Yaya Touré facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yaya Touré

Touré in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Gnégnéri Yaya Touré
Date of birth	(1983-05-13) 13 May 1983 (age 42)
Place of birth	Bouaké, Ivory Coast
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Saudi Arabia (assistant)
Youth career
1996–2001	ASEC Mimosas
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2003	Beveren	70	(3)
2003–2005	Metalurh Donetsk	33	(3)
2005–2006	Olympiacos	20	(3)
2006–2007	Monaco	27	(5)
2007–2010	Barcelona	74	(4)
2010–2018	Manchester City	230	(62)
2018	Olympiacos	2	(0)
2019	Qingdao Huanghai	14	(2)
Total		470	(79)
International career
2004–2015	Ivory Coast	101	(19)
Managerial career
2021	Olimpik Donetsk (assistant)
2021	Akhmat Grozny (assistant)
2022–2023	Tottenham Hotspur (academy coach)
2023	Standard Liège (assistant)
2023–	Saudi Arabia (assistant)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations Winner 2015 Runner-up 2012 Runner-up 2006
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Yaya Touré (born 13 May 1983) is a famous Ivorian football coach and former player. He played as a midfielder and is now an assistant coach for the Saudi Arabia national team.

When he was younger, Yaya wanted to be a striker. He even played as a centre-back for Barcelona in a big final. But for most of his career, he was a powerful box-to-box midfielder. Many people think he is one of the best African players ever. He won the African Footballer of the Year award four times in a row, from 2011 to 2014!

Yaya started his football journey at a club in Ivory Coast called ASEC Mimosas. He was only 18 when he played his first game. His amazing skills caught the eye of teams in Europe. He played for several clubs like Beveren, Metalurh Donetsk, Olympiacos, and Monaco. In 2007, he joined the famous Barcelona team. He played over 100 games there and was part of the team that won six trophies in one year, in 2009.

In 2010, Yaya moved to the Premier League club Manchester City. He scored many important goals for them. He scored the only goals in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and final, helping City win their first major trophy in 35 years. He also helped Manchester City win their first league title in 44 years.

Yaya played 100 games for the Ivory Coast national team between 2004 and 2015. He played in three FIFA World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010, and 2014). He also played in six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He helped his team finish second in 2006 and 2012. In 2015, he was the captain when Ivory Coast won the tournament! Yaya's older brother, Kolo Touré, was also a footballer and played with him at Manchester City and for the national team.

Yaya Touré's Club Journey

Starting Out in Football

Yaya Touré was born in Bouaké, Ivory Coast. He joined the ASEC Mimosas youth academy in 1996. In 2001, he moved to a Belgian club called Beveren. This club was known for helping young Ivorian players show their skills in Europe. By 2003, Yaya was one of 14 Ivorian players on the Beveren team.

In 2003, Yaya had a tryout with Arsenal in England. He played in a friendly game, but he had trouble getting a work permit. Because of this, Yaya decided to sign with Ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk in December 2003. He played there for about a year and a half.

Playing for Olympiacos and Monaco

Yaya joined Olympiacos in Greece in 2005. His older brother even called him "the new Patrick Vieira" because of his strong playing style. Olympiacos won two trophies that season, and Yaya was a very important player for them. His great performances in Greece made many other clubs interested in him.

In August 2006, Yaya signed with French club Monaco. He had a tough start with the coach at the time, who didn't play him in his favorite midfield spot. But when a new coach took over, Yaya became a key player. He scored five goals and helped Monaco avoid being relegated from the league. After showing his talent, he decided to join Barcelona in 2007.

Time at Barcelona

Touré with Barcelona in 2009

Yaya joined the Spanish club Barcelona in 2007. He made his first official appearance on 26 August 2007. He scored his first goal for Barcelona on 2 September 2007 in a 3–1 win. He also played in the UEFA Champions League for Barcelona.

In the 2008–09 season, the new coach, Pep Guardiola, often chose another player for the defensive midfield role. In the 2009 Champions League final, Yaya played as a centre-back. He had only played there twice before for Barcelona, but he stepped up because other defenders were injured or suspended. In June 2010, Barcelona announced that Yaya would be allowed to leave the club.

Joining Manchester City

First Season and FA Cup Win

On 2 July 2010, Yaya Touré signed a five-year contract with Premier League club Manchester City. He played his first Premier League game on 14 August. He quickly became a key player in City's midfield. On 19 September, he scored his first goal for City against Wigan Athletic.

