Yaya Toure
Ivorian midfield legend who helped Manchester City end a 44-year league title drought.
Gnégnéri Yaya Touré (born 13 May 1983) is an Ivorian professional football coach and former player who is the head coach of Slovak First Football League club Slovan Bratislava. He spent the majority of his career as a central midfielder for club and country, later regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. One of the greatest African players of all time, Touré was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
- Role
- Central Midfielder / Box-to-Box Dynamo
- Major Honours
- 1 FA Cup
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Touré began his playing career at Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas, where he made his debut at age 18. He had stints with Beveren, Metalurh Donetsk, Olympiacos and Monaco, before moving to Barcelona in 2007. He played over 100 matches for Barcelona and was part of the historic team that won six trophies in a calendar year, in 2009. In 2010, Touré moved to Premier League club Manchester City, where he scored a number of key goals, most notably the only goals in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and final. He also helped City earn their first league title in 44 years. Touré earned 100 caps for the Ivory Coast from 2004 to 2015, representing the nation at three FIFA World Cup tournaments and six Africa Cup of Nations, captaining them to victory in 2015.
In Their Own Story
Rain lashed against the floodlights of a freezing Manchester night, but inside Wembley, the air crackled with static electricity. After a chaotic scramble in the box ended in a clearance, the ball sat untouched at the edge of the area. Yaya Touré didn't scan for a teammate; his eyes locked onto the top corner. Towering over the defenders, he stepped into the strike with terrifying calmness. The resulting thunderclap seemed to vibrate through the stadium's foundations as the ball rocketed past the keeper and into the net.
Reader's Guide
Touré joined Manchester City in July 2010 for a fee of around £24 million. In his debut season, he scored the only goal in both the FA Cup semi-final and final, ending City's 35-year wait for a major trophy. In the 2011–12 season, he played a vital part in midfield as City won their first league title in 44 years. Touré's honours with Manchester City according to the source are: FA Cup (2010–11) and Premier League (2011–12).
Did You Know?
- Touré played centre-back in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final for Barcelona due to injuries and suspensions of first-choice defenders.
- He is the younger brother of fellow former footballer Kolo Touré, who was his teammate at Manchester City and the national team.
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