Former Barcelona star Yaya Toure hopes he and his brother Kolo can show that African coaches can get the right education needed to be elite.
Premier League legend Yaya Toure has revealed that he plans to be an inspiration for the start of a wave of black managers in elite football.
The 40-year-old former Ivorian was one of the best midfielders during his active playing days and has now opened up about his desire to become a top coach as well.
10:50 - 12.10.2023
AFCON draw: Mikel Obi, Didier Drogba, Sadio Mane and Achraf Hakimi team up in Cote d’Ivoire
Mikel Obi, Didier Drogba, Sadio Mane and Achraf Hakimi team up in Cote d’Ivoire for AFCON draw.
16:02 - 09.07.2023
Yaya Toure: Barcelona treble winning side better than Man City’s treble winners
Former Barcelona and Man City star Yaya Toure has brought a new debate about Barcelona’s 2009 treble-winning team and recent Man City treble-winners.
What Yaya Toure said
Yaya Toure recently took on a role as assistant coach of Belgian Pro League side Standard Liege, after previously coaching Tottenham's U-16 team and having brief spells in Russia and Ukraine.
Toure seems intentional in going through a gradual learning process, as he aspires to become one of the elite coaches in the world, and even more than personal ambition, he hopes he and his brother Kolo Toure can become trailblazers for more diversity in elite coaching.
"I want to see diversity," Toure said on the BBC Match of the Day Africa ‘Top 10 Greatest Afcon Managers’ podcast.
"Most of the time, people have questioned whether Africans or black coaches would be able to take lessons properly and get involved in managerial roles. I think now they're going to have the answer soon.
"My brother was first - he started it [coaching], and I was second. Let's see. I'm just challenging myself at a high level in Europe and we'll see if opportunities come in."
His 42-year-old older brother also eased himself into management, working as part of the coaching staff for Brendan Rodgers's Leicester City before bagging a head coach role at Wigan in the Championship.
However, he was fired by the club after only nine games, which included six defeats that saw the club lie at the bottom of the division. Despite sacking Toure, the Latics failed to stave off relegation, and they now compete in League One.
Related content
08:32 - 13.10.2023
FOOTBALL Firat explains why he excluded Elvis Rupia from Harambee Stars squad for Russia test
Engin Firat has explained why he dropped Elvis Rupia from the squad despite starting him in the previous assignments against Qatar and South Sudan.
19:55 - 12.10.2023
AFCON 2023 draw in full: Super Eagles handed tricky draw against familiar foes in Group A
Nigeria face a tough group stage after being drawn alongside hosts and favourites Ivory Coast in Group A
19:18 - 12.10.2023
AFCON DRAW: Super Eagles star Mikel Obi honoured alongside Chelsea legend Drogba and music icon Akon in Ivory Coast
Nigeria's John Mikel Obi was received by the first lady of Ivory Coast Dominique_Ouattara_.
19:32 - 26.09.2023
KANDANDA Twiga Stars yasonga mbele kufuzu WAFCON 2024
Matokeo hayo yameifanya Twiga Stars sasa kusubiri mshindi kati ya Togo au Djibouti.
16:09 - 09.09.2023
Mozambique vs Benin: Ex-Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr suffers AFCON heartbreak in dramatic 5-goal thriller
Former Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr's Benin Republic went head-to-head with Mozambique in a winner-takes-all clash in the AFCONQ2023.
08:06 - 05.09.2023
FOOTBALL Olunga opens up on significance of playing Qatar in upcoming friendly clash
Harambee Stars captain Olunga anticipates testing skills against 2022 World Cup hosts, Qatar.
08:49 - 02.09.2023
FOOTBALL Harambee Stars set for exciting pathway in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Engin Firat's charges gear up for their debut World Cup qualification journey with a challenging pathway ahead.
07:30 - 30.08.2023
Engin Firat explains Harambee Stars high probability of reaching the 2026 World Cup
Firat believes that the group Kenya has been placed in is 'very balanced' with all teams capable of beating each other at any given perio.