Yaya Touré Becomes New Head Coach of Slovan Bratislava

Slovak champions ŠK Slovan Bratislava have named former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder, Yaya Touré, as their new head coach.

The club confirmed this news on Saturday. They said, “The club’s management has agreed to a three-year contract with the 43-year-old former star player.”

Yaya Touré, who had a great playing career with Premier League titles at Manchester City and successes at Barcelona, is moving into coaching. He has worked at the Tottenham Hotspur Academy and was an assistant coach to Roberto Mancini with the Saudi Arabian national team.

In a video and statement shared by the club, Touré expressed his excitement for the new role.

“I love challenges and am incredibly excited to coach a great club with a rich history, a beautiful stadium, and high ambitions,” he said.

Touré also shared his vision for the team. He said, “With Slovan, I want to play dominant soccer, win games, and control matches so that we can delight our fans. I’m looking forward to getting to know the players personally.”

He remembered watching Slovan play against Manchester City in the Champions League last season.

Club CEO Ivan Kmotrík Jr. welcomed Touré's appointment. He praised Touré’s experience and motivation.

“I am delighted that we have agreed on a three-year contract with him… I had several face-to-face meetings with Yaya Touré. He made an amazing impression on me,” Kmotrík Jr. said. He also noted their shared ambition for success.

The news got a lot of reactions on social media. Many fans commented, especially under the club’s post that featured images and a video of the new coach.

#paris_wisdom showed admiration for Touré, saying, “Your coach was a wizard,” while #CoachUdofia added, “All the best, Yaya. If you need an intern, please keep me in the loop. Thank you.”

This appointment is Touré’s first senior head coaching job. It is seen as an important move for the ambitious Slovak club, which has won 32 league titles and has a rich history, including a win in the 1969 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

More details about the coaching staff will be shared at a press conference on Monday.