Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure has made African football history after guiding Slovan Bratislava into the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase.
Touré’s remarkable achievement came in his first senior managerial role, just months after taking charge of the Slovakian champions.
Slovan secured their place in Europe’s elite competition after surviving a dramatic second leg encounter against Slovenian side NK Celje on Wednesday.
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the tie went all the way to extra time before Cristian Martinez produced the decisive moment in the 100th minute.
The forward lifted the ball over goalkeeper Žan-Luk Leban and into the far corner to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory for Slovan and spark celebrations among the travelling supporters.
Ivory Coast legend Yaya Touré has made African football history after guiding Slovan Bratislava into the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase in his first senior managerial role. Image source: L’Équipe
By taking Slovan Bratislava into the Champions League league phase, the former Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder has become the first African manager to lead a club into the main phase of Europe’s premier club competition, according to Pulse Sports.
Touré only assumed control of Slovan in June 2026, following seven years working in different coaching and backroom roles. His rapid transition into senior management has now produced a historic European achievement.
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Touré’s breakthrough also builds on the pioneering work of fellow African, a Nigerian coach Ndubuisi Egbo.
Egbo made history in 2020 when he became the first African coach to win a UEFA Champions League match, guiding Albanian club KF Tirana to a 2-0 victory over Dinamo Tbilisi in the qualifying rounds.
He had earlier led Tirana to the Albanian Superliga title, becoming the first African coach to win a top-flight European league championship.
Tirana’s Champions League journey eventually ended against Red Star Belgrade in the second qualifying round. Touré has now taken the achievement a step further by securing a place in the competition’s league phase.
Yaya Toure. Photocredit: Imago
Touré knows the Champions League stage well from his playing days. As a Manchester City midfielder, he helped the club establish itself among Europe’s elite and played a key role in their historic rise.
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