Côte d’Ivoire centre-back Kolo Touré has on Friday officially announced he will retire from international football. The news came less than ...
Côte d’Ivoire centre-back Kolo Touré has on Friday officially announced he will retire from international football.
The news came less than a week after the 33-year old and his Ivoirian teammates were crowned 2015 Africa champions in Equatorial Guinea.
“It is with great emotion that I inform you that I am going to step back. It is a very difficult decision to take as I love my country and especially love football. But at some point, there comes a time to stop,” Kolo said on national TV RTI. And the Liverpool defender took this opportunity to introduce his successor.
“I am going to introduce my successor at the heart of the defence to you. He is tough. This is Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba, the new boss of the defence. He is my successor.”
Kolo Touré earned more than 110 international caps since making his debut with the Elephants in 2000, and competed at the 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015 Africa Cups of Nations, as well as at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups finals.
