When you think of Yaya Toure, the image that often comes to mind is that of the powerful box-to-box midfielder known for his commanding presence on the pitch, a player who truly lived up to his nickname, “Firewall.” However, his journey to football stardom is a remarkable story of perseverance that began in humble circumstances.
From Humble Roots: Yaya Touré’s Inspiring Journey from Childhood to Football Legend
Growing up, Yaya spent much of his childhood shadowing his older brother, Kolo, who worked tirelessly as a shoeshiner to help support their family amidst their father’s modest earnings. The pair faced significant challenges, but it was Kolo who first seized the chance to pursue a football career, leaving Yaya to nurture his own dreams until he was ready to follow suit.
This article delves into the hidden chapters of Yaya Touré’s life, chronicling significant events from his early days to his rise as one of football’s most celebrated players. Join us as we explore the inspiring journey of this tall, introverted football star and discover the story behind the accolades and achievements. Let’s dive in!
Yaya Toure Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
Yaya Toure spent most of his childhood years as an apprentice to his elder brother Kolo, who shined shoes for customers in a bid to supplement their father’s low income. When the opportunity to play football first came calling, it was Kolo who left, leaving his younger brother Yaya behind.
Young Yaya Toure was a show polisher and repairer during his childhood. He used the little income from it to support his family.
Yaya kept shining shoes even after his brother decided to leave the job for amateur football. After observing shoe shinning couldn’t lift him out of poverty, he decided to quit. At this point, he decided to join a local team. Yaya was more optimistic at the very start. He saw football as something that could quickly lift him out of poverty.
Yaya Toure Biography – Starting Football as a Shoeless Boy:
This is young Yaya Toure in his early years as a footballer.
When Yaya Toure joined his first football team, many called him ‘The tall introvert’. Aside from the fact that he came from a poor home, there was something extraordinary about him.
Yaya kept to himself at all times. He couldn’t wait to be given football boots before playing the game. He told everyone he was okay playing with bare legs.
His first pair of football shoes finally came at the age of 10. While using bare legs, many spectators observed he had pure natural talent.
Back in the days, street football was on the rise in Ivory Coast. He played with friends and family in the streets of Abidjan.
His elder brother Kolo was already a key player in his town’s local youth team, ASEC Mimosas.
Yaya Toure Biography – Working on His Skills:
Toure worked on his skills for three years before joining his Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas youth academy at the age of 13. He worked his way through the ranks at the popular club which is known to have produced the likes of Didier Zokora, Emmanuel Eboue, Gervinho and Salomon Kalou.
After spending four years on the junior team, Yaya Toure made his senior debut at the age of 17. At this stage, he was more determined to succeed. He believed his family’s poverty was man-made and could be removed by him and his brother.
He was fearless in the pursuit of what set his soul on fire. Good for him; his early determination paid off. In that same year, Yaya Toure led his club in winning the Cote D’Ivoire Premier Division.
The act of single-handedly leading his club to victory made his name popular among football scouts and on everyone’s lips in his country.
Yaya Toure, though very young at that time, was part of a popular Ivorian football movement to Europe in the year 2001.
His height was evident at this age. This is young Yaya Toure before he made it.
To date, he owed special thanks to Jean-Marc Guillou (The white man above) who helped his country by initiating a massive movement of 14 best performing Ivorian footballers to a particular Belgian club, Beveren.
He was one of the footballers that arrived late in Europe among 13 of his other colleagues. Upon his arrival, his Beveren teammates from Ivory Coast were quick to remember him as the popular wonderkid who once had no soccer shoes.
Yaya Toure Bio – Trial with Arsenal:
Two years after joining Belgian side Beveren, the 20-year-old Toure had a trial with Arsenal. Kolo was already there at that time. Arsene Wenger decision to accept him relied on his performance on his first preseason game with his then-current club.
That time finally came. Yaya played in a pre-season friendly against Barnet and missed a good chance. Arsene Wenger described his performance as ‘completely average’.
However, Arsenal did try and sign him but was unable to get a work permit. Fueled with frustration, Toure then decided to join the Ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk, where he stayed for a year and a half before being watched by bigger clubs.
Yaya Toure Biography – The Football Journey:
In his time at the Belgian club, he played 70 times and scored three goals. As stated, he became unsettled after his dream move to Arsenal became a disappointment.
It didn’t take time before he made up his mind to join the Ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk, where he joined his childhood friends who were footballers at the club.
For Yaya, joining Metalurh Donetsk was a perfect plan. His movement to the Ukrainian team was the beginning of what was termed, a great European football journey. He stayed in Metalurh Donetsk for a year and a half before being watched by bigger clubs.
