Yaya Toure announces retirement, reveals future plans

Yaya Toure, former Ivory Coast midfielder, has announced his retirement from playing football and is set to launch a coaching career, according to his agent.

The 35-year-old former Manchester City, Barcelona play-maker has made the decision after having his contract at Greek club Olympiacos terminated in December, says Dimitri Seluk, the Ivorian’s agent, on Friday.

Seluk revealed that Toure will now concentrate on a career as a coach.

Yaya Toure @YayaToure ended his playing career. Next up is a career in coaching.

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Read here: https://t.co/7nWuYeTlC6 pic.twitter.com/oNOwMqoGlD

— Dimitry Seluk (@dmitriseluk) May 10, 2019

He revealed Toure’s decision to Russian outlet Sport24, saying: “Yaya decided to end his career as a champion. The farewell match with Manchester City was the real end of his playing career.

“Yaya is one of the best players in Africa and he had one of the brightest careers in the history of African football. Therefore, he should also leave the football beautifully, at the peak,” Seluk added.

“We talked for a long time on this topic. Of course, every player wants to play as long as possible. In terms of his physical condition, Yaya could do this at a sufficiently high level for another five years.

“But we came to the conclusion that he, the football player who played for Barcelona and Manchester City, could not lower the bar with his hands.”

According to him, Toure has already obtained a coaching licence, and will now focus on forging a career in management – with possible options in Russia and Ukraine.

“Yaya and I chose a different path; to leave as a champion and start a new stage in life – a career as a coach. I am sure Yaya will reach even greater heights than those he achieved as a player,” he said.

The former Monaco man collected multiple titles across different clubs, including the Champions League and three Premier League titles.

Touré also won the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast as well as being named the African Footballer of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The 35-year-old joined Olympiakos from Metalurh Donetsk and made 26 appearances for them in his first stint, winning the league title and Greek Cup in his only season for the club.

He later moved to Monaco and then won a slew of trophies with Barcelona during his three years there.

Yaya Touré won three Premier League trophies, two League Cups and one FA Cup — almost single-handedly ending Manchester City’s 35-year wait for silverware with winners against Manchester United and Stoke City.