Ivory Coast football legend, Yaya Toure, has made history after becoming the first African coach to guide a team into the main phase of the UEFA Champions League.
Toure achieved the feat with Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava, who booked their place in the competition after overcoming Slovenian side NK Celje 3-2 on aggregate in the playoff round.
The former Manchester City midfielder took charge of Slovan Bratislava in June and has enjoyed an impressive start to his managerial career.
Under his leadership, the club has also recorded four victories in the Slovak league.
Slovan began their Champions League qualifying campaign in July with a 2-0 victory over Georgian side Saburtalo before drawing the return leg 1-1.
They subsequently defeated Sweden’s Mjallby over two legs to reach the playoffs, where they edged Celje to secure their place in the main phase.
Toure was celebrated by Slovan supporters after the historic achievement, with fans singing the “Yaya Toure” chant that became popular during his successful spell at Manchester City.
The 43-year-old retired from professional football in 2019 after an 18-year career that saw him win major honours across Europe.
Before joining Manchester City in 2010, Toure played for Barcelona, where he won the Champions League, two La Liga titles, the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
He later helped Manchester City win three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three English League Cups.
At international level, Toure remains one of Africa’s most decorated footballers.
He won the African Footballer of the Year award four consecutive times from 2011 to 2014 and lifted the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast in 2015.
Before taking his first head-coaching role at Slovan Bratislava, Toure worked as an assistant coach at several European clubs, including Leyton Orient and a Belgian side.
He also joined the Saudi Arabia national team coaching staff in 2023 as an assistant to his former Manchester City manager.
Slovan Bratislava will discover their opponents in the Champions League main-phase draw, scheduled to take place in Madrid on Thursday.
