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Cote D'Ivoire Yaya Toure, an Ivorian football legend, has transitioned from esteemed midfielder for clubs like Barcelona and Manchester City to a dedicated assistant coach, now imparting his extensive knowledge to the Saudi Arabia national team.
Yaya Touré was named Nissan's new Ambassador to Africa, reinforcing their global partnership related to the UEFA Champions League.
Yaya Touré joined forces with Harcus Consultancy Group for potential brand partnerships and personal player sponsorships.
Yaya Touré entered a long-term partnership with German sportswear brand Puma, citing the brand's ties in Africa as a key reason for the collaboration. He also partnered with them for the 'Yaya Touré Young Leaders Project' in Ivory Coast.
Gnégnéri Yaya Touré, born on May 13, 1983, in Bouaké, Ivory Coast, embarked on his football journey with ASEC Mimosas’ youth academy in 1996. His early career saw him play for European clubs such as Beveren (2001-2003), Metalurh Donetsk (2003-2005), Olympiacos (2005-2006), and Monaco (2006-2007). In 2007, he moved to Barcelona, where he achieved significant success, including being part of the historic team that won six trophies in a calendar year in 2009. He contributed to over 100 matches for the club, even playing as a center-back in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final. He left Barcelona in 2010 to join Manchester City.
At Manchester City from 2010 to 2018, Touré became a pivotal player. He scored crucial goals, including the only goals in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and final, ending Manchester City’s 35-year wait for a major trophy. He was instrumental in securing the club’s first league title in 44 years during the 2011–12 season. His performances earned him the African Footballer of the Year award four consecutive times, from 2011 to 2014, a testament to his consistent excellence as a midfielder. He was also named the BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2013 and 2015 and was included in the PFA Team of the Year twice.
After leaving Manchester City, Touré had brief stints with Olympiacos in 2018 and Qingdao Huanghai in 2019. He concluded his playing career and began focusing on coaching. He has held assistant coaching roles at Olimpik Donetsk (2021), Akhmat Grozny (2021), and as an academy coach for Tottenham Hotspur (2022–2023). In 2023, he joined Standard Liège as an assistant manager before moving to his current role as an assistant coach for the Saudi Arabia national team in November 2023, reuniting with former manager Roberto Mancini.
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