Football

Yaya Toure goes into coaching

Manchester City's Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure applauds fans after playing for the last time for City in the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 9, 2018. - Toure is leaving Manchester City at the end of the season. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure applauds fans after playing for the last time for City in the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 9, 2018. – Toure is leaving Manchester City at the end of the season. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Ivorian football legend, Yaya Toure has taken his first steps into football management after announcing that he has taken over the role of coach at Ukrainian Premier League club, Olympic Donetsk.
Olympic Donetsk are currently in seventh place in the Ukrainian league standings with 17 points from 12 matches.
The 37-year-old Toure took to social media to announce the news as well as explain the rationale behind his decision to embark on the expedition into the world of coaching.
“It’s great to go back to Ukraine to continue my coaching journey. Thank you to Olympic Donetsk for the wonderful welcome,” he wrote on Twitter. “I’m looking forward to passing on my knowledge, helping the team and also continuing my learning here.
“The Manchester City legend, 37, retired from football a little over a year ago after playing his final game for Chinese side Qingdao Huanghai.
“I would like to also say thanks again to those who have helped me over the last year with building my coaching experience and qualifications.
“Chris Ramsey at QPR, Stuart Jones at Blackburn and Geoff Lomax at PFA – thank you all. I’m excited about the future.”
Early on in his career, Toure played for now-defunct Metalurh Donetsk in the same city.
And now the Ivorian has revealed he decided to kick-off his career in coaching in Donetsk thanks to his love of the city – and desire to learn his trade out of the spotlight.
Toure then explained his decision in an interview with Olympic Donetsk, revealing even his agent was baffled by the decision.
The Manchester City Legend said: “I started my professional career in Donetsk. Now I am here to start my coaching path. “Of course, I understand that Olimpik is not Metallurg, but I remember well how friendly and open people were in Donetsk.
“I am very impressed by the local mentality. “To be honest, even my agent was surprised when he found out that I wanted to study to be a coach in Ukraine, but I was firm in my decision.
“It is not so easy to find a place where you can calmly, without unnecessary pressure, study, where you will be accepted as a friend.”