After a brief stint in Ukraine, Yaya Touré caught the attention of Greek club Olympiakos. The team’s manager, Trond Sollied, had been monitoring Yaya’s growth since he arrived in Europe and was thrilled to bring the 22-year-old onboard. Yaya quickly won over the fans with his impressive performances.
Playing alongside Brazilian legend Rivaldo, who had famously won the World Cup with Ronaldo, Yaya thrived in midfield. Their partnership helped the team secure a domestic double that season. Shortly after, Yaya made his Champions League debut, contributing an assist for one of Rivaldo’s goals, and later celebrated his first appearance in the World Cup in 2006.
Road to Fame Story:
During the 2006 World Cup, Yaya Touré showcased his talent in all three of Ivory Coast’s group-stage matches, catching the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs. His impressive performances made it increasingly difficult for Olympiakos to retain their rising star.
Before long, Monaco stepped in, securing Yaya’s signature for a transfer fee of approximately £5 million—double the amount Olympiakos had originally paid just a year prior.
It was not until new manager Laurent Banide came in that the fans got to see the best of Yaya Toure.
He was crucial in pulling the club away from the relegation zone.
His coach Banide said of him: “Yaya has got terrific technique and uses his body strength to effect. He can do just about anything.”
Yaya Toure: Mastering the Art at Monaco.
Once again he only stayed for a season and moved onto bigger things in Spain. This time to Spanish giants Barcelona for £6.7 million. He first played in the defensive midfield role for Barca. At some point, his attacking runs became limited and after being forced out of the team by Sergio Busquets. This led him to start playing as a centre back role as observed in the 2009 Champions League final.
He went to England after being tired of playing central back position. He lasted for three seasons at FC Barcelona. It cost Manchester City £24 million to sign him. Indeed, nobody can argue that he isn’t worth every penny.
In his first season, he had the best performances for the FA Cup. Yaya ran the midfield and scored the only goal in that memorable game in the semi-final against Manchester United and then repeating it in the final against Stoke City. He was responsible for securing the club’s first major trophy in 35 years.
Similarities with Patrick Viera:
Yaya Toure was dubbed ‘the new Patrick Vieira’ during his spell in Greece and France. Without a doubt, both parties share huge physical similarities.
First, their midfield marshalling prowess comes from their massive upper body frame. They love to make tireless runs and can cover every blade of grass in the field.
Finally, reports indicate that these big men have both had trouble finding the right-sized pair of shorts for their long lower limbs.
Separated by a generation, Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure are two ideal examples of the modern-day midfielder. Persons from whom the likes of Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare seek inspiration.
Pace, power, bundles of creativity and an unrelenting eye for goal. Both are seen as the most complete midfielders to ever play in the EPL.
Many years ago, it was virtually impossible to imagine that a player could reach the same heights as Vieira, but then every once in a while comes along an extraordinary player who makes you stand up and take notice. Yaya Toure is that player.
Perhaps you didn’t know; The shirt number Toure had at Barcelona was in honour of boyhood hero ‘Patrick Vieira’.
Yaya Toure Shirt Number- In honour of his boyhood hero (Patrick Viera).
He swapped the numbers around when he joined Man City because Vieira already had the number 24 shirt himself!
Gineba Yaya Toure Love Story:
Yaya Toure and Wife, Gineba.
Her name is Gineba, and she is the love of Yaya Touré’s life. Toure is a married man and is currently married to her. They have two children at the time of writing.
Secret Love Affair:
Yaya Toure has once been stitched up by the Sun Newspaper, as the tabloid claims that married Ivory Coast midfielder has been cheating on his wife, Gineba Toure.
Toure’s apparent downfall was even WhatsApp. The Sun published a supposed chain of messages between him and a woman.
Brilliantly, Yaya Toure’s name on WhatsApp as at then was apparently “Yaya42”.
The above Sandra Ntonya, is a Malawian prostitute who had claimed in 2015 that she had series of affair with Yaya Toure.
She revealed that she even slept with the midfielder’s brother Kolo at Liverpool. Later, Yaya refuted the claim that his wife, Gineba Toure, is all he has and needs.
Yaya Toure Religion:
We know religion isn’t important in football or any other sport (it’s performance that matters), but it doesn’t hurt to know the fact that Yaya Toure is a core Muslim by faith.
Yaya Toure – A Core Muslim by faith.
Evidence of his true Islamic faith has been observed. For instance, Yaya turns down the English tradition of champagne after league games in accordance with his religious beliefs.
Relationship with Ivory Coast’s President:
Côte d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara has showed he is a big fan of Yaya Toure. As a football lover, he once invited Yaya to ride with him in his motorcade during their first African Nations Cup victory celebration.
