UMVA has learned that Yaya Toure, the legendary Manchester City midfielder, is on the verge of taking a major step in his coaching career, with a managerial role at Slovan Bratislava seemingly within his grasp.
The 43-year-old Ivorian international, who earned 101 caps for his country, has been coaching since hanging up his boots in 2019. Although he has worked as an assistant or at academy level, his next move could see him take the reins as head coach at the Slovakian club.
Toure's coaching journey has taken him to various countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Belgium, and Saudi Arabia, where he has worked with teams such as Standard Liege and the Saudi Arabia national team. His nomadic career path is set to continue, with Slovakia being his next destination.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Slovan Bratislava is looking to appoint a new manager, with Toure being one of the top candidates. The club has been a dominant force in Slovakian football, winning eight consecutive top division titles, but has struggled to make an impact in European competitions.
Despite their domestic success, Slovan Bratislava has faced challenges in Europe, including a disappointing Champions League group stage campaign in 2024/25, where they lost all eight games and finished 35th in the table. However, they did manage to qualify for the group stage, beating Midtjylland in a play-off.
Toure has expressed his desire to take on a managerial role, telling the High Performance Podcast that he sees himself in development, needing to learn and try new things. He emphasized that he doesn't see himself managing in the Premier League just yet, instead focusing on growth and development.
The competition for the Slovan Bratislava job is fierce, with four other candidates vying for the position alongside Toure: Albert Riera, Igor Biscan, Nenad Bjelica, and Vladan Milojevic. However, with his experience and achievements as a player, Toure is certainly a strong contender for the role.
