History is set to be made on the opening matchday of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League season, with Yaya Toure set to take charge of Slovan Bratislava against champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
The Ivory Coast and Manchester City legend will become the first African to coach a game in the Champions League proper, an achievement that he admits feels 'strange'.
He made a point during his pre-match press conference that African coaches must work significantly harder than their counterparts from elsewhere to earn opportunities at elite European clubs.
What Did Yaya Toure Say?
Yaya Toure faced the media ahead of taking on PSG in the first matchday of this season's competition in Paris.
He pointed out that he found it strange when he learned that no African coach had ever led a team into the Champions League before him. He also expressed his gratitude to Slovan director Robert Vittek for trusting him with the appointment earlier this year.
“It was strange to learn that after qualification. I was intrigued, but pleased. This is a new era and things are changing. I want to thank the club directors for having the courage and vision to do this. It is much harder for us. We have to work twice or three times as hard, but we are in an era of renewal," he said.
He made it clear that African coaches are required to work much harder before they receive any form of recognition or opportunities.
Speaking about the game itself, he hailed the French giants as one of the world's best sides and Luis Enrique as one of the best coaches. He acknowledged that they are experiencing a rough spell, but warned his team of the danger they posses.
“PSG are one of the best teams in the world. We have a lot of respect for them. Luis Enrique is one of the best coaches in the world and it will be a pleasure to face him. They are going through a difficult spell [two draws and one defeat in the first three rounds of Ligue 1], but they will want to respond. PSG remain PSG, however we will play without fear and with a strong desire to win," he promised.
Yaya Toure's Journey So Far
Now 43 years old, Yaya Toure is far removed from his days of running opposition midfielders ragged as one of the world's best box-to-box midfielders.
He retired from professional football in 2019 and assisted unofficially at Leyton Orient during the COVID-19 pandemic. He joined Olimpik Donetsk as an assistant coach in February 2021 and left four months later.
In June of 2021, he was appointed as an assistant coach by Akhmat Grozny but lasted just six months in Russia before he left the club.
He worked with Tottenham Hotspur's U16 team in 2022 before taking the assistant manager's role at Standard Liege in June 2023.
In November, he left Belgium to join the staff of Roberto Mancini as an assistant coach for the Saudi Arabia national team.
Toure was appointed as the head coach of Slovan Bratislava in June, and has transformed his side into a disciplined, resilient outfit.
From Qualifying Rounds to the Parc des Princes: Slovan Bratislava's Journey
Slovak giants Slovan Bratislava is the most successful club in Slovakia, and won the title in the 2025-26 season.
Their league triumph earned them a place in the playoffs for the UEFA Champions League, and their first opponent was Georgian outfit Iberia 1999.
They claimed a 3-1 aggregate victory to qualify for a meeting with Swedish champions Mjallby in the penultimate round of qualifiers, dispatching the Swedes by a 4-1 aggregate scoreline.
Slovenian side NK Celje stood between them and a place in the league phase, and they claimed a 3-2 aggregate victory to reach the main draw of the competition.
Facing defending European powerhouses PSG in their opening fixture presents the ultimate test, but Toure’s side arrives in the French capital with tactical confidence and nothing to lose.
