Topic: Uncle Kolo

[Funky_Gibbons]

Makes me laugh out loud every time I see that.

Good luck and God bless Kolo! You're welcome back anytime. Hopefully one day you'll return to work for the club.

Love the fact he doesn't even look at him or help him back up!!   

[Geppvindh's]

Kolo Toure's Liverpool exit will be confirmed today.

The Ivorian defender's contract at Anfield expires at the end of the month, and he has not been offered a new one.

Toure's name will be on the list of released players submitted by Liverpool to the Premier League, which will be published this afternoon.

The 35-year-old made 71 appearances for the Reds after joining on a free transfer from Manchester City in 2013, including 25 last season. His final outing for the club was the Europa League final in Basel last month.

The former Arsenal and Manchester City man stated after that game that he was still unsure of his future, but reiterated his desire to stay at the club.

“Of course I want to stay,” he said. “It's a great club to play in, but the manager has his plan and any decision I will respect. He is a top manager and he knows what he is doing."

Jurgen Klopp has already signed a centre back, Joel Matip, this summer and with teenager Joe Gomez to return to training for pre-season, and no European football to fill out the fixture list, the decision has been taken to let Toure, an influential and popular dressing-room figure, leave the club.

Liverpool considered offering Toure a coaching role with the club, but the player is keen to prolong his playing career and is now set to consider his options. Monaco have expressed an interest according to reports in France.

Other players set to feature on the released list later include Jose Enrique, Jerome Sinclair and Jordan Rossiter, all of whom have already left Anfield. Joao Carlos Teixeira is understood to have been offered a contract, but is expected to leave in search of regular first-team football.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-release-kolo-toure-today-11453530

Good luck to Kolo and the others

[DonkeyWan]

Kolo Toure, man was I ever dubious when he signed. Was i ever proved wrong, I now have a lot of love for true professional and a good guy to boot. His last match for Liverpool? A superb Europa League Final performance while the rest of the team was losing its mind. He will be missed.

[Red_Rich]

Last of a generation of players who aren't just money and ego orientated (you listening Raheem)

We'll miss you :-(

[Ray K]

All the best Kolo.  Never gave less than 200% and even when his legs were gone he still proved in Basel to have a better footballing brain than the rest of the back 5 combined.


My favourite Kolo memory has to be from the Fulham away game the title-chasing season, when he was picked as an experienced centre back presumably to settle everything down, and then played with the calmness of a kid with ADHD in a toystore at Xmas who had been given an endless supply of sugar.

It wasn't my favourite Kolo display at the time    but nothing in that season made any sense at all, and it was after that game that I gave into the madness and embraced the dream, even if it meant the heartache to come would be harder.   

Knocking the referee over made perfect sense in that context.

[Red-Soldier]

All the best Kolo.  Never gave less than 200% and even when his legs were gone he still proved in Basel to have a better footballing brain than the rest of the back 5 combined.


My favourite Kolo memory has to be from the Fulham away game the title-chasing season, when he was picked as an experienced centre back presumably to settle everything down, and then played with the calmness of a kid with ADHD in a toystore at Xmas who had been given an endless supply of sugar.

It wasn't my favourite Kolo display at the time    but nothing in that season made any sense at all, and it was after that game that I gave into the madness and embraced the dream, even if it meant the heartache to come would be harder.   

Knocking the referee over made perfect sense in that context.

I love that clip!

He thought he'd been transported into a game of bulldog for a minute.

He was our best player during his last game for us, great way to say goodbye, shame the result was shite.

I was really pleased when we signed him and he's been what I thought he would be.  He goes out on a high after a very good season.

Cheers Kolo, all the best 

[Zoomers]

What a man. Always put his body on the line whenever needed. Thank you Kolo.

It honestly would've been great to have him stay with us as a coach. Best of luck to him!

[plura]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/ZV6XURiLIt4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/ZV6XURiLIt4</a>

Will miss him!

[PIPA23]

hope he returns back as a coach..

[RyanBabel19]

He's been brilliant, sad to see him go, seemed like a great person to have around the club.

Put in some outstanding performances for us in his time here, good luck to him at his next club

It's funny some tried to claim we had no 'winners' in our squad with players like Toure and Milner at the club

[Kenny19]

Thanks kolo for the passion, hope to see him back one day at lfc   coaching role or something

[cissesbeard]

good luck kolo,
brilliant professional and great attitude.
gave his all whenever asked.
its weird how some players come to mean so much to you, even if they weren't particularly talented (not saying kolo wasn't quality player) or successful - effort and attitude goes a long way with fans

[KurtVerbose]

It's impressive that someone signed as a backup, and only with us for three seasons has made such a big impression.

Great guy, and in his day a great footballer.

It makes footballing sense, but still sad to part company.

Best of luck Kolo!

[Crimson_Tank]

Best of luck Kolo.

Who is going to sell the lads decent used cars now?

[DivisiveNewSigning]

I've always liked Kolo, always seemed like a thoroughly good and down to earth bloke. Quite rare traits for a modern footballer.

Yes, he's not the player he was but he's certainly still got an outstanding footballing brain.

As some have mentioned already, what an excellent last performance for us and will always be remembered for keeping his head when others lost theirs. Would be more than happy to see him come back into a coaching role for us.

