Yaya Touré
{{short description|Ivorian footballer (born 1983)}}
{{pp-protected|reason=Persistent addition of unsourced or poorly sourced content|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Yaya Touré
| image = Yaya Touré (cropped).jpg
| caption = Touré in 2013
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|5|13|df=y}}{{Hugman|25592|Yaya Toure|access-date=10 May 2018}}
| birth_place = Bouaké, Ivory Coast
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Saudi Arabia (assistant)
| youthyears1 = 1996–2001
| youthclubs1 = ASEC Mimosas
| years1 = 2001–2003
| clubs1 = Beveren
| caps1 = 70
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2003–2005
| clubs2 = Metalurh Donetsk
| caps2 = 33
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2005–2006
| clubs3 = Olympiacos
| caps3 = 20
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2006–2007
| clubs4 = Monaco
| caps4 = 27
| goals4 = 5
| years5 = 2007–2010
| clubs5 = Barcelona
| caps5 = 74
| goals5 = 4
| years6 = 2010–2018
| clubs6 = Manchester City
| caps6 = 230
| goals6 = 62
| years7 = 2018
| clubs7 = Olympiacos
| caps7 = 2
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2019
| clubs8 = Qingdao Huanghai
| caps8 = 14
| goals8 = 2
| totalcaps = 470
| totalgoals = 79
| nationalyears1 = 2004–2015
| nationalteam1 = Ivory Coast
| nationalcaps1 = 101
| nationalgoals1 = 19
| manageryears1 = 2021
| managerclubs1 = Olimpik Donetsk (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2021
| managerclubs2 = Akhmat Grozny (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2022–2023
| managerclubs3 = Tottenham Hotspur (academy coach)
| manageryears4 = 2023
| managerclubs4 = Standard Liège (assistant)
| manageryears5 = 2023–
| managerclubs5 = Saudi Arabia (assistant)
| club-update =
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|CIV}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Medal|W|2015|}}
{{Medal|RU|2012|}}
{{Medal|RU|2006|}}
}}
Gnégnéri Yaya Touré (born 13 May 1983) is an Ivorian professional football coach and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently an assistant coach for the Saudi Arabia national team.
Touré aspired to be a striker during his youth{{Cite news |title=Yaya Toure |url=http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/webexclusives/423/article.aspx |magazine=FourFourTwo |access-date=8 May 2012}} and has played centre-back, including for Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final.{{cite news |title=Manchester United v Barcelona: Yaya Toure is Barca's unlikely defender |last=White |first=Duncan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/5373569/Manchester-United-v-Barcelona-Yaya-Toure-is-Barcas-unlikely-defender.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=23 May 2009 |access-date=8 May 2012}} However, he spent the majority of his career as a box-to-box midfielder for club and country, where he has been regarded as one of the world's best players in his position.{{cite news |title=Yaya Toure still has something to offer a Premier League club despite turning 35 |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/club/manchester-city/382/blog/post/3500295/yaya-toure-still-has-something-to-offer-a-premier-league-club-despite-turning-thirty-five |access-date=29 August 2018 |publisher=ESPN}} One of the greatest African players of all time, Touré was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.cafonline.com/football/news/19012-toure-rules-africa-again.html |location=Lagos |publisher=Confederation of African Football |title=Toure crowned African Player of the Year 2011 |date=22 December 2011}}{{cite news |title=Manchester City's Yaya Touré named African Player of the Year once more |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/08/yaya-toure-african-player-of-year-fourth-time |access-date=9 January 2015 |agency=Press Association |issue=8 January 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=8 January 2015}}
Touré began his playing career at Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas, where he made his debut at age 18. His performances attracted attention from Europe. He had stints with Beveren, Metalurh Donetsk, Olympiacos and Monaco before moving to Barcelona in 2007. He played over 100 matches for the club and was part of the historic Barcelona team that won six trophies in a calendar year, in 2009. In 2010, Touré moved to Premier League club Manchester City, where he scored a number of key goals, most notably the only goals in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and final. He also helped City earn their first league title in 44 years.
Touré earned 100 caps for the Ivory Coast from 2004 to 2015, representing the nation at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup tournaments. He also represented them in six Africa Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015, helping them finish runner-up in 2006 and 2012, while captaining them to victory in 2015. He is the younger brother of fellow former footballer Kolo Touré who was his teammate at Manchester City and the national team.
Club career
=Early career=
Touré was born in Bouaké.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44042332 |title=The part Yaya Toure played in Man City's rise and what made him so special – Frank Lampard |first=Frank |last=Lampard |website=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2018 |access-date=10 May 2018}} He joined the ASEC Mimosas youth academy in 1996 on the recommendation of his long-time mentor Patrick van Reijendam. A prominent figure in the ASEC academy was Jean-Marc Guillou. In 2001, Guillou invested heavily in a Belgian club, Beveren, with the aim of using the team to showcase Ivorian players in a European league.{{cite web |first=John |last=Chapman |title=Belgium – African player trade |website=When Saturday Comes |date=January 2005 |access-date=9 May 2014 |url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/18-letter-from/1741-belgium--african-player-trade}} Touré moved to Beveren in 2001, one of many ASEC players to do so in this period. By 2003, he was one of 14 Ivorians in the Beveren squad.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
In the summer of 2003, Touré had a trial with Arsenal.[http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/5689/38/ Ivorian gamble failed to pay off for Beveren] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817123417/http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/5689/38/ |date=17 August 2010 }} When Saturday Comes, 10 August 2010 He started a pre-season friendly against Barnet on 19 July which finished a 0–0 draw. The BBC Sport website said that Touré "blotted his copy book by missing Arsenal's clearest chance of the game, heading a cross from Quincy Owusu-Abeyie wide."[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3080567.stm "Barnet 0–0 Arsenal"]. BBC Sport. 19 July 2003. Wenger was still keen to sign the then 20-year-old but Touré had difficulties in receiving a work permit.[http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/45668/Wenger_Passport_stopped_Yaya_Toure_signing_for_Arsenal.aspx Wenger: Passport stopped Yaya Toure signing for Arsenal] Sport.co.uk, 22 October 2010 Ultimately, Touré grew impatient and opted to sign for Ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk in December 2003, where he spent one and a half years.{{cite news |url=https://metro.co.uk/2011/12/16/yaya-toure-was-average-and-impatient-at-arsenal-says-arsene-wenger-257477/ |title=Yaya Toure was average and impatient at Arsenal, says Arsene Wenger |newspaper=Metro |location=London |date=16 December 2011 |access-date=13 June 2018}}{{cite news |url=http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf15082006_026 |title=Yaya Touré naar Monaco |trans-title=Yaya Touré to Monaco |language=nl |newspaper=De Standaard |location=Groot-Bijgaarden |date=15 August 2006 |access-date=13 June 2018}}
=Olympiacos and Monaco=
Touré joined Olympiacos in 2005. He was described as "the new Patrick Vieira" by his older brother. Olympiacos won the double that season, and Touré was one of their key players. His performances in Greece were impressive and attracted interest from many clubs.{{cite web |title=OLYMPIAKOS CAREER |url=https://www.officialyayatoure.com/club-career/olympiakos/ |website=Official Yaya Toure |access-date=9 July 2018}}
Touré signed for French Ligue 1 club Monaco in August 2006.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4795645.stm |website=BBC Sport |title=Yaya Toure agrees Monaco move |date=15 August 2006}} However, he had a difficult relationship with the incumbent manager, László Bölöni, with Touré claiming Bölöni refused to play him in his preferred midfield position.{{Cite news |title=Toure glad Boloni's gone |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11816/2393311/ |website=Sky Sports |date=24 October 2007 |access-date=8 May 2012}} Bölöni was soon sacked with Monaco languishing in the second-last position in the league table.{{Cite news |title=Monaco part company with coach Boloni |last=Ballerini |first=Etienne |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=387147&cc=5739 |website=ESPN Soccernet |date=23 October 2006 |access-date=8 May 2012 |archive-date=15 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715084433/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=387147&cc=5739 |url-status=dead }}
