A PREMIER LEAGUE cult hero has announced he is joining Arsenal as a coach.
The forward, 37, previously spent three years in the Gunners’ academy during his youth career.
Colin Kazim-Richards joined the club from Queens Park Rangers aged 11 in 1998 before moving to Bury in 2001.
He has now returned to North London after a year without a club, confirming the news on social media.
In a post on X, he wrote: “I am pleased to announce that I am officially part of the Arsenal academy coaching team.
“It is an honour to be part of a club so renowned for its commitment to excellence and development.”
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Kazim-Richards has been a free agent since leaving Turkish side Karagumruk last summer.
The club were the 18th of his senior career, which has included spells in England, Turkey, France, Greece, Netherlands, Scotland, Brazil and Mexico.
He has also won 37 caps for Turkey, scoring twice and featuring at Euro 2008.
Of his 18 clubs, five have been in England, most recently spending two years with Derby between 2020 and 2022.
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The forward also enjoyed a season in the Premier League with Sheffield United, scoring once in 27 matches during the 2006/07 campaign.
However, he was also part of a bizarre transfer when leaving Bury for Brighton in 2005.
Colin Kazim-Richards’ career stats
2004-05 – Bury – Three goals in 32 appearances
2005-06 – Brighton – Six goals in 45 appearances
2006-07 – Sheffield United – One goal in 29 appearances
2007-11 – Fenerbahce – 11 goals in 104 appearances
2010 (Loan) – Toulouse – Two goals in 18 appearances
2011-13 – Galatasaray – Seven goals in 35 appearances
2012 (Loan) – Olympiacos – One goal in nine appearances
2012-13 (Loan) – Blackburn – Five goals in 31 appearances
2013-2015 – Bursaspor – Two goals in 21 appearances
2014-15 (Loan) – Feyenoord – 13 goals in 37 appearances
2015-16 – Feyenoord – One goal in 12 appearances
2016 – Celtic – Two goals in 13 appearances
2016-17 – Coritiba – Three goals in 25 appearances
2017-18 – Corinthians – Two goals in 33 appearances
2018-19 – Lobos BUAP – Three goals in 10 appearances
2019-20 – Veracruz – Nine goals in 30 appearances
2020 – Pachuca – Six goals in 16 appearances
2020-22 – Derby – 12 goals in 63 appearances
2022-23 – Karagumruk – One goal in 19 appearances
2007-15 – Turkey – Two goals in 37 caps
Honours – Dutch Cup, Turkish Super Lig, 3x Turkish Super Cups, Scottish Premiership, Greek Super League, Greek Cup, Brazilian Serie A
The Seagulls had looked set to miss out to Wigan for the then 18-year-old’s signature.
Instead, though, Brighton completed the £250,000 deal after a fan won a competition run by EFL sponsor Coca-Cola.
The competition saw fans enter a prize draw, with the winner’s club receiving £250,000 for their transfer fund.
As a result, Kazim-Richards was dubbed the “Coca-Cola Kid” by supporters before going on to score six goals in 45 appearances for Brighton.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
