The Saudi Football Association has made an official announcement welcoming Ivorian football legend Yaya Toure as the first assistant technical director for the Saudi national football team, led by renowned Italian coach Roberto Mancini.

This exciting development, revealed on the official website of the Saudi Football Federation, confirms the inclusion of Yaya Toure as the principal assistant to technical director Roberto Mancini, a decision made at Mancini’s request.

Yaya Toure brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this role, holding a coaching license approved by the European Football Association. Over recent years, he has embarked on a coaching career, starting as an assistant coach for the Ukrainian team Olympic Donetsk from February 2021 to May 2021. Toure continued his coaching journey by serving as the assistant coach for the Russian club Grozny from June to December 2021. He also took charge of coaching the under-16 youth team at Tottenham between 2022 and 2023.

Before joining the Saudi national team, Yaya Toure’s most recent coaching position was as the assistant coach for the Belgian team Standard Liege during the current season’s competitions. He worked closely with technical director Karl Hofkens in the past few months before officially departing to assume his new role as the first assistant to the Italian coach Roberto Mancini in the Saudi national football team.

Apart from his coaching career, Yaya Toure boasts a remarkable legacy as a player, having excelled with prominent clubs such as Barcelona in Spain, Manchester City in England, Olympiacos in Greece, and Monaco in France.

His time at Barcelona from 2007 to 2010 was particularly illustrious, during which he secured numerous titles, including the Champions League in 2009. Subsequently, he was a vital member of the team that achieved a historic sextuple in 2010. Following his departure from Barcelona, Toure played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s victory in the English Premier League title in 2012 under the guidance of Roberto Mancini, who was the manager at the time. This collaboration between Toure and Mancini from 2010 to 2013 strengthens their working relationship.

Internationally, Yaya Toure tasted success by winning the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast in 2015, establishing himself as one of the finest players on the African continent both in club and international competitions. After retiring from professional football, he transitioned to coaching and is now set to become the first assistant to Roberto Mancini within the Saudi national football team, where his experience and expertise are sure to play a crucial role in the team’s future endeavors.