Kolo Toure played for Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City in various European competitions but nothing he experienced playing for those top English sides prepared him for the atmosphere at a Champions League night under the lights at Celtic Park.
The Place that we call Paradise simply blew big Koule away! The European game that had the biggest impression on him over an illustrious paying career was the 2016 Champions League match at Paradise between Celtic and Manchester City which ended in a 3-3 draw, and the Ivory Coast defender was waxing lyrical about his amazing a night that was at Celtic Park.
🇨🇮 | Kolo Touré
“The atmosphere was unbelievable. I think the greatest I’ve ever experienced in my career was in Scotland at Celtic Park.” pic.twitter.com/NE07TjJvHm
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) April 3, 2021
Speaking to Four Four Two Magazine Toure said: “Celtic was a fantastic experience. It’s another club with a history of winning matches and winning trophies.
“Going there was a big challenge, because you have to win every game, but I enjoyed it. I remember drawing 3-3 with City in the Champions League. I was quite leggy and old, but we managed to get a terrific result.
“The atmosphere was unbelievable. I think the greatest I’ve ever experienced in my career was in Scotland at Celtic Park.”
Kolo moved over to the coaching staff at Celtic under Brendan Rodgers and was among the group of sudden departures who left the club after the former Celtic manager’s sudden departure mid-season to join Leicester City in February 2019. but despite the hasty exit and the inevitable fall-out that followed, Toure remains a big Hoops fan, but ultimately he is a committed member of the Rodgers coaching team and where the Irishman goes he is likely to follow.
“It’s like I said about relationships – at some point, one of you might want to move on, but the love is still there. We always respect fans and have a great consideration for them, but sometimes we have to leave for other things. We had an amazing experience and it was a privilege to work there.
“I do love Brendan! He doesn’t need to love me. He’s already shown how much he cares about me, though. I played for him at two clubs and now he’s taken me on as a Leicester coach – that shows me everything.
“But Brendan is a man who changed my life as well. Managers take you on because they trust you, and that’s all that matters for me.
“I’ll never forget what he has done and is doing for me every day, as he’s like my big brother. I’m now learning the other side of the game with him and his assistant, Chris Davies.
“It was always my intention to get into coaching, as I wanted to stay in football. What you learn in matches you can always pass on to the younger generation, and I felt my experience was the best thing I could give them.”
