When Kolo Toure arrived at Celtic in 2016 it was well-acknowledged that he was coming towards the end of his career.
The Ivorian signed for the Bhoys from Liverpool at the age of 35 as Brendan Rodgers looked to bolster his new backline with an experienced professional he trusted implicitly.
He was initially a starter in Rodgers’ team, taking part in European qualifiers, a resounding 5-1 derby win over Rangers and a 3-3 draw away to former club Manchester City.
However, his contribution lessened as the season went on. He found himself on the bench before eventually retiring at the end of the Invincibles campaign and transitioning into a coaching role.
Toure has now revealed that this reduced role was due to his own realisation he was no longer able to compete in the way he’d like and that he was about to hang up his boots.
Selfless Kolo Toure opens up on retirement moment
The decorated defender says that the training performances of Dedyck Boyata made him understand that he had to step aside for the good of the Belgian and Celtic.
Toure told the High Performance podcast: “There was a game. We had a break after December and we came back. I had a conversation with Brendan and he asked if I would be able to play that game.
“We had a young player, Dedryck Boyata – he was doing very well at training that week before we started the second half of the season. I thought I had to make sure I didn’t play that game or I’d make the team lose. I wasn’t at my full potential.
“I said to the boss play that young player. As a human, you have to know your limitations. I realised at that moment, let this boy play. He’s doing very well in training, just give him this chance.
“Going back to Martin Keown – he supported me when I came to Arsenal. He never stopped me developing myself and I was thinking I don’t want to stop this young boy from developing.”
Kolo Toure’s Celtic spell was short but sweet
Toure only ended up playing 17 times for Celtic but he made quite an impression on supporters and squad mates.
He was a very popular personality and that helped him become an influential member of Rodgers’ coaching staff.
There’s undoubtedly a lasting mutual appreciation between Toure and the Bhoys, with the defender also not shy about sharing his admiration for the current manager.
Hopefully, he will end up back in a prominent coaching or management role soon, so we can see where the next phase of his career takes him.