The relationship they share does not only revolve around football but personal in many ways.
The feeling of over excitement of what his boy ‘Yaya Toure’ has done was priceless. This over-excitement made President Alassane Ouattara to declare that faithful Monday as a national holiday.
He also announced a fat holiday pay to workers on public radio and television stations. Public celebrations was later followed by an in-house party with the President.
Relationship with Brother ‘Kolo’:
Even thou he is bigger, richer and more popular, Yaya has always given his elder brother ‘Kolo’ his full respects. It is pertinent to note that Kolo once took care of his entire family when they were both very young and poor.
Right from the onset, Yaya Toure has dreamt of playing along side with his beloved elder brother.
Thou his dream to join Kolo at Arsenal ended in disappointment as revealed recently. Thou, Yaya still got another opportunity with Manchester City.
Yaya Toure Relationship with Brother ‘Kolo’
This came to pass after he turned down Manchester United and waited for the siren signal from Manchester City where his elder brother once played before joining Liverpool.
A Lover of Elephants:
Yaya Touré, the Manchester City midfielder, has taken on the role of goodwill ambassador in a United Nations campaign aimed at combating poaching. The Ivory Coast football Legend once joined the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in its efforts to halt the slaughter of elephants, highlighting the urgent situation in his homeland, where only 800 elephants are left.
Yaya Toure – A Lover of Elephants
The Great Toure once revealed in a press conference in Nairobi:
The activity of Poaching poses a huge threat to the survival of the African elephant, and if we don’t take action immediately, we risk facing a future where this iconic species could be eradicated.
He continued…
In my country, the national football team is called ‘The Elephants’ in honor of these magnificent creatures, which embody power and grace. Unfortunately, there may be as few as 800 of them left in Ivory Coast.
Feud with Managers:
Yaya Toure faced a confrontation with AS Monaco manager László Bölöni shortly after joining the French Ligue 1 club in 2006. The issue arose when Bölöni refused to place Toure in the midfield position where he had spent most of his career and established his skills.
According to Toure,
“I asked him (Boloni) to play me in my position, and that made him laugh! He even told other players I wasn’t part of his plans.”
Unfortunately, he was sacked in the middle of the season as Monaco was performing poorly.
Yaya Toure has revealed he is happy that Laszlo Boloni has been sacked by Monaco. The Ivory Coast international did not enjoy the most harmonious of relationships with Boloni.
He was thankful the Romanian tactician has left Stade Louis II and is hoping for an improvement under caretaker coach Laurent Banide. According to Yaya,
A page has been turned. The coaching job is hard, but I had a bad relationship with Boloni.
The issue with Pep Guardiola (Barca):
Yaya Toure Fued with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.
His issue with Pep Guardiola came when he was forced to play central back position. This was against his will.
The issue with Pep Guardiola (City):
Yaya Toure feud with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
His issue with Pep at Manchester City is summarized in Yaya Toure’s words below. Yaya Toure summed up his issues with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City by stating,
“The problem I had with Pep was clear. He didn’t want players who had their own personalities; he preferred those who were too scared to speak up. When he first joined the club, he immediately targeted me and Joe Hart.
I voiced my opinions because I felt that Pep was unfairly treating me. It’s unfortunate for him that we live in a world where free speech is important. Guardiola may win a few games and think he’s untouchable, but Pellegrini was a true gentleman and a much better manager.”
A Victim of Racism:
Yaya Toure has faced a troubling history of being targeted by racist mobs throughout his career. Despite this, he has often expressed his appreciation for playing football in England, where incidents of racism aimed at black players are relatively rare. The most distressing experiences he encountered took place during his time in Portugal and Moscow, highlighting the challenges he faced in those environments.
Yaya Toure – A Victim of Racism.
Stays behind after training to improve ‘freekick’ skills:
The Man City Legend is recognized for his dedication to improving his skills, often staying behind after training sessions. He firmly believes in the adage “practice makes perfect” and uses this time to refine his free-kick technique, showcasing his commitment to continuous improvement on the pitch.
Losing a Younger Brother to Cancer:
His younger brother by the name Ibrahim Obyala Tour, died of Cancer in June 2014. He was a striker for Lebanon’s Al-Safa team. Yaya and his brother Kolo were given the tragic news after their Colombia-Ivory Coast match.
Yaya Toure- Losing a younger brother to Cancer.
After mourning the death of his brother, Yaya Touré announced that he seeks out a long-term companionship with Manchester.
Despite alleged bickering with club officials, Yaya has said that his brother’s death has caused him to focus more on the prize.