In January 2011, Yaya scored a fantastic goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He ran 90 yards to score, helping City win 4–3. On 16 April 2011, Yaya scored the only goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United. He was named Man of the Match for his performance. He continued his success at Wembley Stadium by scoring the only goal in the 2011 FA Cup final against Stoke City. This win ended Manchester City's 35-year wait for a major trophy and made him a legend at the club.

Winning the Premier League Title

The 2011–12 season was great for Manchester City. Yaya was a vital part of their midfield as they led the league for most of the season. In December 2011, he set new Premier League records for the most passes attempted and completed in a single match. His hard work paid off when he was named African Footballer of the Year for 2011. This was a big achievement for a midfielder.

As the season ended, Manchester City fell behind Manchester United in the title race. But City fought back, winning several games. A crucial match against Manchester United would decide who was on top. City won this important game 1–0. Yaya's performance was praised by many, called "dominant" and "magnificent."

On 6 May, Yaya scored two goals in City's 2–0 win over Newcastle United. This put City three points ahead of Manchester United with one game left. Yaya played a big part in the final game against Queens Park Rangers, which City won 3–2. This victory secured City's first league championship in 44 years!

More Success with City

Touré playing for Manchester City in 2012

Yaya started the 2012–13 season by scoring in the FA Community Shield against Chelsea. He also scored in important league games. In the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid, Yaya played incredibly well, even though City lost. On 20 December 2012, he won the African Player of the Year award for the second time. In April 2013, Yaya signed a new contract with City, keeping him at the club until 2017.

In the 2013–14 season, Yaya scored his first goal with a free kick. He also scored in a big 4–1 derby win against Manchester United. Under manager Manuel Pellegrini, Yaya became the vice-captain and often led the team when the main captain was absent. In December 2013, he won the BBC African Footballer of the Year award.

On 2 March 2014, Yaya scored a goal in the 2014 Football League Cup final against Sunderland. City won the match 3–1. On 22 March, he scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) in a 5–0 win. He was also named one of the top players for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

On 7 May 2014, Yaya scored his 20th Premier League goal of the season. This made him only the second midfielder to score 20 goals in a Premier League season. His amazing performances helped City win their second Premier League title in three years. He also completed more passes than any other player in the league that season.

Later Seasons and Leaving City

On 5 November 2014, in a UEFA Champions League game, Yaya scored for City but was later sent off. On 1 March 2015, Yaya played against his brother Kolo Touré for the first time in a competitive match.

In August 2015, Yaya scored in Manchester City's first game of the 2015–16 Premier League season. Later, the new coach, Pep Guardiola, decided not to include Yaya in the Champions League squad. After some discussions, Yaya made a surprising return to the team on 16 November. He scored two goals to help City win 2–1.

It was announced on 4 May 2018 that Yaya would leave Manchester City at the end of the 2017–18 season. His last game was a 3–1 win.

Later Career Moves

Yaya re-joined the Greek club Olympiacos on 2 September 2018. However, his contract ended in December 2018.

On 3 July 2019, Yaya joined the Chinese club Qingdao Huanghai. He left the club on 1 January 2020. He then started working with his advisor to prepare for a coaching career.

Playing for Ivory Coast

Touré playing for the Ivory Coast in 2012

Yaya Touré was a regular player for the Ivory Coast national team from his first game in 2004 until he retired from international football in 2015. In 2014, he became the team's captain after Didier Drogba retired. Yaya played his 100th international game on 19 November 2014.

Yaya played in all three of Ivory Coast's matches at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In the 2010 tournament, he again played in all three games and scored a goal in a 3–0 win. He played in his third and final World Cup in 2014, captaining the team in their first match.

Yaya represented Ivory Coast in six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. His team finished second in 2006 and 2012. In 2015, Yaya captained Ivory Coast to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1992! He was named in the tournament's best team in 2008, 2012, and 2015. On 4 February 2015, Yaya scored the first goal in a semi-final win, helping his team reach the final.

On 20 September 2016, Yaya announced he was retiring from international football. He briefly returned to the national team in March 2018 but did not play any more games before fully retiring from professional football.

Yaya Touré's Playing Style

Yaya Touré used to be a striker, but he mostly played in the middle of the field. He could be a holding midfielder (staying back to defend) or a box-to-box midfielder (running all over the field to attack and defend). He was a very complete and flexible player. He could even play as a centre-back or in the number 10 role (an attacking midfielder).

