Yaya Toure has become the first African head coach to lead a team into the UEFA Champions League league phase after Slovan Bratislava secured a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over NK Celje.
The result in Slovenia gave the Slovak champions a 3-2 aggregate win in their qualifying tie and marked a landmark moment for Toure in the early stages of his managerial career.
Slovan had been held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg and travelled to face the Slovenian champions knowing they needed to win if they were to keep their hopes of reaching the Champions League league phase alive.
They made an ideal start when Andraz Sporar put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute. The forward ran on to a long ball and calmly lifted his finish over the goalkeeper to give Slovan the advantage.
NK Celje responded before half-time, winning a penalty which Svit Seslar converted to level the match and restore confidence among the home supporters.
Celje continued to press for the goal that would have put them ahead in the tie after the interval. Their best opportunity came when Yaya Dukuly struck the post, leaving Slovan relieved as the match moved towards extra time.
With a penalty shootout appearing increasingly likely, Slovan found the decisive moment in the 100th minute. Panamanian midfielder Cristian Martinez scored to settle the tie, prompting jubilant celebrations on the Slovan bench and confirming the club’s place in the competition’s main stage.
Toure was appointed head coach of Slovan Bratislava in June 2026 on a three-year contract. The 43-year-old took over from his previous role as an assistant coach with the Saudi Arabia national team and has made an immediate impression in Slovakia.
Slovan have won five of their six competitive matches since Toure took charge. The club have also been unbeaten in 10 competitive games under him, according to the source article, highlighting the impact of the former midfielder’s leadership.
The achievement adds another significant chapter to Toure’s long association with the Champions League. During his playing career, the former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder won the competition with Barcelona.
He also enjoyed a highly successful spell at Manchester City, where he won three Premier League titles. He has now reached the Champions League league phase from the dugout after making history as an African coach.
Slovan Bratislava will appear in the Champions League league phase for only the second time. Their previous participation came during the 2024-25 season.
The club will learn their league-phase opponents in Thursday’s draw. Whatever the outcome of that draw, Toure has already established himself as a pioneer in African football by becoming the first African head coach to take a team into this stage of the Champions League.
Nigeria’s Ndubuisi Egbo had previously made history in 2020 as the first African coach to manage a club in the Champions League, when he was in charge of KF Tirana. However, his side did not reach the league phase.
