Manchester City defender Kolo Toure has thanked Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger for his support during his drugs ban.
Toure returned to action for City in their Carling Cup win over Birmingham on Wednesday night, ending a six-month absence.
"I want to thank two people who have been really important to me - David Dein and Mr Wenger," he said.
"They have been supporting me and never let me down. I want to thank them very, very much."
Toure will never forget the debt of gratitude he owes to Wenger.
It was the Frenchman who brought him to England from the Ivory Coast as a raw 20-year-old, turning him into a player still good enough nine years later for City to pay £16million to make him a pivotal part of their development under owner Sheikh Mansour.
"I would never say a bad word about Mr Wenger," said Toure.
"He is somebody that makes players better. I came from nowhere. I was in Africa and nobody believed in me.
"I had been at a lot of clubs that didn't take me. This guy made me what I am now."