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Height: 6' 2"
Wife: Gineba Touré
Age: 41 Years
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gnégnéri Yaya Touré |
| Nickname(s) | • YaYa • Firewall • Colossus • L’Ordinateur (The computer) • The tall introvert • The new 'Patrick Vieira' |
| Profession(s) | • Footballer • Football coach |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height | 6' 2" (188 cm) |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Football | |
| Debut | Club Debut- In 2001 for Beveren International Debut- On 28 April 2004 against Guinea in Aix-les-Bains, France |
| Retirement | On 1 January 2020 |
| Jersey Number | • #24 (Barcelona)  • #42 (Manchester City)  • #19 (Ivory Coast)  |
| Club Team | • ASEC Mimosas (1996-2001)  • KSK Beveren (2001–2003)  • Metalurh Donetsk (2003–2005)  • Olympiacos FC (2005–2006, 2018)  • Monaco (2006–2007)  • Barcelona (2007–2010)  • Manchester City (2010–2018)  • Qingdao Huanghai (2019)  |
| Coach/Mentor | Patrick van Reijendam |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Records | • Most passes attempted (168) and most completed (157) in a single Premier League match (On 21 December 2011 for Manchester City against Stoke City) • Second central midfielder to score 20 goals in a single Premier League season (in 2013-2014 season) (after Frank Lampard in 2009-2010 season) • Most passes by any player in Premier League (attempted 15,745, completed 13,995 from 2010-2011 to 2017-2018 season) • Most penalty attempts without missing in the Premier League (11) |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | • 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015: Named in Confederation of African Football (CAF) Team of the Year • 2009: Ivory Coast Player of the Year Award • 2011 2012, 2013, 2014: African Footballer of the Year Award • 2011-2012, 2013-2014: Named in Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Team of the Year • 2011-2020: Chosen in IFFHS CAF Men's Team of the Decade • 2013: Premio Bulgarelli Number 8 Award • 2013-2014: Named in European Sports Media (ESM) Team of the Year • 2013, 2015: BBC African Footballer of the Year • 2013-2014: Manchester City Player of the Year Award • 2015: Named in Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament • 2017: Named in Football Black List  • 2021: Named in IFFHS All-time Africa Men's Dream Team • 2023: Football Writers' Association (FWA) Tribute Award  • 2023: Keith Alexander Award in Football Black List |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 13 May 1983 (Friday) |
| Age (as of 2024) | 41 Years |
| Birthplace | Bouaké, Ivory Coast |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Signature |  |
| Nationality | • Ivorian • British |
| Hometown | Bouaké, Ivory Coast |
| Religion | Islam |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Hobbies | • Travelling  • Playing video games  |
| Controversies | Crossing speed limit On 20 May 2015, Yaya Toure was stopped when he was driving on the M6 motorway in England. He was allegedly driving the car at 110 mph when the police officials tracked him. During the hearing at Burton magistrates Court in Staffordshire on 3 December 2015, he accepted breaking the limit. The judge did not ban him but gave 6 penalty points. He was fined £1,665 and ordered to pay £85 costs, a £120 victim surcharge and a criminal court charge of £150. Affair with an escort In June 2015, UK-based Malawian prostitute, Sandra Ntonya (real name Andulire Mwambira) alleged that she had an affair with Toure from December 2013 to May 2015.  She also claimed that Toure often demanded her naked photos. Many screenshots of their WhatsApp conversation also got leaked online which had intimate messages. Ntonya later claimed that she also had an affair with Kolo Toure.  Avoiding Love Child In September 2015, Mariam Camara, a shop worker, alleged that Toure had an affair with her and was the father of her 2-year old son. She alleged that they dated when Toure played in Ivory Coast. Their affair started when both of them met each other in Paris in 2011. They dated for 4 months after which she became pregnant and gave birth to a boy in 2013.  Toure did not like the news and started avoiding her. Later, a DNA test revealed that there was 99.99% chance of Toure being the child's father. He demanded explicit photos of her and sent money for her and child in return. When she stopped sending the photos, Toure stopped sending any money and also changed his number. 