His main strengths were his great passing, his ability to see the whole field, and his strong physical presence. He was good at controlling the ball and also excellent at stopping opposing attacks and winning the ball back. People often called him a "human train" or a "colossus" because of his speed, stamina, and powerful runs from midfield. He was also good at scoring goals with powerful shots from far away, headers, free kicks, and penalties.

Yaya Touré's Coaching Career

Yaya Touré started his journey to become a coach by getting his UEFA license. He even helped out at Leyton Orient FC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 10 February 2021, Yaya joined Ukrainian club Olimpik Donetsk as an assistant manager. He stayed there for four months.

Then, on 14 June 2021, he became an assistant coach for Russian club Akhmat Grozny until December 2021.

After some part-time coaching, Yaya became an under-16 coach at Tottenham Hotspur's academy in August 2022. In June 2023, he moved to the Belgian club Standard Liège as an assistant manager.

On 3 November 2023, Yaya Touré was named an assistant coach for the Saudi Arabia national team. He joined the staff of his former Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini.

Yaya Touré's Personal Life

Yaya Touré is the younger brother of Kolo Touré, who was also a professional footballer. They played together for Manchester City and the Ivory Coast national team. Their younger brother, Ibrahim Touré, was also a footballer but sadly passed away in 2014 at age 28. Yaya Touré is Muslim.

In October 2013, Yaya joined a campaign to protect elephants from poaching. He became a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme. In 2018, Yaya Touré became a British citizen.

Awards and Recognitions

Yaya Touré has received many awards for his football skills:

• Ivory Coast Player of the Year: 2009
• CAF Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
• African Footballer of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
• ESM Team of the Year: 2013–14
• PFA Team of the Year: 2011–12 Premier League, 2013–14 Premier League
• BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2013, 2015
• Manchester City Player of the Year: 2013–14
• Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2015
• Sports Illustrated Premier League Team of the Decade: 2010–2019
• IFFHS CAF Men's Team of the Decade 2011–2020
• IFFHS All-time Africa Men's Dream Team: 2021
• FWA Tribute Award: 2023

Career Statistics

Club

International

Ivory Coast score listed first, score column indicates score after each Touré goal

List of international goals scored by Yaya Touré

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	24 January 2006	Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	7	Libya	2–1	2–1	2006 Africa Cup of Nations
2	3 June 2007	Stade Bouaké, Bouaké, Ivory Coast	21	Madagascar	3–0	5–0	2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3	25 January 2008	Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana	28	Benin	2–0	4–1	2008 Africa Cup of Nations
4	20 June 2009	Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso	39	Burkina Faso	1–0	3–2	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	5 September 2009	Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast	41	Burkina Faso	3–0	5–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
6	25 June 2010	Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela, South Africa	54	North Korea	1–0	3–0	2010 FIFA World Cup
7	4 September 2010	Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast	56	Rwanda	1–0	3–0	2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
8	10 August 2011	Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland	59	Israel	2–0	4–3	Friendly
9	9 October 2011	Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast	61	Burundi	2–1	2–1	2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
10	4 February 2012	Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea	66	Equatorial Guinea	3–0	3–0	2012 Africa Cup of Nations
11	22 January 2013	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa	74	Togo	1–0	2–1	2013 Africa Cup of Nations
12	26 January 2013	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa	75	Tunisia	2–0	3–0	2013 Africa Cup of Nations
13	23 March 2013	Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast	77	Gambia	2–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
14	8 June 2013	Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia	78	Gambia	3–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
15	16 June 2013	National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania	79	Tanzania	2–1	4–2	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
16					3–2
17	10 September 2014	Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon	88	Cameroon	1–1	1–4	2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
18	15 October 2014	Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast	90	DR Congo	1–1	3–4	2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
19	4 February 2015	Estadio de Bata, Bata, Equatorial Guinea	98	DR Congo	1–0	3–1	2015 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours and Trophies

Touré lifts the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after winning against Ghana in the 2015 final in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.

Olympiacos

• Alpha Ethniki: 2005–06
• Greek Football Cup: 2005–06

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09
• Supercopa de España: 2009
• UEFA Champions League: 2008–09
• UEFA Super Cup: 2009
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2009

Manchester City

• Premier League: 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017–18
• FA Cup: 2010–11; runner-up: 2012–13
• Football League Cup: 2013–14, 2015–16
• FA Community Shield: 2012

Qingdao Huanghai

• China League One: 2019

Ivory Coast

• Africa Cup of Nations: 2015; runner-up: 2006, 2012

See also

In Spanish: Yaya Touré para niños