Yaya Toure to Begin First Management Role at Daring Brussels

Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is set to take on his inaugural managerial position with Daring Brussels, a Belgian second division club owned by John Textor, a shareholder of Crystal Palace.

Currently serving as assistant coach for Saudi Arabia’s national team, Toure has also held deputy roles at clubs like Standard Liège, Akhmat Grozny, and Olimpik Donetsk. His coaching journey began in Belgium, where he worked as an assistant at Standard Liège under Carl Hoefkens.

The Ivory Coast legend, who also played for Barcelona, Monaco, and Olympiacos, retired in 2019 after a stint in China. He has long advocated for increased representation of Black managers in football, inspiring discussions around diversity in coaching roles.

Yaya’s brother, Kolo Toure, is a youth coach at Manchester City and has recently served as a first-team coach for the club’s FIFA Club World Cup squad. Kolo previously managed Wigan Athletic for one season and supports his brother’s ambition to break barriers for Black coaches.

However, his first managerial appointment at Daring Brussels faces challenges. The club finished third in the previous season but failed to secure promotion. Fans have protested against the recent name change from Racing White Daring Molenbeek, which was part of ownership restructuring by Textor, whose stakes include several clubs.