Former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has opened up on his transition into management, revealing how his father’s military background shaped his discipline and why he took a patient approach before accepting his first senior head coaching role at Slovan Bratislava.
The 43-year-old Ivory Coast international, who earned 101 caps for his country and was named African Player of the Year four times, is now experiencing his first managerial campaign in the UEFA Champions League after taking charge of the Slovakian champions.
Since retiring as a player in 2019, Toure has built his coaching experience through assistant roles at Olimpik Donetsk, Tottenham Hotspur’s academy and Standard Liege, as well as working alongside Roberto Mancini with Saudi Arabia.
He expressed gratitude to Slovan Bratislava for giving him the opportunity to take charge of a senior team, explaining that staying involved in football had always been important to him.
Speaking to UEFA, Toure said: “Football has been my passion, my whole life, and it was really important to me to stay involved.”
The former midfielder explained that he deliberately avoided rushing into a top managerial position, choosing instead to learn the demands of coaching through different roles and experiences.
He said: “I didn’t want to rush things. I used some of my contacts, namely former managers or directors of mine who opened the doors of their clubs to me.”
Also Read:
Toure added: “We’ve seen very good former players have a more challenging time as coaches.
“That’s why I wanted to take my time, learn all the ropes.”
The Ivorian also revealed that his approach to management is built on discipline, respect and allowing players to make decisions on the pitch.
Toure said his father’s military background influenced his work ethic, including his commitment to arriving early and staying late.
He said: “I start very early and leave very late, but that’s what football is about for me.”
Explaining the values instilled in him by his father, Toure added: “My father was in the military, and for him it was important to be respectful and on time. My game philosophy is very simple: enjoy it and respect your opponents on and off the pitch.”
Despite his emphasis on discipline, Toure believes players should be trusted to make decisions during matches, with the coach providing guidance and support.
He said: “I tell my players, once they’re on the pitch, they’re the ones making the decisions. I’m just here to support them.”
Toure’s immediate challenge is to guide Slovan Bratislava through their European campaign as they prepare to host German side Stuttgart.
Slovan are seeking to end a run of nine consecutive Champions League defeats. Although the Slovakian side have scored in six successive European fixtures, they remain without a win in their last five meetings with German opposition.
Toure will hope his approach can help the club secure a breakthrough result on the continental stage.
[wpadcenter_ad id='745970' align='none']