Ray Parlour shared a memorable story about Kolo Toure’s trial at Arsenal, recalling how the defender left a lasting impression by aggressively tackling teammates and even the manager.
According to Parlour, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry were the first to feel the force of Toure’s two-footed tackles during training. As soon as they received the ball, Toure went in hard, prompting Arsene Wenger to intervene with a firm instruction: “No more tackling!”
However, during another play, Toure executed a perfect tackle, sending the ball airborne. As Wenger, who often positioned himself in the midfield to observe movement, stood nearby, the ball landed at his feet. Toure, with his eyes fixed on the ball, charged forward and unintentionally performed a two-footed tackle on Wenger himself.
“All you heard was ‘ahhhh,’” Parlour recounted on TalkSPORT. “The lads couldn’t believe it. He’d taken out Bergkamp, Henry, and now the manager during his trial.” Wenger had to limp off to the medical room with an injured ankle, leaving Toure devastated and near tears, fearing he’d blown his big opportunity.
Later that afternoon, Parlour visited Wenger, who sat with an ice pack on his ankle. Feeling sorry for Toure, Parlour tried to explain the incident wasn’t intentional. Wenger, though nursing a swollen ankle, admired Toure’s passion and determination, saying, “I like his desire. We’ll sign him tomorrow.”
True to his word, Wenger signed Toure for £150,000, confident he could channel that raw energy into something special. Toure went on to represent Arsenal for seven years, making over 200 appearances and forming a formidable partnership with Sol Campbell. He was a key figure in the legendary Invincibles squad of the 2003/04 season.
Today, Toure serves as Brendan Rodgers’ assistant at Leicester City, leaving behind a legacy of grit and determination that defined his Arsenal career.
Leave a Reply