Wigan Athletic have sacked Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool hero Kolo Toure after just nine winless games.
Toure was only appointed Latics manager back in November on a three-and-a-half year deal, in his first managerial appointment.
He was tasked with steering the club out of the relegation zone but instead things have only gotten worse with the side now bottom of the Championship and four points from safety.
Wigan claimed just two points from seven league games under Toure and were knocked out of the FA Cup after a third round replay against Luton Town.
During his short tenure, the team scored just eight goals and conceded 21, even suffering three consecutive 4-1 defeats.
A statement from Malachy Brannigan, Chief Executive of Wigan, on Thursday read: ‘Firstly, I’d like to thank Kolo, along with Kevin [Betsy] and Ashvir [Johal], for their efforts during their time at the Football Club.
‘Unfortunately, the results on the field have not been as we would have liked and as tough a decision as this was, the Board felt it necessary to give us the best possible chance of remaining a Championship club next season.
‘We know that this time of year is a key period for any football club, ourselves included. Therefore, we will now work swiftly and effectively to ensure the right person is appointed as the next permanent manager of Wigan Athletic, with the immediate objective of remaining in the Second Tier for next season.’
It is a very disappointing start to the managerial career of Toure who enjoyed a glittering playing career in the UK.
The former centre-back began at Arsenal in 2002 whom he would go on to make 326 appearances for, winning the Premier League and two FA Cups as well as reaching the 2006 Champions League final.
He would move to City in 2009 where he won another league title, before winding down his career at Liverpool and Celtic where he retired in 2017.
Upon retirement, he joined the Scottish giants’ coaching staff, working under under his former Reds manager Brendan Rodgers, later following him to Leicester where he remained until Wigan came calling.
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