Yaya Touré has added another historic chapter to his remarkable football career, this time from the sidelines.

The Ivorian former international guided Slovan Bratislava into the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase after the Slovak champions defeated Slovenia’s NK Celje 2-1 after extra time on Wednesday, August 26.

The result secured a 3-2 aggregate victory and completed Slovan’s passage through the qualifying play-offs into European football’s elite competition. UEFA’s match report confirmed the decisive victory and highlighted Touré’s role as head coach.

The qualification gives Touré a place in African football history.

He has become the first African head coach to lead a club through the Champions League qualifying rounds and into the competition’s league phase under the current format.

The distinction is important. Touré is not the first African coach to have been involved in the Champions League itself, but his achievement marks a significant milestone for African coaches seeking to establish themselves at the highest level of European club football.

Touré only took charge of Slovan Bratislava in June 2026, making the Champions League qualification an extraordinary early milestone in his managerial career.

The former Côte d’Ivoire captain arrived at the Slovak club after building an illustrious playing career with clubs including Barcelona and Manchester City.

As a Manchester City player, Touré won the Champions League in 2023, although he was not part of the club’s squad when it lifted the trophy. His career also included four Premier League titles and numerous individual honours.

Now, he returns to the competition in a completely different role.

This time, he will be standing on the touchline.

Slovan Bratislava’s qualification was not achieved in a single match.

Touré’s team had to navigate the Champions League qualifying rounds before reaching the play-offs against Celje.

The first leg in Bratislava ended 1-1, leaving everything to be decided in Slovenia.

The second leg again went beyond 90 minutes. Slovan eventually secured a 2-1 victory after extra time, winning the tie 3-2 on aggregate.

The result triggered celebrations in Bratislava and marked one of the biggest achievements of Touré’s brief coaching career.

The reward is a place among Europe’s 36-team Champions League league phase.

And the draw has already produced a major challenge.

Slovan Bratislava will face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, along with several other European heavyweights, in the league phase. The 2026/27 competition begins in September and will feature eight matchdays before the knockout rounds.

For Touré, it will be an opportunity to test his managerial credentials against some of the biggest clubs in world football.

For African football, it is another symbolic breakthrough.

Touré spent years proving himself as one of Africa’s greatest midfielders. Within just months of beginning his first senior managerial role, he has already achieved something no African head coach had done before under the current Champions League format.