Laurent Banide replaced Bölöni and Touré subsequently became an influential player in the second half of the season, scoring five times to help haul the club out of relegation difficulties.{{Cite news |title=Yaya Toure a medal professional |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1281020_yaya_toure_a_medal_professional |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=2 July 2010 |access-date=8 May 2012 |archive-date=5 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705150148/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1281020_yaya_toure_a_medal_professional |url-status=dead }} He had established himself as a key midfielder, and with interest from around Europe he decided to join Barcelona in the summer of 2007.{{Cite news |title=Yaya Toure, the rock of Monaco |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=108830.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124201044/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=108830.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 November 2007 |publisher=FIFA |date=20 December 2006 |access-date=8 May 2012}}
=Barcelona=
File:Yaya Touré.JPG in 2009]]
Touré joined Spanish La Liga club Barcelona for €10 million (£6.7 million){{Cite news |title=Barcelona keep spending to snap up Yaya Touré from Monaco |last=Hunt |first=Ben |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jun/26/newsstory.europeanfootball1 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 June 2007 |access-date=8 May 2012}} and made his official debut for the club on 26 August 2007 during the 2007–08 La Liga season opener against Racing de Santander.[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=226601&cc=5901 Racing Santander 0–0 Barcelona] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213192916/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=226601&cc=5901 |date=13 February 2008 }} ESPN Soccernet, 26 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2008 He scored his first goal in a La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao on 2 September 2007, which Barcelona won 3–1.{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=226421&cc=5901 |title=Report: Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao – Spanish Primera División |website=ESPN Soccernet |date=2 September 2007 |access-date=20 May 2012 |archive-date=12 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212185141/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=226421&cc=5901 |url-status=dead }} His first UEFA Champions League match for Barcelona was against Schalke 04 in the 2007–08 quarter-final, securing a 2–0 aggregate victory and a berth in the semi-final.{{cite web |url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2008/round=15107/match=301908/report=rp.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710235225/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2008/round=15107/match=301908/report=rp.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 2012 |title=uefa.com – UEFA Champions League |publisher=UEFA |date=9 April 2008}}
During the early stages of the 2008–09 season, newly appointed manager Pep Guardiola favoured Sergio Busquets in the defensive role of Barcelona's midfield trio. In the 2009 Champions League final, Touré played at centre-back due to injuries and suspensions of first-choice defenders, despite having only played there twice before for Barcelona.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8060878.stm |title=Barcelona 2–0 Man Utd |first=Phil |last=McNulty |website=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2009 |access-date=17 August 2020}} In late June 2010, Barcelona confirmed that Touré would be allowed to leave the club in the summe window.{{cite web |title=Henry and Toure to leave Barcelona |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/06/29/thierry.henry.barcelona/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=13 February 2019}}
=Manchester City=
==2010–11: Debut season and FA Cup==
On 2 July 2010, Touré signed a five-year contract with Premier League club Manchester City for a fee of around £24 million.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/8783455.stm |title=Manchester City sign midfielder Yaya Toure |website=BBC Sport |date=2 July 2010 |access-date=2 May 2023}} He made his Premier League debut on 14 August in a 0–0 away draw against Tottenham Hotspur.{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=293013&cc=5739&league=ENG.1 |title=Tottenham Hotspur 0–0 Manchester City |date=14 August 2010 |website=ESPN Soccernet |access-date=17 August 2010 |archive-date=17 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817181239/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=293013&cc=5739&league=ENG.1 |url-status=dead }} A week later, Touré impressed in the 3–0 home win over Liverpool, forming a part of a three-man midfield with Gareth Barry and Nigel de Jong.[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/aug/23/manchester-city-liverpool-live "Manchester City v Liverpool – as it happened"]. The Guardian. 23 August 2010. On 19 September, Touré scored his first City goal, against Wigan Athletic.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9000605.stm |title=Wigan 0–2 Man City |date=19 September 2010}} The goal was scored in the 70th minute and Touré was assisted by Carlos Tevez, who also scored in that match.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9000605.stm Wigan 0–2 Man City] BBC Sport, 19 September 2010 Touré had been seen to take up a more attacking position under Roberto Mancini and revelled in the position. In December, he scored a brilliant left-footed drive against West Ham United and soon scored a second, which was later credited as an own goal because the ball rebounded off the post onto goalkeeper Robert Green's back and bounced in.[http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-reports/2010/December/West-Ham-v-City City at West Ham match report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213112015/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-reports/2010/December/West-Ham-v-City |date=13 December 2010 }}. Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
In January 2011, Touré scored his third goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a delightful counter-attack move, with Touré making up 90 yards to latch onto the ball and fire it past the goalkeeper, with Manchester City eventually winning 4–3.[http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-reports/2011/January/City-v-Wolves Man City v Wolves, Premier League] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110118051341/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-reports/2011/January/City-v-Wolves |date=18 January 2011 }}. Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 7 May 2012. Touré's fifth goal for City came on 25 February in a UEFA Europa League match against Aris. The goal was a deflected strike to make the score 3–0 to Manchester City. On 16 April 2011, Touré scored the only goal of the game in a Man of the Match performance against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final.{{cite news |title=Man City 1–0 Man Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9457489.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=16 April 2011}} Touré continued his Wembley success by scoring the only goal in his team's 1–0 win over Stoke City in the 2011 FA Cup final,[http://www.goal.com/en/match/59364/man-city-vs-stoke/report "Man City 1–0 Stoke: Toure wins FA Cup"]. Goal. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012. ending Manchester City's 35-year wait for a major trophy,{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/fa-cup/8514022/FA-Cup-final-Manchester-City-1-Stoke-City-0-match-report.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=Duncan |last=White |title=FA Cup final: Manchester City 1 Stoke City 0 match report |date=14 May 2011}} and writing himself into Manchester City folklore in the process.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/8515480/Manchester-City-midfielder-Yaya-Toure-enters-folklore-with-FA-Cup-final-winner-against-Stoke-City.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=Ian |last=Chadband |title=Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré enters folklore with FA Cup final winner against Stoke City |date=15 May 2011}}
==2011–12: First Premier League title==
The 2011–12 season began strongly as Manchester City led the table for the majority of the season, with Touré playing a vital part in midfield. On 21 December 2011, in a 3–0 home win over Stoke City, Touré set new Premier League records for most passes attempted (168) and most completed (157) in a single match.{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/636331 |title=Man City pass league's elite with Chelsea display |publisher=Premier League |date=6 March 2018 |access-date=5 November 2019}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/16173173.stm |title=Man City 3–0 Stoke |website=BBC Sport |last1=Magowan |first1=Alistair |date=21 December 2011 |access-date=6 November 2019}} His efforts and performances were rewarded as he was crowned African Footballer of the Year for 2011, an impressive achievement for a midfielder, since the previous 12 awards have gone to African forwards.