“He was my brother, and he loved football. Once upon a time, when he was sick in Manchester, he watched every game I played. After playing, I do come to see him in the hospital.
Twitter handle and Facebook Page dedicated to his facts:
It’s no wonder there’s an entire Twitter account dedicated to Yaya Touré’s facts, showcasing a mix of humorous truths, exaggerations, and entertaining anecdotes. Here are some of the funniest tweets from the account:
- Yaya Touré can cut metal with his eyelashes. #ToureFacts
- The only time Yaya Touré was wrong was when the Legend thought he had made a mistake about something. #ToureFacts
- Apple pays Yaya Touré 99 pence every time he listens to a song. #ToureFacts
- Yaya Touré can squeeze apple juice out of an Apple iPhone with precision. #ToureFacts
- The famous Bermuda Triangle used to be a square until Yaya Touré kicked off a corner. #ToureFacts
- When Yaya Touré looks in the mirror, nothing appears. There can never be a second Yaya Touré. #ToureFacts
More on Yaya Toure Fun Facts:
Yaya Touré’s larger-than-life persona has inspired even more hilarious and exaggerated facts from fans. Here are some of the wildest and funniest from the #ToureFacts Twitter account:
- At the age of 14, Yaya Touré broke both his legs in a youth game. He jogged all the way home after. #ToureFacts
- Yaya Touré once plugged the USA into a USB. #ToureFacts
- When Yaya Touré punches you in a dream, you wake up with a bruise. #ToureFacts
- Yaya Touré doesn’t leave tips. The Waitresses had to pay Yaya for the privilege of serving him. #ToureFacts
- Back then, before his games, Yaya Touré is awarded the Man of the Match award. #ToureFacts
- Yaya Touré can bench press Romelu Lukaku and Didier Drogba with one arm. #ToureFacts
- Did you know? Yaya Touré once killed a bird by throwing it off a cliff. #ToureFacts
- Yaya Touré is capable of headbutting himself… in the back of his head. #ToureFacts
- One day, Yaya Touré wrote a cheque, and it was his bank that bounced. #ToureFacts
- There is a saying that if you give a man a fish, he will eat it and come for more. Instead, you teach a man how to fish. Give Yaya Touré a fish, and he will stab you with it. #ToureFacts
- In the rain, Yaya Touré does not need an umbrella. The raindrops avoid him. #ToureFacts
- The Roman Empire didn’t fall; Yaya Touré tripped it. #ToureFacts
- Christ Jesus walked on water because he saw Yaya Touré coming. #ToureFacts
- Yaya Touré doesn’t play “hide-and-seek.” He plays “hide-and-pray-I-don’t-find-you.” #ToureFacts
- All Mortal Kombat fatalities are based on Yaya Touré’s moves. #ToureFacts
These exaggerated “facts” highlight the playful admiration fans have for Yaya, cementing his status as a football legend and cultural icon.
Birthday Controversy:
The Ivory Coast international once caused a stir last after his agent said he felt “disrespected” by the club, who failed to acknowledge his birthday.
Yaya Touré’s agent, Dmitry Seluk, expressed his disappointment regarding the treatment Touré received from the club after their Premier League victory. He remarked, “The club’s owners celebrated with a 100kg cake after winning the Premier League, but when they and the players were gathered together, none of them shook his hand on his birthday. It’s clear that they don’t care about him.”
The CAF Award Highs and Lows:
It has been Yaya Toure all the way. The Ivorian Yaya Toure has been named Africa’s Best Footballer of the Year for four (4) consecutive times by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Yaya Touré was deeply disappointed when he missed out on the 2016 CAF African Footballer of the Year award, marking what would have been his fifth win. He expressed his frustration in strong terms, calling the decision “pathetic,” “indecent,” and a source of “shame for Africa.”
In a heated interview in October, Touré took aim at his critics, accusing them of spreading misinformation. This wasn’t the first time he clashed with the media, both in the UK and back in Africa.
Despite leading the Ivory Coast to their first Africa Cup of Nations victory since 1992 and being named to the tournament’s team of the tournament, Touré lost the individual accolade to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund. He vehemently criticized the decision-makers, claiming that “even FIFA” wouldn’t have made such a choice. “I’m very, very disappointed,” he stated in an interview with Afrique Foot.
Rankings:
Here are our rankings for the Premier League Hall of Fame Nominee at the time of his active years – when he dominated the beautiful game.
Thank you for taking the time to read our version of Yaya Toure’s Biography. Kindly stay tuned for more Footballers with African blood. Surely, the Life stories of these youngsters – Youssoufa Moukoko and Pape Matar Sarr will excite you.
