When a player of Jamie Carragher’s calibre leaves your football club, you face an uphill task to try and find someone who can fill that void.
In the summer of 2013, Liverpool were faced with that very job. After spending 16 years in the first-team at Anfield, Carragher called time on his playing career.
Brendan Rodgers, after just one year in the dugout, would need to go into the transfer market to try and find a replacement, if it was even possible, for the Bootle-born defender. Rodgers searched until he found his answer, and his selection went on to become a cult hero at Anfield.
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On this day in 2013, Liverpool completed the signing of Kolo Toure. The Ivory Coast centre-back had just left Manchester City as a free agent, and was now at his third club in England.
Toure was part of the famous Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ and won league titles with both the Gunners and Man City. Liverpool fans knew what they were getting from the defender, and his words after signing showed how one of the most recognised centre-backs in England thought highly of the Reds.
"This means a lot to me,” said Toure, when he signed for Liverpool. “Firstly, I'm joining one of the best clubs in England.
"When I left City it was important for me to stay in England because it's the best league - and to join Liverpool is massive for me.
"I chose Liverpool because of the history and because of the spirit of the team and the people here."
Toure’s debut would come on the opening day of the 2013/14 season, which saw Liverpool win 1-0 against Stoke City. Rodgers was certainly impressed with his new signing.
The centre-back went up against former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch that day. His performance made a lasting impression on Rodgers, as did his antics in training.
“He is a good man,” said Rodgers in August 2013. “He is funny to watch sometimes when he is running about, he has always got a smile on his face.
“One thing he has got is a winning mentality. He has got great belief in what we are doing here.
“His first leap against Peter Crouch just shows you the fitness and power he still has.
“When he goes up for corners he looks like he can score. I think we have got a player who is very hungry still to do well.
“He respects everything about this great club, it is a huge privilege for him to be here. He is here to perform and do well.
“He is certainly a character and offers great leadership on the field, which is primarily what we got with Carra.”
Indeed, nobody could be in doubt about Toure's popularity within the Liverpool squad when, on an end of season trip to Dubai, the soon-to-depart Steven Gerrard led the rest of the squad as they danced to the Toure song in a video which would soon go viral.
Fast forward a couple of years and a new era dawned at Liverpool. Rodgers was gone, and in his place came Jurgen Klopp as manager.
Given that Toure was 34 years old when Klopp arrived, it would have been easy for the new manager to phase out an experienced player in favour of youth and potential. Instead, Toure was still used as a vital member of the Reds squad.
Indeed, in February 2016, Toure scored his first goal for Liverpool. It came in a famous 6-0 win over Aston Villa on Valentine’s Day.
With the score at 5-0, a Jordan Henderson corner came into the penalty area and Toure nodded the ball into the net. It was Toure’s first goal in a Reds shirt, and his first at any level for any club for five years.
“It feels fantastic,” said Toure at the time. “Finally, my first goal for Liverpool. It has taken a long time but I am very happy.
“It means so much to me. Nearly three years I’ve been at this great club and it had been five years since I last scored.
“I hope goals more will come now.”
Klopp was clearly a big admirer of the defender. Despite only working with him for a few months, the German could not speak much higher of the centre-back.
In April 2016, Klopp referred to Toure as “one of the most impressive” people he’s ever met. Some statement for anyone to make.
This was despite Toure suffering from regular injury issues during Klopp’s first season at Anfield. Regardless, Klopp knew that he had a great person in his squad, as well as a good player.
"Kolo is part of my future plans, it depends on what the future is for you to be honest." Klopp said.
"I can't give the answer here because I didn't speak to Kolo about the plan. But how I heard, a big part of Kolo's future is at Liverpool. I would say everything is okay. When I came here, Kolo had a few problems injury-wise.
"Meanwhile, it looks completely different - that's good. [He's] a very important player for us, even when he doesn't play. [He's] one of the most impressive people I ever met.
"It's not the right moment and especially not the right surrounding to speak about the future of Kolo."
While Klopp admitted here that he wanted to keep Toure at the club, just a couple of months later the defender was packing his bags for good. The summer of 2016 saw Toure released as a free agent, and a year later he would be retiring for good and move into coaching.
Soon after retiring in 2017, Toure admitted what his biggest regret was in his career.
"I nearly won the league with Liverpool and I feel privileged for that,” said Toure in 2017.
"That’s my only regret to be honest because we nearly won the Premier League and came so close twice in the final of the Europa League and League Cup."
Despite not winning a major trophy at Liverpool, Toure will always be regarded as a fan favourite among Kopites and with Klopp, as well.
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