As the 2011–12 came to a close, Manchester City lost ground to Manchester United in the Premier League title race. After a defeat by Arsenal on 8 April 2012,{{Cite news |title=Arsenal 1–0 Manchester City |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17576401 |website=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012}} an eight-point deficit had been established between City and leaders United, with most writing off City's chances of winning the league with six matches remaining. However, City defeated West Bromwich Albion 4–0, Norwich City 6–1, and Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 with United slipping-up, meaning the deficit at the top was now only three points with only three matches to play. A victory at home to Manchester United would move City to top on goal difference. The match was keenly anticipated as one of the most important matches the Premier League's 20-year history.{{Cite news |title=The biggest Manchester derby ever |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7866076/ian-darke-united-versus-city-biggest-manchester-derby-ever |publisher=ESPN |date=30 April 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012}}{{Cite news |title=Massive Manchester derby to guide destiny of title |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/148049.html |publisher=ESPN |date=27 April 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012 |archive-date=1 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601183006/http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/148049.html |url-status=dead }} Manchester City won the match, thanks to Vincent Kompany headed goal just before half-time. Touré's performance throughout the match garnered many plaudits in the media, describing his performance as "dominant" and "magnificent".{{Cite news |title=Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure 'key' to City victory |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17908120 |website=BBC Sport |date=1 May 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012}}
Touré scored a brace on 6 May in City's 2–0 win over Newcastle United, moving three points above Manchester United with one match left to play in the Premier League season.[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=318124&cc=5901 Report: Newcastle United v Manchester City – Barclays Premier League] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508094512/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=318124&cc=5901 |date=8 May 2012 }}. ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 7 May 2012. Touré played the full first half before coming off due to injury as City defeated Queens Park Rangers 3–2 on the final day of the season, assisting Pablo Zabaleta's opening goal in the 39th minute, to secure the first league championship for City in 44 years.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/9257054/Manchester-City-3-Queens-Park-Rangers-2-match-report.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=Henry |last=Winter |title=Manchester City 3 Queens Park Rangers 2: match report |date=13 May 2012}}
==2012–2014: Collective and individual success==
File:Yaya Touré 2012-11-21 1.jpg in 2012]]
Touré started the 2012–13 season with a goal in the FA Community Shield in the 3–2 win over Chelsea in Aston Villa's stadium Villa Park. This goal was followed up by scoring first for City in two games, against Liverpool at Anfield and against Queens Park Rangers at home. In City's opening UEFA Champions League match of the season, away to Real Madrid, Touré produced a stellar individual performance, assisting an Edin Džeko goal and continually worrying the hosts. However, despite his best efforts, City lost 3–2 to a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal. He also scored in the Manchester derby, making it 2–1 to Manchester United, but City eventually lost 3–2. On 20 December 2012, Touré was crowned the 2012 African Player of the Year award at a ceremony in Accra, Ghana. It is the second time he has won the award.{{cite news |url=http://www.cafonline.com/football/news/16154-toure-wins-his-second-african-player-of-the-year-award.html |title=Toure wins his second African Player of the Year |publisher=Confederation of African Football |date=20 December 2012 |access-date=2 September 2014}} On 24 February 2013, after returning from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Touré scored the opening goal as City beat Chelsea 2–0 in the Premier League.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21489693 |title=Man City 2 0 Chelsea |date=24 February 2013 |website=BBC Sport}} On 4 April 2013, Touré signed a new contract with City, keeping him at the club until 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/2013/April/Yaya-Toure-signs-new-deal-at-City |title=Yaya Toure signs new deal |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |date=4 April 2013 |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-date=5 May 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505041259/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/2013/April/Yaya-Toure-signs-new-deal-at-City |url-status=dead }}
Touré scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season with a free kick as City defeated Newcastle United 4–0 in their opening Premier League match. On 22 September 2013, he scored the second goal in a 4–1 derby win over Manchester United{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/22/manchester-city-united-premier-league |title=Manchester City make easy work of lacklustre Manchester United |date=22 September 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}} and was named man of the match.{{cite news |url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/yaya-toure-a-true-force-in-manchester-citys-derby-win-over-united |title=Yaya Toure a true force in Manchester City's derby win over United |date=22 September 2013 |newspaper=The National |location=Abu Dhabi}} Under City manager Manuel Pellegrini, Touré was promoted to vice-captain. He regularly captained the team in the first half of the 2013–14 season in the absence of Vincent Kompany.{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/257437.html |title=Yaya Toure denies he is unhappy at City |date=14 November 2013 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=5 December 2013 |archive-date=13 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213034744/http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/257437.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11945/9052412/ |title=Premier League: Yaya Toure hoping to help Manchester City make history |date=1 December 2013 |website=Sky Sports}} On 2 December, Touré was named the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25154008 |title=Yaya Toure named 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year |date=2 December 2013 |website=BBC Sport}}
On 4 December 2013, Touré scored twice for Manchester City in a 3–2 win at West Bromwich Albion. This took his tally of league goals to seven, his highest in a single Premier League season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25115948 |title=West Brom 2 3 Man City |date=4 December 2013 |website=BBC Sport}} On 2 March 2014, Touré scored the equalising goal for Manchester City in the 2014 League Cup final against Sunderland.{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/288059.html |title=Toure and Nasri shatter Sunderland dream |date=2 March 2014 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=3 March 2014}}
