Yaya Touré becomes first African coach to reach Champions League league phase

Yaya Touré has become the first African coach to guide a club into the UEFA Champions League league phase after leading Slovan Bratislava through qualification.

The former Ivory Coast international achieved the milestone on August 26, 2026, roughly two months after joining the Slovak club. Slovan’s qualification places Touré in charge of the team in Europe’s leading club competition.

Touré built a distinguished playing career that included spells with Barcelona and Manchester City before moving into coaching. His latest achievement marks a notable step for African representation in elite European club management.

Both Fana Broadcasting Corporate and Al Jazeera reported the milestone on August 27, describing Touré as the first African coach to take a team into the competition’s league phase.