Kolo Toure has taken his first job in management by taking charge of Championship club Wigan.
The Latics confirmed on Tuesday a three-and-a-half-year deal for the Ivorian, 41, as he departs the backroom coaching team at Leicester.
Former defender Toure made his name in English football with Arsenal, winning the Premier League in 2004 along with a pair of FA Cups. He later won the title again at Manchester City before stints with Liverpool and Celtic.
Joining Toure at the DW Stadium are ex-Arsenal academy manager Kevin Betsy, who recently left the manager’s position at Crawley, and Leicester youth coach Ashvir Johal.
Rob Kelly will be Toure’s assistant having served under previous Wigan manager Leam Richardson.
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.”
Wigan sit 22nd in the Championship and face Millwall away on December 10 when the league returns from the World Cup.
The move brings closer the possibility of Kolo Toure one day facing brother Yaya in the dugout, with the former midfielder currently a coach at Tottenham.
