Former Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Touré will become the first African head coach in UEFA Champions League history on Wednesday night when his Slovan Bratislava side face Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.
The 43-year-old took charge of the Slovakian champions this summer in his first role as a head coach, guiding them into European club football's premier competition through several qualifying rounds and the play-offs.
Historic Champions League appointment
European football governing body UEFA confirmed that Touré will be the first African manager to lead a team in the Champions League when the match kicks off at 9 p.m. in Paris.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Touré reflected on the milestone and his journey to the Slovakian capital.
Touré said that learning of the landmark following their play-off qualification was intriguing, though still deeply pleasing. He explained that a new era was under way and emphasized the importance of decision-makers showing the courage to hire young managers.
He thanked Slovan Bratislava leaders Robert Vittek and Ivan Kmotrik Jr. for sharing that vision. Touré added that coaches from his background face significant hurdles and must work two or three times harder to earn such opportunities.
Facing double defending champions PSG
Touré insisted he felt no pressure ahead of testing his team against PSG, whom he described as impressive double defending champions.
He said Slovan Bratislava would approach the match with confidence and desire, striving to play to their full potential without fear.
The appointment marks Touré's first position as head coach after transitioning to management in 2021. He previously gathered experience through coaching roles in youth development and as an assistant manager across spells in England, Belgium, and Saudi Arabia.
During his playing career, Touré earned 97 caps for Ivory Coast and captained his country to victory in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. After playing for Monaco, he spent eight years at Manchester City between 2010 and 2018, winning three Premier League titles as a key midfielder.
