Biography
Who is Yaya Touré?
Early life and real name
The full name of the athlete is Gnégnéri Yaya Touré. He was born in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, on May 13, 1983. During his youth, he aspired to play as a striker and began his development at the local ASEC Mimosas academy, where he made his debut at age 18.
His early performances caught the attention of scouts in Europe. He moved to the Belgian club Beveren in 2001 as part of an initiative to show Ivorian talent abroad. After a trial with Arsenal, he joined Ukrainian side Metalurh Donetsk in December 2003, spending a season and a half there before moving on to bigger stages.
Club career highlights
Touré joined Greek club Olympiacos in 2005, winning the domestic double in his single season there. He then transferred to French club Monaco in August 2006, where he became a key player in the second half of the campaign under manager Laurent Banide and helped the team avoid relegation.
In the summer of 2007, he moved to Spanish powerhouse Barcelona for a fee of ten million euros. He played over one hundred matches for the Catalan club and was part of the historic squad that secured six trophies in a single calendar year in 2009, featuring even as a centre-back in the Champions League final due to defensive shortages.
Manchester City success
In July 2010, Touré signed a contract with Premier League club Manchester City. Operating in a more attacking midfield role, he scored key goals including the winner in the 2011 FA Cup final against Stoke City, which ended a long trophy drought for the club.
He played a vital part in helping Manchester City win their first Premier League title in 44 years during the 2011-12 season. During this period, he set a league record for the most passes attempted and completed in a single match against Stoke City and was crowned African Footballer of the Year multiple times.
International career and coaching
Touré earned one hundred caps for the Ivory Coast national team from 2004 to 2015. He represented his country at multiple FIFA World Cup tournaments and Africa Cup of Nations competitions, eventually captaining the team to victory in the 2015 tournament.
Following his retirement as a player, Touré transitioned into coaching roles. He currently serves as the head coach of Slovak First Football League club Slovan Bratislava, sharing his extensive top-flight experience with a new generation of players.
Birthday and age
Yaya Touré was born on May 13, 1983, which makes Yaya 43 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Yaya shares the date with 31 other famous people.
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