18 month driving ban On 28 November 2016, Yaya Toure was driving his friends from a party to their home in his Audi RS6 when the police officials stopped him at 11:15 pm as he was exceeding the 30 mph speed limit. When checked, Toure's breath test found 75 micrograms of alcohol in his blood against the legal limit of 35 after which he was taken to the police station and later revealed. He said that he drank diet coke from a jug which tasted different and he felt tired after consuming it but did not realise that it had brandy. He did not challenge the charges and pleaded guilty to drunk driving on 12 December 2016. Barkingside Magistrates' Court District Judge Gary Lucie banned him from driving for 18 month with a £54,000 fine, a statutory surcharge of £170, and costs of £85. The fine was the largest fine for drunk driving in British legal history at that time. Affair with Tanika Bailey In April 2018, Yaya Toure's photo got viral in which he was seen kissing the actress and singer Tanika Bailey. A friend of Bailey said that they were in love with each other and liked spending time with each other. Toure, who is known for avoiding female fans, was criticised by his fans for his extra-marital affair.  Feud with Pep Guardiola In June 2018, Toure alleged that the famous football coach Pep Guardiola had a problem with Africans, wanted revenge on him, and played mind games with him when he was a member of the Manchester City club. Toure claimed that Guardiola was a dominant coach who was jealous of his popularity. According to him, Guardiola told him that he wanted him in the team to coach the youth but when transfer window closed, he was not included in the team.  Many fans alleged that Guardiola did not allow a grand farewell ceremony for Toure when he moved to Olympiacos. Later, then-Yaya Toure's agent, Dimitri Seluk, criticised Manchester City management for not remembering Toure's birthday in 2014 and told Guardiola that he could have a war if he wanted one. Guardiola got angry on Seluk's comments and said that Toure's allegations were lies and he would not be included in the team until Seluk apologised to the team management and players for his remarks.  In 2022, Seluk claimed that he had put an African curse on Guardiola due to which he was not able to win the Champions League with Manchester City; however, when City won the trophy in 2022-23 season, he did a U-turn and said that he had lifted the curse. Toure claimed in 2023 that he had finished his association with Seluk and did not agree with his comments.  |
| Social Media | • Instagram • YouTube • Official Website |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Affairs/Girlfriends | • Mariam Camara • Tanika Bailey (Singer) |
| Marriage Date | Year, 2004  |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Gineba Touré  |
| Children | Son(s)- 2 • Dimitri Touré  Daughter- 1  |
| Parents | Father- Mory Touré  Mother- Fente Touré |
| Siblings | Brother(s)- 2 • Kolo Touré (elder, footballer)  • Ibrahim Touré (younger, footballer, died on 19 June 2014 due to cancer)  Sister- Aicha Toure  Note: He had 6 siblings. |
| Favourites | |
| Footballer(s) | Lionel Messi , Cristiano Ronaldo , Luis Suarez , Neymar , Manuel Neuer , Patrick Vieira |
| Musician | Bob Marley |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | • Customised Rolls Royce Wraith (£250,000) • Turbo-charged Porsche 911 • Audi RS6 (£80,000) • Bentley Continental (£212,000) • Mercedes Brabus 850 (£340,000) • Mercedes G-Class (£152,000)  • Rolls-Royce Phantom (£374,000) • Porsche Cayenne  |
| Money Factor | |
| Salary (approx.) | 20 million euros (as of 2023) |
| Net Worth (approx.) | $70 million (as of 2023) |
Touré started playing football in the streets during his childhood without boots. He got his first football boots at the age of 10.
Yaya Toure (centre) playing football barefoot during childhood
During his early teenage years, he also worked as a shoe shiner to earn money for his family. He sometimes ate only one meal per day.
In 1996, Touré joined the ASEC Mimosas youth academy on the recommendation of his long-time mentor Patrick van Reijendam.
Yaya Toure (left) during his teenage years
In 2003, then-Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, wanted to sign Toure; however, Toure could not get a work permit.
Toure signed with Ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk in December 2003 for 2 million euros.
He played for Ivory Coast in six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015. They emerged as runner-ups twice in 2006 and 2012 and won the tournament in 2015.
Yaya Toure (left) after winning the African Cup
He represented Ivory Coast in the 2006, 2010, and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
Barcelona acquired him for €10 million (£6.7 million) in 2007. He made his debut for the club on 26 August 2007 against Racing de Santander during the 2007–08 La Liga season.
Yaya Toure playing for Barcelona
He was a member of Barcelona which won the 2008-2009 UEFA Champions League.
Yaya Toure with different trophies, won when he played in Barcelona
Touré signed a five-year contract with Premier League club Manchester City for a fee of £24 million on 2 July 2010. He was a member of the City’s squad which won the Premier League titles in the 2011–2012, 2013–2014, and 2017–2018 seasons.