[lgvkarlos]

Would have been great on the coaching staff, probably not quite ready for that. Has an infectious personality, wish him all the best in the future.

[xbugawugax]

hope he returns back as a coach..

defensive or attacking?

hope he loved his time here. pure ol defender. makes defending looks easy.

[Keith Lard]

Aww gonna miss the big fella! He was loved.

Bit surprised actually seeing as he was a rock for us last year. But club must have decided he doesn't have it in him to deliver another season like that. Shame. Excellent player.

[LFCEmpire]

All the best Kolo, cult legend leaving the club! 

[Alf Garnett!]

Best wishes & thankyou Kolo!

[Kopenhagen]

Thank you Kolo!

He was really quite excellent this season, his best at the Club.

[Chakan]

Noooooooo!!

So sad, Legend really for the club, not Steven Gerrard type Legend but a Legend nonetheless.

Will be sad to see him depart.

[Les Willis]

Shame he's going. He probably had another season in him, so you'd think they could have offered him one year. Maybe he didn't want that.

I wish him well, wherever he goes. He saved us a few times this season.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Can't blame him for turning down a coaching role if that is indeed the case.

The guy is clearly still good enough to be a Premiership level defender.

Hell, at a club that plays the way Leicester do he would do brilliantly and maybe he would even win the league again.

[Gnurglan]

Not surprised if he's off. He did a really good job and was a real professional for us. It's just that Matip, Lovren and Sakho will be our main men next season. Plus we have Gomez and if the choice is between Gomez and Toure, we should go with the more long term option.

Hope Toure gets to play on at PL level, because he's good enough to do so.

[PeterTheRed ...]

Not surprised if he's off. He did a really good job and was a real professional for us. It's just that Matip, Lovren and Sakho will be our main men next season. Plus we have Gomez and if the choice is between Gomez and Toure, we should go with the more long term option.

Hope Toure gets to play on at PL level, because he's good enough to do so.

Latest reports suggest that AS Monaco are interested in signing him. He should be a good partner for the 38-year-old Carvalho who is still doing well there. Spending the twilight years of a great career in Monte Carlo is not a bad scenario, and Kolo certainly deserves it.

[Butcher Knife Roberto]

You'd think that with the fiasco of not having any defenders during the winter, and having to go to QPR for an emergency loan for Steven Caulker, that the club would have learned its lesson. I know I'll get shot down for saying this, but they've dropped the ball on this one. Unless, of course, Kolo just couldn't bear the thought of not playing regularly and is sussing out his options for elsewhere. In which case I entirely respect his decision.

I often don't get the whole cult of personality thing for a player, but for Kolo I'll make an exception. The story about him taking out Arsene Wenger with a tackle during his trial at Arsenal still makes me giggle. Committed, talented, professional. One man doesn't make the team but he'll leave big shoes to fill in the dressing room. A sad day.

[Millie]

Such a shame he has to go 

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

You'd think that with the fiasco of not having any defenders during the winter, and having to go to QPR for an emergency loan for Steven Caulker, that the club would have learned its lesson.

Strange post.

1. Kolo was on a lot of money. You cannot keep someone on a big contract just in case we have an injury crisis.

2. We played a lot more matches last season than we will next season.

3. Caulker wasn't actually needed. Other than a couple of late substitute appearances and a cup start, he didn't feature.

3. Who knows, maybe we will sign another defender.

[Zoomers]

Love the fact he doesn't even look at him or help him back up!!   

No time for that, Kolo has to get back in position. 

[bird_lfc]

Awful shame to see him go, actually. Stuck around here for a lot longer than I thought he would as well!

A nice move abroad to the MLS for one last big pay day and some time in the sun. Maybe  he'll link up with Stevie at LA Galaxy?

[jdegner]

Proper player, despite his age gave his all. An example for the younger generation.

[Desert Red Fox]

Best of luck Uncle Kolo! Had quite a good season, all things considered - and even in the twilight years of his career, he gave his all for the shirt. Hope he comes back as a coach in the future

Gonna miss that infectious smile though

[Ycuzz]

Kolo Toure, man was I ever dubious when he signed. Was i ever proved wrong, I now have a lot of love for true professional and a good guy to boot. His last match for Liverpool? A superb Europa League Final performance while the rest of the team was losing its mind. He will be missed.

My thoughts too. Was very sceptical to this signing. Proved me - and others, way wrong. Thanks Kolo and good luck.

[PhilV]

Thank You, Kolo!


Glad he wore our shirt, the guy is pure class and very professional. Would not mind seeing him in a staff capacity to be honest!

[Rush 82]

Going to miss him.

Kolo was great.

Good luck Uncle Kolo

[rafathegaffa83]

Thanks and good luck

[il_principino]

Not only a model professional, but a passionate player. The boys will miss him in the dressing room.

I remember the way he carried a sobbing suarez after the palace debacle. Plus his off the pitch charity for ivory coast.

Fantastic guy overall. Thanks and Good luck Kolo! 

[MrEazi1]

Will miss the "calm down" gestures to his teammates after blamming a wild clearance into the stands...

And the mad mazy run on debut vs Stoke.

[sms1986]

A big shame that he's gone, but good luck to him in the future.