Topics: Yaya Toure, Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, Transfers, Manchester City, Barcelona
Yaya Toure is set to become an academy coach at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
The 39-year-old, who recently completed his coaching badges after earning a UEFA A License from FA Wales, worked with Spurs' youth academy in December last year on a part-time basis.
He spent a couple of days a week at the club's Enfield training base and was pictured with former Charlton defender Chris Powell, who is the club's head of coaching within the Academy set-up.
Now, it appears the former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder has impressed enough to earn a full-time contract.
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According to Sky Sports, the North London club have made an agreement with Toure to become an academy coach at the club.
Talks are also at an advanced stage for former England international Jermain Defoe, who scored 138 goals in 357 appearances for Spurs, to take up a similar role at the club.
This isn't Toure's first foray into management. The 39-year-old has previously held coaching positions at Ukrainian side Olimpik Donetsk and Russian club Akhmat Grozny.
He recently opened up about his coaching career in an interview with The Coaches’ Voice.
“I have started to realise how good it is to be a coach," he said. “But sitting in an office the whole time – that’s not me. I want to be out on the grass, interacting with other people, exchanging ideas.”
The former Ivory Coast international says he knew he wanted to give coaching a shot after hanging up his boots.
"I need to share my knowledge and experience once I finish my badges," he told The Times earlier this year. "It is important when the player goes onto the field that he understands all the details.
"Some coaches are using their hands and shouting but when the stadium is full, you can’t hear them. I love football, I love it when it’s attractive with a lot of desire, commitment and energy. Fans are attracted by that."
After spells at Monaco, Barcelona, Manchester City and Qingdao, Toure announced his retirement from football in 2019. The player's agent, Dimitri Seluk, announced the news on social media.
"Yaya is one of the best players in Africa and has had one of the brightest careers in the history of African football," the statement read. "Therefore, he should also leave football beautifully, at the peak.
"We talked about this topic for a long time. Of course, every player wants to play as long as possible.
"According to his physical condition, Yaya could do this at a fairly high level for another five years. But we came to the conclusion that he cannot afford to lower the bar."
