Manchester City’s legend Yaya Touré appointed Slavia Bratislava head coach
By Luke Oluoch, June 13, 2026Yaya Touré has officially stepped up to football management after being appointed as the head coach of Slavia Bratislava.
The former Barcelona and Manchester City midfield dynamo was officially unveiled this Saturday, June 13, 2026, marking his first senior managerial role as he begins life as a head coach on the touchline.
Slavia’s history
He takes over a club renowned for its historic dominance on the domestic front. Slavia Bratislava also holds a unique place in football history as the only club from the former Czechoslovakia to win a major European trophy, a feat achieved when they famously defeated Touré’s former side, Barcelona, to lift the European Cup Winners’ Cup in Basel in 1969.
This high-profile appointment marks the culmination of an arduous journey that saw Touré traverse Europe and Asia to earn his coaching credentials.
Rather than rushing into a management role immediately after retiring, the legendary midfielder carefully built his resume by serving as an assistant and youth coach across multiple continents.
The 43-year-old completed his UEFA A Licence in the summer of 2022, electing to undertake his practical and theoretical coursework through the renowned Football Association of Wales (FAW). To cement his status as a top-tier manager, he later enrolled in the Football Association (the FA) Pro License course in England, mastering the tactical flexibility and sports management skills required for the elite level.
Building the coaching profile
His hands-on education began immediately after hanging up his boots in 2020, starting with a brief spell shadowing the coaching staff at English League Two side Leyton Orient. At the start of 2021, he moved to Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers (QPR), spending valuable time under veteran director Chris Ramsey to study academy player development.
Reunion with Mancini
Additionally, Touré honed his skills at Tottenham Hotspur, where he was handed a full-time role as the Under-16 head coach, before stepping into high-pressure senior football as Roberto Mancini’s primary assistant manager with the Saudi Arabia national team, a role he successfully maintained until late 2024.
Now, fully equipped with a diverse tactical background, the Ivory Coast legend and AFCON winner is ready to lead from the front in Slovakia.
Toure now joins the list of footballers transitioning to football management, such as his brother, who recently departed Manchester City alongside Pep Guardiola.
Kenyan icon Victor Wanyama is among the other EPL stars in class working towards their coaching badges.