Yaya Toure when he played for Manchester City
He is a devoted Muslim and after being named ‘Man of the Match’ against Newcastle United in 2012, Touré turned down the English tradition of champagne as per his religious beliefs due to which a non-alcoholic champagne was introduced for Muslim players in the Premier League.
Touré became a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in October 2013 by joining a campaign against elephant poaching.
Yaya Toure with an elephant
He and his elder brother, Kolo Touré, have played together for English Club Manchester City for 3 years from 2010 to 2013.
After the retirement of Didier Drogba, he became the captain of Ivory Coast in 2014. On 19 November 2014, he played his 100th international match.
Yaya Toure with Didier Drogba (left)
In January 2016, Yaya Toure did not win the 2015 African Player of the Year Award (which would have been his straight 5th award) as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) gave the award to Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
In an interview to French Radio RFI later, he claimed that CAF’s decision was pathetic, indecent, and brought shame to Africa. He alleged that African authorities did not pay any attention to the things happening in Africa.
He retired from international football on 20 September 2016 but made a comeback in March 2018. He retired from all forms of football on 1 January 2020.
In 2017, he launched the Yaya Toure Young Leaders program to identify football talent among African children.
In September 2020, he was set to feature in a charity match for UNICEF but was later removed after sharing an adult joke in a WhatsApp group and offering to hire 19 sex workers for his teammates.
From February 2021 to May 2021, he worked as an assistant manager at the Ukrainian Premier League club Olimpik Donetsk.
Yaya Toure (right) after becoming assistant coach of Olimpik Donetsk
The Russian Premier League club Akhmat Grozny appointed him as an assistant coach on 14 June 2021 till June 2022 but he left the club on 13 December 2021.
In August 2022, he became an under-16 coach at Tottenham Hotspur’s Academy. In June 2023, he was appointed as an assistant manager of the Belgian club Standard Liège.
On 3 November 2023, Touré became the assistant coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, where he served as a junior to Roberto Mancini.
Yaya Toure (left) and Robert Mancini (right) after becoming assistant coach of Saudi Arabia national team
He has been referred to as a ‘human train’ and a ‘colossus’ for his pace, stamina and physical presence. He has also been praised for his passing range, vision, and tackling ability.
He had an unusual method of striking the ball, known as ‘Yaya’ in which he strikes the ball with a far back area of the foot close to the heel, which allows the ball to move in a straight line which a goalkeeper can find hard to read.
Touré has faced many racial statements on the ground mostly when he was playing in Portugal and Moscow.
During his youth career, he used to play as a striker. During his senior career, he has played as a centre-back; however, he has spent most of his career as a box-to-box midfielder for club and country, where he has been regarded as one of the world’s best players.
He liked to study football as a subject and once revealed that he had a notebook in which he used to write the details, plans, and strategies of football.
He has also appeared on many football talk shows and as a commentator during matches.
He often expresses pride over his African roots and culture and has said on many occasions that he wanted equality for African players in international sports.
Yaya Toure in Africa
He knows many languages including French, Greek, Catalan, Greek, and English.
He likes watching horror films whenever he gets time.
Here are the statistics of Toure’s club career:
| Clubs | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| KSK Beveren | 75 | 3 | 3 |
| Metalurh Donetsk | 39 | 5 | 4 |
| Olympiacos FC | 34 | 3 | 1 |
| Monaco | 30 | 5 | 7 |
| Barcelona | 118 | 6 | 8 |
| Manchester City | 316 | 80 | 47 |
| Qingdao Huanghai | 14 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 626 | 104 | 73 |
| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Africa Cup of Nations Qualification | 13 | 5 | 2 |
| Africa Cup of Nations | 29 | 6 | 7 |
| Friendlies | 25 | 1 | 1 |
| FIFA World Cup Qualification | 15 | 6 | 4 |
| FIFA World Cup | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 101 | 19 | 15 |
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Yes, Yaya Touré received a £54,000 fine and an 18-month driving ban after being caught driving under the influence in 2016, which was the largest fine for drunk driving in British legal history at the time.
Yes, Yaya Touré won the African Footballer of the Year award in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, making him one of the most decorated African players in history.
Yes, Yaya Touré was instrumental in Manchester City's success, becoming the second central midfielder to score 20 goals in a single Premier League season during the 2013-2014 campaign.
Yes, Yaya Touré earned the nickname 'L’Ordinateur' (The Computer) due to his outstanding passing range, vision, and tactical awareness, which made him a standout midfielder.
Yes, Yaya Touré started playing football without boots as a child and later worked as a shoe shiner to earn money for his family, showing his resilience and determination from a young age.