Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterFrom Arsenals Invincibles to Manchester Citys emerging superstars, Kolo Toure played with some of the greatest footballers of his generation.The Ivory Coast international spent 14 seasons playing for Premier League contenders, from his time with the Gunners to the Citizens, up to his three-year stint at Liverpool which took in the beginning of the Jurgen Klopp era.Selecting his Perfect XI for FourFourTwo, therefore, is no easy feat - but its a task Kolo set about with relish.Kolo Toure's Perfect XIGK: JENS LEHMANNJens was a great shot-stopper who could catch the ball from corners and crosses but he was also good with his feet. He had a strong personality but oh my god, he was so crazy! You need that though, I think, as a goalkeeper. A lovely man, but very crazy. You didnt want to get in his bad books, trust me.RB: LAURENTo be honest, I was torn between Lauren and Emmanuel Eboue. I played with Eboue for the Ivory Coast and at Arsenal and he was underrated both going forward and defending but Ive gone with Lauren. He was just immense, and he would kill me if he didnt get in my team! You may like It wouldnt be fair to compare Kevin Nolan with Zinedine Zidane but maybe he was a better warrior Youri Djorkaeff on two of his very different former team-mates The Ultimate FourFourTwo: Pick your best XI in football's classic formation 'I can't believe Thomas Tuchel has left these four players out of his England World Cup squad. He sticks with players he knows, but he's made some strange decisions' Clinton Morrison writes in his Top Top Column for FourFourTwo CB: SOL CAMPBELLIve chosen two centre-backs, so of course, I went with Sol Campbell. He was powerful, strong in the air, an aggressive player and he was lovely, too. I felt like I could always trust him and play my best football with him alongside me. I had a good relationship with him at Arsenal.CB: VINCENT KOMPANYIve gone for Vincent. We played a few games together at Manchester City and technically he was really good, as well as being as strong. He was very young when I played with him but he was really mature and a leader for his age and of course he went on to have a tremendous career.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.LB: ASHLEY COLEIve got to go for Ashley Cole at left-back. Such a good player. Going forwards or backwards, it was easy for him; no problem. He had such energy and he was a really generous player. [FFT: you sometimes played right-back on the opposite side to Cole] Yes, wed both get forward a lot. But he was more natural in that role.DM: STEVEN GERRARDIve gone with a diamond so Ive gone with Stevie G from my time at Liverpool to ping the ball right and left. Hed moved into a deeper role by that stage in his career and his vision and passing range were perfect in there. A brilliant footballer and captain.CM: YAYA TOUREOn the right of the midfield, Yaya Toure. [Laughs] If I dont pick Yaya, hell ask why! He was a top player, technically and tactically. He could run with the ball and he could score goals as well. Oh, and hes my brother! Yaya was always the better player of the two of us growing up, too, which I was happy with, I dont mind my brother being better than me. What to read next Quiz! Can you name Pep Guardiola's 50 most-used players? I have no regrets about turning down Liverpool and Manchester United. I needed that Bolton experience in my life Youri Djorkaeff on his 2002 Bolton move Ashley Cole discusses his long-term friendship and respect for Joe Cole CM: PATRICK VIEIRAIve chosen Patrick over David Silva it was very hard. But Patrick had everything for a midfield player: he was so tall and powerful. Technically, he was really good, he could run, get from box to box and he scored goals, too. For me, he was a perfect midfielder.AM: DENNIS BERGKAMPIve got to have Dennis Bergkamp at the top of the diamond in this team, to find players and chip in with some goals. He was an unbelievable player and you couldnt find anyone better past or present to do this role in this team, with these team-mates around him.ST: THIERRY HENRYWhat is there to even say about Thierry that hasnt been said? His speed, his power, his desire to win he was so professional, I have to choose Thierry Henry. He was a phenomenon.ST: DIDIER DROGBAFor the last one, I didnt know who to pick. Its between Luis Suarez, Didier Drogba and Sergio Aguero Ive got to go for Drogba but I have subs as well, right? [laughs] He doesnt like the ball too much, but Ive got to pick him because he was so physical, so determined and a guy you could always rely on in the biggest moments. A legend of African football and a great guy, too.SUBS: Gael Clichy, Sergio Aguero, Luis SuarezTHE GAFFER: ARSENE WENGERIt absolutely has to be Wenger. He was immense, he was the guy who gave me my opportunity to come to the Premier League. No one believed in me until him and David Dein (Arsenals vice-chairman until 2009) and they both gave me the opportunity to play for one of the best clubs in the world. Its not easy to pick a boy from Africa, take him straight to England and put him in the Arsenal team after not even a year. I owe him everything.TOPICSArsenalManchester CityLiverpoolPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromMark WhiteContent Editor
