Yaya Toure is the latest big name to head to Saudi Arabia as he links up with his former Man City boss Roberto Mancini as assistant coach of the national team – after leaving role with Belgian side Standard Liege
- Yaya Toure spent eight years at Man City, three of them under Roberto Mancini
- He has been in contact with his ex-City boss as an assistant coach at Saudi Arabia
- Major debates about Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal continue It’s all Kicking Off podcast
Yaya Toure has joined Saudi Arabia as an assistant coach and is working with his former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.
Toure – who retired from playing in 2019 – has left the equivalent role at Belgian side Standard Liège, despite only joining in June this year.
Mancini managed City for four years from 2009 to 2013, helping the club to their first Premier League title in 2011-12.
He signed Toure from Barcelona in 2010 and the former Ivory Coast star became a legend at the club as he won three Premier League titles and four other trophies in eight seasons at the Etihad.
The midfielder later played for Olympiacos and Chinese side Qingdao Huanghai before retiring.
Yaya Toure has joined the Saudi Arabia national team as assistant coach to Roberto Mancini
Toure (right) played three seasons under Mancini (left) when the Italian was Man City boss
In addition to his period at Standard Liège, he was also a coach at the Ukrainian Olimpik Donetsk, the Russian Akhmat Gozny and in the youth academy of Tottenham.
Toure joined the Belgian squad this summer as part of Carl Hoefkens’ coaching staff, with Standard currently eighth in the Belgian Pro League.
Mancini and Toure were known to have had a close relationship during their time together at City, with the club also winning their first major trophy in 35 years in 2011 when they won the FA Cup after Toure scored the winner.
The Italian later tried to sign him from Inter Milan, but Touré refused to leave City.
Mancini was appointed Saudi Arabia manager in August on a deal worth a reported $25m a year (£20.4m a year) after resigning from his role with Italy.
Toure has left his role at Belgian side Standard Liège, despite only joining the club in June this year
Mancini was appointed Saudi boss in August but has yet to win a game since taking charge
During his time with the Azzurri, he led them to Euro 2020 glory, but they also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
However, despite the influx of stars into the Saudi Pro League, Mancini has yet to make an impact for the Saudi Arabian national team, having drawn one and losing three of his four games in charge.
This included disappointing defeats to Costa Rica, South Korea and Mali during the two previous international breaks.
Saudi Arabia returns to action later this month with World Cup qualifiers against Pakistan and Jordan.
