The Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced on Friday that it has signed Ivorian Yaya Toure as the first assistant to the head coach of the national team, Italian Roberto Mancini. The federation showcased Toure's coaching credentials on its official website, stating, "The signing was made at the request of the coach (Mancini) to include him in his technical staff for the upcoming period."
The 40-year-old Toure has a coaching career that started four years ago, during which he has worked as an assistant coach at three clubs: Olimpik Donetsk, Akhmat Grozny in Russia, and Standard Liège in Belgium. He also coached the Tottenham Hotspur Under-16 team.
In addition, Toure has a notable record of achievements as a player, especially with Barcelona, where he won the UEFA Champions League, and Manchester City, where he secured three English Premier League titles.
The Saudi national team is preparing to face Pakistan and Jordan in November as part of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Following that, they will participate in the Asian Cup, playing against Oman, Kyrgyzstan, and Thailand in the group stage.
