Yaya Toure becomes first African coach to lead a team into Champions League

What the report says

Former Ivory Coast star Yaya Toure has become the first African coach to guide a team into the UEFA Champions League main round, after leading Slovan Bratislava past NK Celje in the playoff stage. Al Jazeera reported that the Slovak champions advanced on Wednesday with a 3-2 aggregate win, securing a place in the 2026-27 competition.

Toure only joined Slovan Bratislava as head coach in June, and the club has made a fast start under his management. According to the report, the team won its opening qualifying tie against Georgian side Saburtalo, then defeated Sweden’s Mjallby over two legs before overcoming Celje to reach the group phase. The result also gave the club its place in Europe’s top club tournament, one of the most closely watched competitions in football.

The achievement adds to Toure’s profile beyond his playing career. He retired in 2019 after an 18-year spell that included major trophies with Barcelona and Manchester City, and he later worked as an assistant coach at several clubs and with the Saudi Arabian national team. Al Jazeera noted that the club’s Champions League draw was due later on Thursday in Madrid.

The milestone is significant because it marks a new point for African coaches in elite European football, while also highlighting Slovan Bratislava’s rapid progress under a newly appointed manager.