Yaya Touré makes history as first African manager in UCL group stage

Manchester City and Ivory Coast icon Yaya Touré etched his name into football history as the first African manager to guide a club into the UEFA Champions League group stage. He achieved this remarkable feat with Slovak side Slovan Bratislava, who secured their spot after a 2-1 extra-time victory over Celje in the second leg of the qualifying round.

The win, secured by a last-minute goal from Cristian Martínez in the 100th minute, gave Slovan a 3-2 aggregate triumph. Touré, making his managerial debut, surpasses the previous record set by Nigerian coach Ndubuisi Egbo, who led Albanian club FK Tirana to UCL qualification but fell short in the qualifying stage in 2020. Prior to his managerial career, Touré enjoyed a glittering playing career with Barcelona and Manchester City, winning multiple domestic and European titles, and leading Ivory Coast to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title.

After retiring in 2020, he transitioned to coaching roles, including serving as assistant manager at Standard Liege and the Saudi Arabia national team, as well as as head coach of Tottenham Hotspur's youth academy. Slovan Bratislava, who remain undefeated in the Slovak League, will learn their group stage opponents following the UEFA Champions League draw on Thursday.