Manchester City and Ivory Coast legend Yaya Touré has made history after becoming the first African coach to lead a club into the UEFA Champions League league phase.
Touré achieved the landmark feat on Wednesday as his Slovakian side, Slovan Bratislava, defeated Celje 2-1 after extra time in the second leg of their final qualifying-round tie, sealing a 3-2 aggregate victory and securing their place in Europe’s elite club competition.
Andraž Šporar gave Slovan an early lead in the 18th minute before Celje drew level through Svit Šešlar, who converted from the penalty spot in the 34th minute.
With the tie heading into extra time, Cristian Martínez emerged as the hero for Touré’s side, scoring in the 100th minute to send Slovan Bratislava into the Champions League league phase.
The achievement sees Touré surpass Nigerian coach Ndubuisi Egbo, who led Albanian club FK Tirana through the Champions League qualifying rounds in 2020 but did not progress to the competition’s main stage.
The 43-year-old former midfielder was appointed Slovan Bratislava manager in July 2026, marking his first senior managerial role. He has also enjoyed an impressive start domestically, with the defending champions winning all four of their opening Slovak League matches.
Touré enjoyed a glittering playing career with Barcelona, Manchester City and the Ivory Coast national team. He won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona during the 2008/09 season and also lifted two La Liga titles.
At Manchester City, he played a key role in the club’s rise to the top of English football, helping them win three Premier League titles.
On the international stage, Touré was part of the Ivory Coast squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
After retiring from professional football in 2020, he began his coaching career as an assistant at several clubs, including Standard Liège. He also worked with the Saudi Arabia national team before later coaching Tottenham Hotspur’s Under-16 side.
Slovan Bratislava will now turn their attention to Thursday’s draw, where they will discover their opponents for the Champions League league phase.
