Yaya Toure has agreed to become the new head coach of Slovan Bratislava just days before the World Cup. The former Manchester City midfielder has left his position as assistant manager of the Saudi Arabia national team under Georgios Donis.
First Step into Frontline Management
The 43-year-old Ivorian's move marks his first step into frontline management since retiring from playing in 2019. He previously held assistant and academy roles, including a spell as assistant manager at Standard Liege before joining the Saudi Arabia setup.
He is now set to take charge of the Slovakian giants, who will enter the first qualifying round as they bid for a place in next season's Champions League. According to reports, Toure plans to bring in former Swansea City coach Darren O'Dea as his assistant.
O'Dea's Background
O'Dea has been out of work since leaving the Welsh club last season, where he served as Alan Sheehan's No.2 and also took caretaker charge for several games at the Liberty Stadium.
Toure's Management Ambitions
Toure recently told the High Performance Podcast that he was ready to take the next step into management but did not see himself doing so in the Premier League just yet. "Some people are asking if I want to manage in the Premier League," he said. "I said, no, I don't see myself in that way. I see myself in development. I need to learn, I need to develop, I need to try. I'm a man who loves challenging himself, I've been blessed playing football at a high level, with top clubs and top players. Now I'm looking for going into management, I've been assistant for a few years with different clubs, different managers. Now I'm looking to become a manager."
Manchester City Legacy
The former City midfielder, who made 316 appearances for the club, won three Premier League titles, an FA Cup, three League Cups and a Super Cup during his spell at the Etihad Stadium between 2010 and 2018.
