Yaya Touré has made history by becoming the first African coach to lead a European club to the Champions League group stage. This achievement comes after Slovan Bratislava's late win against NK Celje on Wednesday, securing their spot in the group stage for the second time in the club's history. Voetbal International confirmed that Touré's team won the first four matches in the Slovakian league this summer, including victories over Iberia 1999 from Georgia, Mjällby AIF from Sweden, and NK Celje from Slovenia.
Touré's background in football is impressive, having previously worked as an assistant coach at Olimpik Donetsk, Achmat Grozny, Standard Luik, and the Saudi Arabian national team, as well as a youth coach at Tottenham Hotspur. He ended his playing career in 2020, but has now made a name for himself as a successful coach. The Ivorian coach was previously serenaded with his own song in the locker room by Manchester City fans in 2012.
Touré's achievement is a significant milestone for African football, as he has become the first African coach to reach the Champions League group stage. His team's victory in the Slovakian league and their success in the Champions League qualifying rounds have been well-received by fans. The next step for Yaya Touré and Slovan Bratislava will be to prepare for the Champions League group stage, where they will face tough competition from other European teams.