Yaya Touré
Personal information
Full name	Yaya Gnégnéri Touré
Date of birth	May 13 1983(1983-05-13)
Place of birth	Sekoura Bouaké, Ivory Coast
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Manchester City
Senior clubs
Years	Club	App (Gls)
2001–2003 2003–2005 2005–2006 2006–2007 2007–2010 2010–	Beveren Metalurh Donetsk Olympiacos Monaco FC Barcelona Manchester City	070 (3) 033 (3) 026 (3) 027 (5) 074 (4) 036 (6)
National team
2004–	Ivory Coast	055 (7)

Edit

One of the less celebrated members of Barcelona's all-conquering 2009 side, Yaya Toure was the defensive midfield lynchpin and played a key role in their success.
A graduate of the ASEC MimosasMimosas youth team in the Ivory Coast, Toure joined Belgian side Beveren before moving to Metalurg Donetsk, Olympiakos, Monaco, and then Barca.
His versatility should not be underestimated. That he can play effectively in defence is well known after his performance in the 2009 Champions League final against Manchester United, but he also operated as an attacking midfielder for Monaco.
Despite his impressive performances at Camp Nou, he struggled for first-team football in the 2009-10 season following the emergence of Sergio Busquets and, at the end of the campaign, he made a big-money move to the Premier League with Manchester City where he will be reunited with his brother, Kolo.
At international level, Toure has earned over 50 caps for Ivory Coast and played at both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
Strengths: He combines strength, poise on the ball and skill. He may be known as a defensive midfielder but he is no slouch when it comes to going on the offensive.
Weaknesses: Considering his lofty stature, Toure is not as impressive in the air as might be expected.
Career High: Treble triumph with Barcelona in 2009 - collecting winners' medals for the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.
Career Low: Being passed up by Arsenal. Yaya wanted to join his brother Kolo at the Gunners, his brother wanted him there, but Arsene Wenger had an initial bid rejected by Olympiakos and never returned with a second offer.
Style: A powerful midfield general with the ball-playing ability necessary to be part of a free-flowing side.
Quotes: "It was a sad decision because everybody wants to come to Barca and I have had to leave, but not playing has been difficult. I am coming to City to help them grow and reach the level of Manchester United and Chelsea." - Yaya Toure, July 2010
Trivia: Yaya and Kolo's younger brother Ibrahim also plays professional football, as a striker for Smouha Sporting Club in Egypt, though he has never been capped by Ivory Coast.

CLUB CAREEREdit

Early careerEdit

Manchester UnitedEdit

INTERNATIONAL CAREEREdit

CAREER STATISTICSEdit

HONOURSEdit

ClubEdit

IndividualEdit

PERSONAL LIFEEdit

EXTERNAL LINKS AND REFERENCESEdit

• Wikipedia
• ESPN Soccernet
• Soccerway
• Kicker online
• Soccerbase
• Premier League
• LFP

Manchester City current squad

1. Given 2. Richards 3. Bridge 4. Kompany 5. Zabaleta 6. M. Johnson 7. Milner 8. Wright-Phillips 9. Adebayor 10. Džeko 11. A. Johnson 12. Taylor 13. Kolarov 14. Santa Cruz 17. Boateng 18. Barry 19. Lescott 21. Silva 22. Cunningham 24. Vieira 25. Hart 26. González 27. Jô 28. K. Touré 32. Tévez 34. de Jong 37. Nielsen 38. Boyata 39. Bellamy 40. Weiss 42. Y. Touré 45. Balotelli 50. Ibrahim 52. Tchuimeni-Nimely 62. Razak -—. Onuoha Manager  Roberto Mancini