Manchester City Legend Yaya Toure Appointed Assistant Coach of Russian Club

DBasia.news – Former Barcelona and Manchester City star Yaya Toure has been appointed assistant coach at Russian Premier League side FK Akhmat.

The 38-year-old – who started his coaching career at Ukrainian club Olimpik Donetsk – was given a one-year contract that will keep him at the Akhmat Arena for the 2021/22 season.

The four-time African Footballer of the Year winner is now expected to help Andrei Talalayev on the bench and dressing room.

“Former footballer Yaya Toure has joined the Thunderbirds coaching staff. Head coach Andrey Talalaev will determine his duties as assistant,” read a statement on the club’s official website.

“His contract counts until the end of the 2021/22 season.”

“Yaya has played for teams like Beveren, Metalurh Donetsk, Monaco, Olympiakos, Barcelona and Manchester City.”

“We welcomed Yaya Toure and told him: ‘welcome to Ahmat.’”

A legend with 101 Ivory Coast caps, Toure spent eight unforgettable years at City between 2010 and 2018, winning three Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup.

He last played for Qingdao Huanghai in China’s League One, and he helped them gain promotion to the Super League with champion status.

After leaving China, the Ivory Coast player discussed a transfer with Botafogo but he refused to move to the Brazilian club due to family reasons.

“The coronavirus pandemic has made things difficult in many ways – which is why I left Qingdao Huanghai in China in early 2020 – but it gave me an opportunity to learn,” Toure wrote on Coaches’ Voice.

“I have taken the opportunity to start taking care of my coaching license and thinking about the next chapter. I’ve made good progress in getting my qualifications.”

“But to sit in the office all the time – that’s not me.”

“I want to go out feeling the grass, interact with other people, exchange ideas. I am very lucky that Chris Ramsey has given me the opportunity to do that at QPR.”

“I was able to lead training sessions with a younger age group, watch coach Chris and learn from him, as well as many other good coaches like Andrew Impey and Paul Hall. Les Ferdinand was great, gave me the opportunity to watch these coaches in action. They have encouraged me to learn, and have shown me what you need to do differently to become a top coach.”

“I also had the opportunity to go to Blackburn thanks to Stuart Jones, and the PFA – through Geoff Lomax – has also given me a great opportunity. I’m learning all the time, and I love it!”

“At QPR, after the training session, I spent time with the players and chatted with them. It’s amazing to see how committed they are. They want to achieve as much as I used to, and they always want to learn how to be better. It’s great to be able to help them, and I’m happy to have the opportunity.”