The match ended in a 3–1 win for Manchester City.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/league-cup/10670830/Manchester-City-v-Sunderland-Capital-One-Cup-final-as-it-happened.html |title=Manchester City v Sunderland, Capital One Cup final: as it happened |date=2 March 2014 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=3 March 2014 |first=Rob |last=Smyth}} He scored the first hat-trick of his career on 22 March in a 5–0 home win over Fulham.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26590071 |title=Manchester City 5–0 Fulham |work=BBC Sport |access-date=7 November 2021}} Touré scored the third goal for Manchester City on 25 March in the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford, helping City to a 3–0 victory over their local rivals.{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/287560 |title=Premier League: Manchester City go second with 3–0 derby win at United |website=Sky Sports |date=25 March 2014 |access-date=26 March 2014}} On 18 April, Touré was named as one of the six players on the shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27076251 |title=PFA award: Liverpool's Suarez, Gerrard & Sturridge on shortlist |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=19 April 2014 |website=BBC Sport}} before being named in the PFA Team of the Year.{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9286998/pfa-unveils-team-of-the-year |title=PFA unveils Team of the Year |date=27 April 2014 |access-date=28 April 2014 |website=Sky Sports}}
On 7 May 2014, Touré scored his 20th Premier League goal of the season in a 4–0 win against Aston Villa, becoming only the second midfielder to score 20 goals in a Premier League season, after Frank Lampard. His performances helped City to a second Premier League title in three years.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26396253 |title=Manchester City 4–0 Aston Villa |date=7 May 2014 |access-date=8 May 2014 |website=BBC Sport}} Touré completed more passes than any other player throughout the 2013–14 Premier League season, with 1,169 successful passes in total; he also made an average of 76.41 passes per game, and achieved an average passing accuracy of 90.76% throughout the course of the entire season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bsports.com/extratime/liverpool-arsenal-swansea-manchester-city-the-best-passers-in-the-premier-league |title=The Best Passers in the Premier League: Toure, Ramsey, Sakho & Canas |date=24 December 2014 |access-date=2 May 2014 |website=BSports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502170703/https://www.bsports.com/extratime/liverpool-arsenal-swansea-manchester-city-the-best-passers-in-the-premier-league |archive-date=2 May 2014}}
==2014–2018: Later seasons and departure==
On 5 November 2014, in a home UEFA Champions League group fixture against CSKA Moscow, Touré scored City's equaliser in the eighth minute after Seydou Doumbia had taken under two minutes to put CSKA ahead. City were already 2–1 down and had Fernandinho sent off when Touré was dismissed for shoving Roman Eremenko. The result put City into last place in their group.{{cite news |last1=Hart |first1=Simon |title=Doumbia shatters City as CSKA win in Manchester |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/021b-0e8e37fcff5e-ae2307a69825-1000--doumbia-shatters-city-as-cska-win-in-manchester/ |access-date=5 November 2014 |publisher=UEFA |date=5 November 2014}} On 1 March 2015, Touré started the Premier League match against Liverpool and his brother Kolo Touré came on as an 83rd-minute substitute, marking the first time the two brothers faced each other in a competitive match.{{cite news |title=Premier League – Yaya and Kolo Toure play against each other for first EVER time |website=Eurosport |url=https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/premier-league-yaya-kolo-toure-play-first-ever-145050646--sow.html |first=Tom |last=Adams |date=1 March 2015 |access-date=1 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402141915/https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/premier-league-yaya-kolo-toure-play-first-ever-145050646--sow.html |archive-date=2 April 2015}}
On 10 August 2015, Touré scored as Manchester City defeated West Bromwich Albion 3–0 at The Hawthorns in their opening fixture of the 2015–16 Premier League season.{{cite news |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/toure-launches-city-epl-campaign-double-150811064108641.html |title=Toure launches City's EPL campaign with a double |date=11 August 2015 |publisher=Al Jazeera}} Although he played in the second leg of the Champions League play-off against Steaua București, Guardiola opted to omit Touré from City's Champions League squad.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37249153 |title=Man City: Yaya Toure left out of Champions League squad |date=2 September 2016 |website=BBC Sport}} Touré's agent, Dimitri Seluk, subsequently stated that Guardiola humiliated Touré by omitting him for the first team. In response, Guardiola said Touré would not be included in the team until he receives an apology.{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/pep-guardiola-humiliated-yaya-toure-8763635 |title=Pep Guardiola has "humiliated" Yaya Toure with Champions League snub, says Man City outcast's agent |date=3 September 2016 |newspaper=Daily Mirror}} A few weeks after a public apology to Guardiola on behalf of his agent, Touré made a surprising return to the first team on 16 November, starting against Crystal Palace in which he scored two goals to earn City a 2–1 away win.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37959793 |title=Crystal Palace 1–2 Manchester City |date=19 November 2016 |website=BBC Sport}}
It was announced on 4 May 2018 that Touré would leave Manchester City at the end of the 2017–18 season.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44005863 |title=Yaya Toure: Manchester City midfielder to leave at end of season |date=4 May 2018 |website=BBC Sport|access-date=10 May 2018}} His final appearance came in the 3–1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43361368 |title=Manchester City 3–1 Brighton & Hove Albion |date=9 May 2018 |website=BBC Sport|access-date=10 May 2018}}
=Later career=
Toure re-signed for Super League Greece club Olympiacos on 2 September 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45391310 |title=Yaya Toure: Olympiakos fans welcome former Manchester City player to Athens |website=BBC Sport |date=2 September 2018 |access-date=2 September 2018}} His contract with Olympiacos was terminated in December 2018 by mutual agreement.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46530008 |title=Yaya Toure leaves Olympiakos three months after rejoining Greek club |date=11 December 2018 |website=BBC Sport}}
