Kolo Toure: There is no reason why Celtic cannot match Arsenal and become Invincibles

Part of the fabled Arsenal ‘invincibles’ side of 2003, the defender has featured in Champions League and Europa League finals.

And he is one of just six players who can boast of winning the English Premier League with two different teams- in Toure’s case, he popped champagne corks in the colours of Arsenal and Manchester City.

Added to that he has played at three World Cups with the Ivory Coast as well as seven African Cup of Nations tournaments.

Read more: Kolo Toure cites Brendan Rodgers as key for his switch to Celtic: He is a top, top manager

And yet, there was a humility and a warmth about the 35-year-old as he was formally unveiled at Celtic Park yesterday.

Toure’s first remit will be to bring stability to what has been a notoriously soft centre in the Celtic backline. And although he has scaled heights and seen sights that few of his Parkhead colleagues will hope to, his ambitions remains acute.

And recreating the ‘invincibles’ at Celtic Park is something he was quick to look to.

Read more: Kolo Toure: Celtic players should look at how Brendan Rodgers turned Luis Suarez into one of the world's top players

“I can say that it was the pinnacle of my career,” he said “It was unbelievable. I got to the point where I was calling a friend of mine who played for another club and I asked him ‘How does it feel when you lose a game?’. I had forgotten how it felt!

“We were winning every game, it was something special. You don’t get that all the time, obviously, so it was really special.

“For me, it was a privilege to be part of that team. I thank God every day for that.

“Why not? Why not?” he continued, when quizzed on whether he could be part of a Celtic team who achieved something similar. “That would be a great achievement for the team and for myself as well - to do it in two countries.”

And yet, though, it is not exclusively on the pitch where Brendan Rodgers can expect to see Toure’s yield considerable influence. The defender has expressed a wish to pass on to the younger players at the club the kind of advice that he believes will play a part in them releasing their own potential.

Kieran Tierney, the SPFA Young Player of the Year last term, has been monitored by Toure’s former club, Arsenal, and has been tipped by both Rodgers and previous manager Ronny Deila to play at the top level. Toure will be a considerable dressing room mentor for players of that ilk to lean on.

“It is not easy for young players sometimes,” he said. “When they have the chance to speak to a guy who has had a long career it can help them to improve themselves and to try to avoid things that I done that I can tell them. They can avoid doing the same mistake.

I was doing that at Liverpool under Brendan, and even under Jurgen Klopp last season.

“Mr Klopp wanted to change the team and play his own style. With Brendan, everything was perfect for me. I gave everything for him on the pitch and at the same time I was able to speak to the younger players and advise them when I could.

“That’s why I’m here. Football is a great job but it’s not easy. So if you can help the young players, it is great.

“I had Martin Keown. I was in the team and he wasn’t playing, but he gave me advice all the time. I have kept that mentality ever since.

“It wasn’t about the competition for places between us, it was about helping each other achieve success together.

“I learned that from those guys - Martin, Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. I was part of that environment and that’s why we did so well. Together, we we strong and we helped each other to get better.”