From sacked by Wigan to summit of top flight

IN early 2023, years of hard work for Kolo Toure appeared to have been shredded in months.

- By SIMON BAJKOWSKI

Having built up his coaching reputation as an assistant to Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and Leicester, the former Premier League star took a No.1 job in the Championship but was sacked after just nine games.

Between Boxing Day and January 2, Wigan Athletic lost 4-1 to three different opponents as what had been promoted as a blockbuster appointment of one of the most exciting new coaches backfired spectacularly.

Three years later, Toure will be sitting alongside Pep Guardiola looking at the Premier League summit in what has been a spectacular recovery.

After a year with the Under-18s helping Oliver Reiss in a year that saw City's academy side win 26 games in a row in all competitions, Toure moved up to the first team when Carlos Vicens departed to take charge at Braga. Guardiola told him to be himself, and the Ivorian has wasted no time in doing that as he has worked individually with players including Erling Haaland to share his expertise.