On 3 July 2019, Touré joined China League One club Qingdao Huanghai.{{cite news |url=https://sports.sina.cn/china/2019-07-03/detail-ihytcerm1082906.d.html |title=终于官宣了！图雷正式加盟黄海 英超巨星力助冲超 |publisher=Sina Sports |language=zh |date=3 July 2019 |access-date=3 July 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48852417 |title=Yaya Toure: Former Manchester City midfielder signs for Qingdao Huanghai |date=3 July 2019 |website=BBC Sport}} He left the club on 1 January 2020.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} He started to work with his advisor, in Asia, Richard Harcus to help with his transition into coaching, with a lot of speculation as it whether he would continue playing in Asia for another season.{{Cite web |title=Richard Harcus: 'Yaya Toure muốn lương thấp hơn cả Quang Hải, nhưng các CLB V.League không tin và không dám ký' |url=https://ithethao.vn/magazine/richard-harcus-yaya-toure-muon-luong-thap-hon-ca-quang-hai-nhung-cac-clb-vleague-khong-tin-va-khong-dam-ky-64.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=ithethao.vn |language=vi}}
International career
File:Yaya Toure 9229.JPG in 2012]]
Touré was a regular member of the Ivory Coast national team from his debut in 2004 to the end of his international career after 2015. In 2014, he was named captain of the team following the retirement of Didier Drogba.{{cite news |url=http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/236250-yaya-toure-relishing-responsibility-as-ivory-coast-skipper |title=Yaya Toure Relishing Responsibility as Ivory Coast Skipper |access-date=5 February 2015 |website=NDTV Sports}} Touré won his 100th international cap in his side's 0–0 draw with Cameroon on 19 November 2014.{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-lose-toure-services-8139465 |title=Man City to lose Toure services in January |first=David |last=Lynch |date=20 November 2014 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News|access-date=7 November 2021}}
Touré appeared in all three of Ivory Coast's matches at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} In the 2010 tournament, he again played in all three of his nation's games, scoring the opening goal in a 3–0 win over North Korea.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} Touré made his third and final World Cup tournament appearance during the 2014 competition, and captained the team in their opening match, a 2–1 defeat of Japan.{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186507/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618063339/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186507/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 June 2014 |title=Yaya Toure Relishing Responsibility as Ivory Coast Skipper |date=15 June 2014 |access-date=16 June 2014 |publisher=FIFA}}
Touré represented the Ivory Coast at six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015; his side ended as runners-up in the 2006 and 2012 editions, and won the tournament in 2015. Touré was named in the CAF's team of the tournament in 2008, 2012 and 2015.{{cite news |url=http://africanfootball.com/news/508535/AFCON-Best-XI |title=AFCON Best XI |access-date=10 February 2015 |website=African Football}} On 4 February 2015, Touré scored the opening goal in the Ivory Coast's 3–1 semi-final victory over DR Congo to qualify the team for their third Africa Cup of Nations final in nine years.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/30665698 |title=Afcon 2015: DR Congo v Ivory Coast |date=4 February 2015 |access-date=5 February 2015 |website=BBC Sport}} On 8 February, in the final held at the Estadio de Bata in Equatorial Guinea, Touré captained the Ivory Coast as they won a first AFCON title since 1992, defeating Ghana in a penalty shoot-out.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31271441 |title=Afcon 2015: Yaya Toure hails 'unbelievable' Ivory Coast win |date=9 February 2015 |access-date=10 February 2015 |website=BBC Sport}}
On 20 September 2016, Touré announced his retirement from international football.{{Cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/10585910/yaya-toure-announces-international-retirement |title=Yaya Toure announces international retirement |date=20 September 2016 |website=Sky Sports}} He returned to the national team set-up in March 2018,{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43449525 |title=Ivory Coast confirm Yaya Toure's return after three year absence |date=18 March 2018 |website=BBC Sport|access-date=27 March 2018}} but would play no further games for the nation before his eventual retirement from professional football.
Style of play
Formerly a striker, Touré played primarily in the centre of the pitch as either a holding midfielder or as a box-to-box midfielder, often switching between offensive and defensive stances throughout matches in the latter role. Touré was a complete and versatile midfielder.{{cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2016-02-03/pep-guardiola-arrival-could-end-declining-yaya-toures-man-city-career/ |title=Pep Guardiola arrival could end declining Yaya Toure's Man City career |website=ITV News |last1=Heneage |first1=Kristan |date=3 February 2016 |access-date=7 July 2019}} He was also capable of playing as a centre-back or in the number 10 role. His key strengths were his passing range, vision and physical ability. He was gifted with good technique and ball control, although he also excelled defensively at breaking down opposing attacking plays and winning back possession through his powerful tackling ability.{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/player/69277/yaya-tour%C3%A9 |title=Yaya Touré |website=ESPN FC |access-date=22 September 2014}}{{cite web |title=Yaya Toure |date=20 January 2012 |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/yaya-toure |access-date=22 September 2014}} He was known for his pace, stamina and physical presence, which was often combined with runs from midfield, and he had been referred to as a "human train" and a "colossus" by various pundits.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/may/06/yaya-toure-manchester-city |title=Yaya Touré, the Manchester City colossus, proves worth every penny |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=6 May 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012 |first=Louise |last=Taylor}} Touré was frequently pushed forward during the latter part of matches, most notably in the penultimate match of the 2011–12 season against Newcastle United where Touré scored two late goals to win the match, and put Manchester City at the top of the league.{{cite web |url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/05/06/mancinis-switch-puts-city-close-to-the-title/ |title=Mancini's switch puts City close to the title |website=Zonal Marking |date=6 May 2012 |access-date=14 May 2012 |archive-date=31 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231083011/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/05/06/mancinis-switch-puts-city-close-to-the-title/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.theirtactics.com/newcastle-0-2-manchester-city-mancini%E2%80%99s-otherwise-defensive-substitution-frees-yaya-toure/ |title=Contact Support |website=Theirtactics.com}} He was also capable of scoring goals due to his powerful striking ability from distance,{{cite web |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/it/features/la-top-100-del-2013-di-fft-dal-n20-al-n11 |title=La Top 100 del 2013 di FFT: dal n.20 al n.11 |website=FourFourTwo |language=it |access-date=22 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104192801/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/it/features/la-top-100-del-2013-di-fft-dal-n20-al-n11 |archive-date=4 November 2014}} and his heading ability, as well as his adeptness at scoring from free kicks and penalties. Jonathan Wilson, when writing for The Guardian in 2013, described Touré as a holding midfielder who can "make tackles," and who was "capable of regaining the ball," while also noting that he frequently functioned "as the more creative player alongside a destroyer." He also added that "he likes to make forward surges." As such, he labelled Touré as a "carrier" or "surger," namely "a player capable of making late runs or carrying the ball at his feet."{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/dec/18/question-holding-midfielders-changing-role |title=The Question: what does the changing role of holding midfielders tell us? |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Wilson |first=Jonathan |date=18 December 2013|access-date=31 October 2014}}
