Yaya Touré on his coaching journey to Slovan Bratislava
The former Barcelona midfielder says he took time to learn the coaching trade before taking charge of the Slovak club.
Yaya Touré has described the coaching roles and study that prepared him to take charge of Slovan Bratislava, as he begins a new chapter connected to the UEFA Champions League.
The former Ivory Coast international, a Champions League winner with Barcelona in 2008/09, spoke to UEFA in an interview conducted on 7 September 2026.
A deliberate route into management
Touré said he did not want to rush into management after ending his playing career in 2019. He used the intervening years to study coaching and gain experience in assistant and youth roles.
His work included an assistant coaching spell at Olimpik Donetsk, a role with Tottenham’s academy, and time at Standard Liège. He also worked as an assistant to Roberto Mancini with the Saudi Arabia national team.
A first head-coaching opportunity
Touré said he was grateful to Slovan Bratislava’s management for giving him the opportunity to lead the club. He wants to pass on his experience, determination and winning mentality to the players.
The move places the former Barcelona midfielder in charge of the Slovak club as he returns to the Champions League landscape in a coaching role.
Respect and enjoyment as principles
Touré described his coaching philosophy as centred on enjoying the game and respecting opponents and the club. He said players should make decisions on the pitch, while his role is to support them.
He also emphasised passion and determination, saying that performance and enjoyment matter to him regardless of whether the result is positive.
Newsroom
Touré’s interview was published by UEFA on 14 October 2026.
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Sources
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UEFA Champions League
Official source · 14/10/2026 15:00
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