We got Kolo, we got Kolo, Kolo Toure. (Lip up fatty)
@RadishBrain: Sorry to see @1jamesbeattie leave, many thanks for your coaching work with the likes of @callumlang19 and @TheloAasgaard§ etc and good luck with your next role in football. #wafc
@rimmimgton: Really happy with this appointment, he’s an excellent knowledge of the game, and has worked under quality managers. I think he is young and hungry and will create a very hard working team and one that is very hungry to do well.
@flatcapmon: Welcome to Wigan Kolo, brilliant that you are now driving the ‘Believe’ bus… Some expert knob on Talksport called the appointment ‘Autograph hunting’. Pin that up on dressing room wall!
@laticsfan1985: can we register kolo as a player too?? đ€đ€Ł #wafc
@victoriamscott:
The man who slide tackled Arsene Wenger on his trial.
The man who pretended to be a car salesman to have an affair.
The double invincible.
The myth. The legend.
I wish him all the best.
@willow1886: Fantastic news, good luck Kolo
@danjk49: Some appointment thatâŠ
@JamieHarmer: As announcement videos go, This is one of the worst
@JackkWhittle: What was the hold up? It defo wasnât the making of this video
@WAFCtabs: He has my full support, I hope he proves a lot of people wrong – myself included – that sacking Leam for a managerial unknown is a poor choice. Stroke of genius or another Warren Joyce car crash. No inbetween with us. Letâs get behind him and see where it takes us
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