Touré had in his repertoire an unusual method of striking the ball, referred to by Norwegian footballer Alexander Tettey as a "Yaya", and described by BBC Sport's Pat Nevin as a way of striking the ball with a far back area of the foot close to the heel, allowing the ball to move in a straight line which a goalkeeper can find hard to read.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35314283 |title=Pat Nevin analysis: Scoring secrets: Toe-poke, scoop or the Yaya? |website=BBC Sport |access-date=3 February 2016}}
Coaching career
Embarking on his coaching pathway Yaya Touré sat his UEFA licence through the Welsh FA (FAW) with the guidance of his then Asian agent Richard Harcus. During COVID 19 he assisted at Leyton Orient FC. {{Cite web |date=2020-07-27 |title=‘Yaya Toure at Leyton Orient? I thought it was a wind up!’ – Arrival of Manchester City legend stunned manager Embleton {{!}} Goal.com |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/yaya-toure-leyton-orient-wind-up-man-city-legend-embleton/191hld9iaorob1lw1phcx2ddlq |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.goal.com |language=en}}
On 10 February 2021, Touré joined Ukrainian Premier League club Olimpik Donetsk as assistant manager.{{cite press release |url=https://olimpik.com.ua/dobro-pozhalovat-iaia |title=Welcome, Yaya! |publisher=FC Olimpik Donetsk |date=10 February 2021 |access-date=10 February 2021 |language=ru}} He left the position after 4 months at the club.{{cite press release |url=https://olimpik.com.ua/spasibo-iaia |title=Thanks, Yaya! |publisher=FC Olimpik Donetsk |date=22 May 2021 |access-date=22 May 2021 |language=ru |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512092547/https://olimpik.com.ua/spasibo-iaia |url-status=dead }}
On 14 June 2021, Touré was appointed as an assistant coach by Russian Premier League club Akhmat Grozny until June 2022.{{cite web |publisher=Sport News Africa |url=https://sportnewsafrica.com/en/breve/akhmat-grozny-yaya-toure-appointed-assistant-coach/ |date=14 June 2021 |access-date=16 June 2021 |title=Akhmat Grozny: Yaya Toure appointed assistant coach |archive-date=29 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829122509/https://sportnewsafrica.com/en/breve/akhmat-grozny-yaya-toure-appointed-assistant-coach/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |publisher=FC Akhmat Grozny |url=http://fc-akhmat.ru/page/12388|script-title=ru:Яя Туре вошёл в тренерский штаб ФК "Ахмат"|trans-title=Yaya Touré joined coaching staff of FC Akhmat |date=14 June 2021 |language=ru}} Touré left the club on 13 December 2021.{{cite web |title=Яя Туре покидает грозненский клуб |url=http://fc-akhmat.ru/page/12787 |publisher=FC Akhmat Grozny |access-date=13 December 2021 |language=ru |date=13 December 2021}}
After a spell coaching part-time, Touré became an under-16 coach at Tottenham Hotspur's academy in August 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cn03eqr1q5wo |title=Toure joins Tottenham coaching staff |website=BBC Sport |date=12 August 2022| access-date=16 September 2022}} The following June, he moved to Belgian club Standard Liège as assistant manager.{{Cite web |title=Yaya Toure appointed first-team coach at Belgium club Standard Liege|url=https://soccerbrief.co.uk/yaya-toure-appointed-first-team-coach-at-belgium-club-standard-liege/ |date=2023-06-21|access-date=2023-06-21 |website=SoccerBrief.co.uk |language=en-gb}}
On 3 November 2023, Touré was named as assistant coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, to join the staff of his former manager at Manchester City Roberto Mancini.{{cite web |url=https://www.beinsports.com/en-au/football/articles/chance-to-work-with-roberto-mancini-in-saudi-arabia-too-tempting-for-yaya-toure-2023-11-03 |title=Chance to work with Roberto Mancini in Saudi Arabia too tempting for Yaya Toure |publisher=beIN SPORTS |date=3 November 2023 }}
Personal life
Touré is the younger brother of Kolo Touré, who was his teammate at Manchester City and the Ivory Coast national team. Their younger brother Ibrahim Touré was also a footballer, who died on 19 June 2014 at the age of 28 after a short battle with cancer.{{cite web |title=World Cup – Ibrahim Toure, brother of Yaya and Kolo, dies aged 28 |url=https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-toure-brother-dies-aged-28-101644760--sow.html |website=Eurosport |access-date=20 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624130929/https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-toure-brother-dies-aged-28-101644760--sow.html |archive-date=24 June 2014}}{{cite web |title=Les frères Touré en deuil |url=http://www.fif-ci.com/~v2/?q=article/el%C3%A9phants-10 |publisher=Fédération Ivoirienne de Football |language=fr |date=19 June 2014}} Touré is Muslim.
In October 2013, Touré joined a campaign against elephant poaching, becoming a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24726624 |title=Yaya Toure joins UN campaign to save elephants |website=BBC News |date=29 October 2013}}
On 13 December 2016, Touré pleaded guilty to drink driving. He was arrested by police on 28 November after being pulled over and found to be more than twice over the legal driving limit.{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/manchester-city-star-yaya-toure-9384409 |title=Manchester City star Yaya Toure charged with drink driving after being pulled over by police in London |newspaper=Daily Mirror |first=Richard |last=Wheatstone |date=3 December 2016 |access-date=13 December 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38299308 |title=Yaya Toure: Man City player accepts drink-driving charge |website=BBC Sport |date=3 December 2016 |access-date=13 December 2016}} Touré said he had not "intentionally consumed alcohol", explaining to the court he had consumed diet cola from a jug at a party without realising there was brandy in it. He conceded that his drink tasted "odd" and that he felt tired after consuming it, but did not suspect he was drunk.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/13/manchester-citys-yaya-toure-denies-consuming-alcohol-intentionally/ |title=Man City's Yaya Toure handed 'biggest ever' drink-driving fine of £54k |last=McNulty |first=Gordon |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=3 December 2016 |access-date=13 December 2016 |url-access=subscription}} Judge Gary Lucy said it was "inconceivable" that he was unaware that he was drinking alcohol. Touré was banned from driving for 18 months, and was fined £54,000 – at the time the largest fine for drink driving in British legal history.
