Wigan Athletic appoint Kolo Toure as their new manager

has announced they have appointed Kolo Toure as their manager. Wigan sacked Leam Richardson earlier this month.

The 41-year-old Toure has been Brendan Rodgers's assistant during the last five years at Celtic and Leicester City.

Kolo Toure played under Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp, and Roberto Mancini and was part of

's Invincibles side which won the Premier League undefeated in 2004. He also won Premier League with

.

Wigan is 22nd in the Championship table this season. Their next game will be against Millwall on 10 December.

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."

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