Former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool defender had been working as first-team coach at Leicester since February 2019; Wigan had been searching for a new boss since sacking Leam Richardson on November 10; the Latics sit third from bottom in Championship
Tuesday 29 November 2022 09:41, UK
Wigan have appointed Kolo Toure as their new manager on a three-and-a-half year deal.
The Ivorian, 41, who had been working as first-team coach at Leicester since February 2019, held talks with the Championship side earlier this month and has now completed his move to the DW Stadium.
Toure worked under the likes of Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp and Roberto Mancini during a playing career that saw him represent Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, but he has no previous management experience.
The 118-cap Ivory Coast international will be joined by Kevin Betsy and Ashvir Johal at Wigan, while Rob Kelly will be his assistant. James Beattie has left the club.
Toure will now travel to Turkey to join his new players, where they are undergoing a mid-season training camp before resuming their Championship campaign at Millwall on Saturday December 10.
Wigan had been searching for a new boss since sacking Leam Richardson on November 10, just a fortnight after they handed him a new three-year deal, following an eight-game winless run.
After selecting Toure as his successor, Wigan chief executive Malachy Brannigan said: "We are delighted that Kolo has become the new manager of Wigan Athletic 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 Toure, give their backing to the staff and the players, as the football club begins a new, exciting era."
Wigan currently lie third-from-bottom in the Championship but are only inside the relegation zone on goal difference.
Millwall (A) - December 10, 3pm
Sheffield United (H) - December 19, 8pm - Live on Sky Sports
Middlesbrough (A) - December 26, 3pm
Sunderland (H) - December 29, 7.45pm
Hull (H) - January 2, 3pm