In 2018, Yaya Touré acquired British citizenship.{{Cite web |title=Yaya Toure has British citizenship, and still set to join a new club|url=https://m.allfootballapp.com/news/EPL/Yaya-Toure-has-British-citizenship-and-still-set-to-join-a-new-club/776168 |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=AllfootballOfficial}}
Awards and nominations
Touré was nominated in the Personality of the Year category at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2014/04/17/mafikizolo-uhuru-davido-lead-nominations-for-mtv-africa-music-awards |title=Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Davido lead nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards |website=Sowetan LIVE |access-date=17 April 2014}} In July 2014, Touré was nominated for Prize in Entertainment at the 2014 The Future Africa Awards.{{cite news |last1=Ezeamalu |first1=Ben |title=Yaya Toure, Ice Prince, Davido Shortlisted For 2014 Future Africa Awards |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/arts-entertainment/165529-yaya-toure-ice-prince-davido-shortlisted-for-2014-future-africa-awards.html#sthash.lRcowZZX.dpbs |newspaper=Premium Times |location=Abuja |access-date=5 August 2014 |date=25 July 2014}} In December 2015, Touré won the BBC African Footballer of the Year on a public vote for the second time, after leading the Ivory Coast to victory in the 2015 African Cup of Nations.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35062487 |title=Yaya Toure wins BBC African Footballer of the Year award 2015 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=4 January 2016}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{notelist}}
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ytoure-intlg.html |title=Gnégnéri Yaya Touré – Century of international appearances |first=Roberto |last=Mamrud |date=14 September 2017 |publisher=RSSSF |access-date=23 July 2019}} | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=12|Ivory Coast
|2004 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 15 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2010 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2011 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2012 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 10 | 6 | |
| 2014 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 9 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total||101||19 |
:Ivory Coast score listed first, score column indicates score after each Touré goal
Honours
File:Yaya Toure ACON trophy 2015.jpg after winning against Ghana in the 2015 final in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.|379x379px]]
Olympiacos
- Alpha Ethniki: 2005–06{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/16/football/gallery/yaya-toure-manchester-city/index.html |title=Yaya Toure: A career in pictures |publisher=CNN |date=16 January 2015 |access-date=17 August 2020}}
- Greek Football Cup: 2005–06{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/kypello-elladas-2005-2006-finale-olympiakos-piraeus-aek-athen/ |title=Greece: Kypello Elladas 2005/2006: Final: Olympiakos Piräus – AEK Athen 3:0: Match details |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=17 August 2020}}
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2008–09,{{cite web |url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/t/t2008-091.html?t=lista |title=Barcelona 2008–09: Statistics |website=BDFutbol |access-date=17 August 2020}} 2009–10{{cite web |url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/t/t2009-101.html?t=lista |title=Barcelona 2009–10: Statistics |website=BDFutbol |access-date=17 August 2020}}
- Copa del Rey: 2008–09{{cite web |url=http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=8704 |title=Acta del Partido celebrado el 13 de mayo de 2009, en Valencia |trans-title=Minutes of the Match held on 13 May 2009, in Valencia |publisher=Royal Spanish Football Federation |access-date=17 August 2020 |language=es |archive-date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615003316/http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=8704 |url-status=dead }}
- Supercopa de España: 2009{{cite web |url=http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=8847 |title=Acta del Partido celebrado el 16 de agosto de 2009, en Bilbao |trans-title=Minutes of the Match held on 16 August 2009, in Bilbao |publisher=Royal Spanish Football Federation |access-date=17 August 2020 |language=es }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{cite web |url=http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=8848 |title=Acta del Partido celebrado el 23 de agosto de 2009, en Barcelona |trans-title=Minutes of the Match held on 23 August 2009, in Barcelona |publisher=Royal Spanish Football Federation |access-date=17 August 2020 |language=es |archive-date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615173237/http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=8848 |url-status=dead }} - UEFA Champions League: 2008–09{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/302813--barcelona-vs-man-united/ |title=2008/09, Final: Barcelona 2–0 Man. United: Overview |publisher=UEFA |access-date=17 August 2020}}
- UEFA Super Cup: 2009{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/match/2001219--barcelona-vs-shakhtar-donetsk/lineups/?iv=true |title=Final: Barcelona 1–0 Shakhtar Donetsk: Line-ups |publisher=UEFA |access-date=17 August 2020}}
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2009{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=252913/match=300111971/report.html |title=Match report: Estudiantes (La Plata) – Futbol Club Barcelona |publisher=FIFA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328191801/https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=252913/match=300111971/report.html |archive-date=28 March 2019}}
Manchester City
- Premier League: 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017–18{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/4148/Yaya-Touré/overview |title=Yaya Touré: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=15 May 2018}}
- FA Cup: 2010–11;{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13346941 |title=Man City 1–0 Stoke |first=Phil |last=McNulty |website=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525071238/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13346941 |archive-date=25 May 2014}} runner-up: 2012–13{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22409634 |title=Man City 0–1 Wigan |first=Phil |last=McNulty |website=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112212927/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22409634 |archive-date=12 January 2016}}
- Football League Cup: 2013–14,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26311649 |title=Manchester City 3–1 Sunderland |first=Phil |last=McNulty |website=BBC Sport |date=2 March 2014 |access-date=26 April 2019}} 2015–16{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35624164 |title=Liverpool 1–1 Manchester City |first=Phil |last=McNulty |website=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2016 |access-date=26 April 2019}}
- FA Community Shield: 2012{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19133978 |title=Chelsea 2–3 Man City |first=Ben |last=Smith |website=BBC Sport |date=12 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121002518/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19133978 |archive-date=21 January 2016}}
Qingdao Huanghai
- China League One: 2019{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-espanyol-coach-machin-makes-chinese-super-league-071127588--sow.html |title=Ex-Espanyol coach Machin makes Chinese Super League move |website=Yahoo Sports |date=22 July 2020 |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=17 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817192433/https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-espanyol-coach-machin-makes-chinese-super-league-071127588--sow.html |url-status=dead }}
Ivory Coast
- Africa Cup of Nations: 2015;{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31079315 |title=Ivory Coast 0–0 Ghana |first=Ian |last=Hughes |website=BBC Sport |date=8 February 2015 |access-date=17 August 2020}} runner-up: 2006,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4701454.stm |title=Clockwatch: Egypt 0–0 Ivory Coast |website=BBC Sport |date=10 February 2006 |access-date=17 August 2020}} 2012{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17005245 |title=Africa Cup of Nations final as it happened |website=BBC Sport |date=12 February 2012 |access-date=17 August 2020}}
