Wigan Athletic appoint former Man City defender Kolo Toure as manager

Wigan Athletic have appointed former Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool defender Kolo Toure as their new manager on a three-and-a-half year deal.

Toure had been working as a first-team coach for Leicester City since February 2019 prior to the announcement. The 41-year-old held talks with Latics earlier in November, with the club now confirming his move to the DW Stadium.

Leam Richardson, Wigan's former manager, was sacked by the Championship side on November 10 following a winless run spanning eight games. The 43-year-old's dismissal came just two weeks after he had signed a new three-year contract with the club.

Toure will get his first taste of managerial action on December 10 when Wigan travel to sixth-placed Millwall.

In a statement released by the club, Wigan's Chief Executive Malachy Brannigan said: “We are delighted that Kolo has become the new manager of Wigan Athletic Football Club, and the Board are pleased that he is the man to take us forward. We received a high calibre of applicants for the manager’s job in recent weeks, in a very thorough recruitment process as we looked to appoint the right person for the role.

“From the earliest of conversations we had with Kolo, it was evident to us that he had instantly bought into the values of the Club - with his enthusiasm, knowledge and immense desire to work and be part of Wigan Athletic shining throughout the process. There is no doubt that this appointment is an exciting one for the Football Club. Kolo is a manager who wants to play a positive brand of football and will strive every day to make the Club stronger.

“The work starts immediately with the first team squad, as the season is just a couple of weeks away from restarting. As a Board of Directors, we look forward to working closely with Kolo and his team as the work begins collectively to establish Wigan Athletic as a Championship Club.

“I am sure that all Latics supporters will get behind the appointment of Kolo Touré, give their backing to the staff and the players, as the Football Club begins a new, exciting era - starting at Millwall on December 10th.”