Yaya Toure appointed Slovan Bratislava manager in first head coach role
Former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure has been appointed as the new head coach of Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava.
The move marks the first senior managerial position for the African football icon, following several assistant roles across Europe and the Middle East.
He replaces departing boss Vladimir Weiss, who stepped down this summer after a successful five-year tenure in the dugout.
Slovan Bratislava recently secured their eighth consecutive domestic league title, earning them a place in the upcoming Champions League qualifying rounds.
A wealth of elite experience
The midfield powerhouse enjoyed a glittering playing career, winning three Premier League titles and the FA Cup during an eight-year stay at the Etihad Stadium.
Before his dominant spell in England, the highly decorated player claimed La Liga and Champions League honours with Spanish giants Barcelona.
Following his retirement in 2019, the 41-year-old embarked on a coaching career that began as an assistant at Olimpik Donetsk and Akhmat Grozny.
He later spent a season working within Tottenham Hotspur’s academy setup before taking up coaching positions at Standard Liege and with the Saudi Arabia national team.
Champions League ambitions
Taking charge of the Slovakian heavyweights represents a significant opportunity, with immediate expectations to guide the club through European qualification.
The domestic title winners participated in the newly expanded Champions League league phase during the 2024-25 season, finishing 35th out of 36 teams.
Reports suggest the new manager is keen to bring in former Celtic and Swansea City coach Darren O’Dea as his assistant.
Toure follows his older brother Kolo into front-line management, after the former Arsenal defender’s brief stint in charge of Wigan Athletic.