Individual
- Ivory Coast Player of the Year: 2009{{cite web |title=Player of the year » Ivory Coast |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/footballer_of_the_year/elfenbeinkueste/ |website=World Football |access-date=16 November 2020}}
- CAF Team of the Year: 2008,{{cite web |title=CAF – CAF Awards – Previous Editions – 2008 |url=http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/cafawards/previouseditions/2008.aspx |access-date=18 January 2017 |publisher=CAF}} 2009,{{cite web |title=CAF – CAF Awards – Previous Editions – 2009 |url=http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/cafawards/previouseditions/2009.aspx |access-date=11 January 2016 |publisher=CAF}} 2011,{{cite web |title=CAF – CAF Awards – Previous Editions – 2011 |url=http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/cafawards/previouseditions/2011.aspx |access-date=9 December 2015 |publisher=CAF}} 2012,{{cite web |title=CAF – CAF Awards – Previous Editions – 2012 |url=http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/cafawards/previouseditions/2012.aspx |access-date=8 December 2015 |publisher=CAF}} 2013,{{cite web |title=CAF – CAF Awards – Previous Editions – 2013 |url=http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/cafawards/previouseditions/2013.aspx |access-date=8 December 2015 |publisher=CAF}} 2014,{{cite web |date=9 January 2015 |title=Glo-CAF awards 2014 winners |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/54/119850/Sports/Africa/GloCAF-awards--winners-.aspx |access-date=9 December 2015 |publisher=Ahram}} 2015{{cite news |date=7 January 2016 |title=Aubameyang, Samatta Rule Africa |url=http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=rIVF4WCnlfavi%2FKHOwXX6w%3D%3D |access-date=7 January 2016 |publisher=CAF}}
- African Footballer of the Year: 2011,{{Cite news |title=Yaya Toure is named Caf African Player of the Year |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16309246 |website=BBC Sport |date=22 December 2011 |access-date=8 May 2012}} 2012,{{cite web |title=Yaya Toure wins 2012 African Player of the Year award |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/yaya-toure-wins-2012-african-player-of-the-year-award-8428243.html |newspaper=Evening Standard |location=London |date=21 December 2012}} 2013,{{cite web |title=Yaya Toure named 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25154008 |website=BBC Sport |date=2 December 2013}} 2014{{cite web |title=Yaya Toure wins fourth African Player of the Year title in a row |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30736118 |website=BBC Sport |date=8 January 2015}}
- Premio Bulgarelli Number 8: 2013{{Cite web |last=Cozzolino |first=Giuseppe |date=10 February 2014 |title=Yaya Tourè vince il Premio Bulgarelli 2013 (video) |url=https://calcio.fanpage.it/yaya-toure-vince-il-premio-bulgarelli-2013-video/ |access-date=7 January 2022 |website=Fanpage.it |language=it}}
- ESM Team of the Year: 2013–14{{cite web |title=Die ESM-Topelf der Saison 2013/14 – ein Deutscher ist dabei |url=https://www.kicker.de/die-esm-topelf-der-saison-20132f14---ein-deutscher-ist-dabei-605656/slideshow |website=Kicker |publisher=Olympia-Verlag |language=de |date=5 June 2014}}
- PFA Team of the Year: 2011–12 Premier League,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17734248 |title=Spurs defender Kyle Walker wins PFA Young Player award |website=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2012 |access-date=19 April 2018}} 2013–14 Premier League{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27180793 |title=Luis Suarez: Liverpool striker wins PFA Player of the Year award |website=BBC Sport |date=28 April 2014 |access-date=19 April 2018}}
- BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2013,{{Cite news |title=Yaya Toure named 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25154008 |website=BBC Sport |date=2 December 2013 |access-date=2 December 2013}} 2015
- Manchester City Player of the Year: 2013–14{{cite web |title=50 years of MCFC player of the year: Part 5 |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/first-team/first-team-news/2017/june/50-years-of-mcfc-player-of-the-year-part-5 |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |date=23 June 2017}}
- Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2015{{cite web |url=http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=N5LLNBRtUVsPZJSOkHVjrw%3D%3D |title=Orange AFCON 2015 Awards and Best XI |publisher=Confederation of African Football |date=12 February 2015 |access-date=8 June 2016}}
- Sports Illustrated Premier League Team of the Decade: 2010–2019{{Cite web |date=30 December 2019 |title=Premier League Team of the 2010s: The Decade's Best |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/12/30/premier-league-best-team-decade-2010s |website=si.com |language=}}
- IFFHS CAF Men's Team of the Decade 2011–2020{{Cite web |date=28 January 2021 |title=IFFHS (International Federation of Football for History & Statistics |url=https://www.iffhs.com/index.php/posts/926|access-date=31 January 2021 |publisher=International Federation of Football for History & Statistics}}
- IFFHS All-time Africa Men's Dream Team: 2021{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1121 |publisher=IFFHS |date=29 May 2021| access-date=31 May 2021 |title=IFFHS}}
- FWA Tribute Award: 2023{{cite web |url=https://footballwriters.co.uk/uncategorized/yaya-toure-honoured-with-fwa-tribute-award/ |title=Yaya Toure honoured with FWA Tribute Award |publisher=Football Writers' Association |date=20 February 2023 |access-date=20 February 2023}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{FIFA}}
- {{UEFA|archive=20190705062042}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Ivory Coast squads
| bg = #FF7300
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{{Ivory Coast squad 2006 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2008 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2010 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2012 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2013 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2015 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| bg = gold
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| title = Awards
| list1 =
{{2015 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament}}
{{2011–12 Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{2013–14 Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{2008 CAF Team of the Year}}
{{2009 CAF Team of the Year}}
{{2011 CAF Team of the Year}}
{{2012 CAF Team of the Year}}
{{2013 CAF Team of the Year}}
{{2014 CAF Team of the Year}}
{{2015 CAF Team of the Year}}
{{African Footballer of the Year}}
{{Manchester City F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{BBC African Footballer of the Year}}
{{FWA Tribute Award}}
}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Toure, Yaya}}
Category:Footballers from Bouaké
Category:Ivorian men's footballers
Category:Ivory Coast men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:K.S.K. Beveren players
Category:FC Metalurh Donetsk players
Category:Olympiacos F.C. players
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
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Category:Ukrainian Premier League players
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:Premier League players
Category:China League One players
Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players
Category:African Footballer of the Year winners
Category:2006 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2008 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:2010 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2012 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:2013 Africa Cup of Nations players
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Category:2015 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:Africa Cup of Nations–winning players
Category:FIFA Men's Century Club
Category:Ivorian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in China
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Monaco
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ukraine
Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in China
Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Monaco
Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine
Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Russia
Category:Association football coaches
Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. non-playing staff