Yaya Toure agrees to take first head coach role at Champions League club

Jun 6, 2026 - 14:00

Manchester City legend Yaya Toure has reportedly agreed terms with Slovan Bratislava to become their new head coach.

It marks the Ivorian’s first steps into management having taken up assistant manager and academy roles since hanging up his boots in 2019.

Yaya Toure, Roberto Mancini - Saudi Arabia — Yaya Toure was most recently Roberto Mancini’s assistant with Saudi Arabia

The 43-year-old coached in Russia and Ukraine before moving to Tottenham’s academy squad.

He enjoyed a short stint with Belgian side Standard Liege before landing the assistant manager role with the Saudi Arabian national team.

As a player, he clocked up a wealth of experience primarily with Barcelona and Manchester City.

Toure picked up five league titles across the two clubs and a Champions League triumph at the Catalan club in 2009.

But now, Toure is set to take the reins with the 16-time Slovakian champions, according to Sky Sports News.

The club’s recent title success means Toure will try his hand in the Champions League next season.

The 101-capped Ivory Coast international will hope to be able to call upon former Celtic and Swansea coach Darren O’Dea as his right-hand man in the Slovakian capital.

O’Dea has been out of football since leaving the Welsh club last season where he was No.2 to Alan Sheehan.

The 39-year-old reportedly has a number of opportunities on offer in Scotland, England and abroad.

Slovan Bratislava’s managerial change came after former boss Vladimir Weiss stepped down from the role after five years in the dugout.

Toure has been doing the ground work ahead of his first venture into the dugout[/caption]

Slovan Bratislava have just wrapped up an eighth-consecutive Slovakia top-flight title

Yaya Toure - Manchester City — Toure was a three-time Premier League champion with Manchester City

Weiss has taken up the opportunity to manage the Slovakian national team in what will be his second spell in charge.

His last act at the club was to lead Slovan to their eighth title success in succession.

Toure is likely to be judged on whether he can successfully guide the club through the Champions League qualifiers this summer.

Slovan’s hopes of making the league phase were ended in the qualifiers last year before experiencing similar heartache in the resulting Europa League qualifiers.

The Slovakian heavyweights eventually competed in the UEFA Conference League but could only muster up a disappointing 29th-placed finish in the league phase resulting in a premature exit from the competition.

Their last taste of the Champions League proper came in the inaugural league phase in the 2024/25 season, where they finished 35th out of 36 teams.