Slovan Bratislava name Yaya Touré as new head coach

Slovak champions ŠK Slovan Bratislava have named Yaya Touré, the celebrated former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder, as their new head coach. The club confirmed the appointment on Saturday, announcing a three-year contract for the 43-year-old Ivorian legend.

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

Touré, who enjoyed a distinguished playing career marked by Premier League titles with Manchester City and success at Barcelona, is transitioning into management. He has prior coaching experience at the Tottenham Hotspur Academy and served as an assistant coach for the Saudi Arabian national team under Roberto Mancini.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Touré stated, “I love challenges and am incredibly excited to coach a great club with a rich history, a beautiful stadium, and high ambitions.” He outlined his coaching philosophy, aiming to implement "dominant soccer" and win games to entertain the fans. He also mentioned looking forward to connecting with the players personally.

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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.

Club CEO Ivan Kmotrík Jr. welcomed Touré, citing his high-level experience and motivation as key factors. Kmotrík Jr. noted that his face-to-face meetings with Touré left an amazing impression, aligning with the club's ambition for success. The appointment is considered a significant move for Slovan Bratislava, a club with 32 league titles and a rich history, including a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup triumph in 1969. Further details on the coaching staff are expected at a press conference on Monday.

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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.