Yaya Touré has added another historic achievement to his remarkable football career after becoming the first African coach to reach the UEFA Champions League league phase.

The Ivorian legend achieved the milestone with Slovak club Slovan Bratislava, just two months after taking charge of the team in June 2026.

Touré guided Slovan Bratislava through the Champions League qualifying rounds, securing the club a place in Europe’s biggest club competition.

The achievement is particularly significant given Touré’s own history in the tournament. As a player, he lifted the Champions League trophy with Barcelona in 2009. More than a decade later, he has now made his mark in the competition from the touchline.

For African football, Touré’s achievement represents more than just a personal milestone. The continent has produced generations of elite players, but opportunities for African coaches at the highest levels of European football have been far less common.

Touré’s rise into the Champions League league phase could therefore mark an important moment for African coaches seeking to establish themselves on the biggest stages of world football.