Former Ivory Coast captain Yaya Toure is starting his coaching path the same way he started out as a professional player because he believes it will have positive results.
The 37-year-old recently explained why he joined Olimpik Donetsk as an assistant coach saying that he started out in Ukrainian as a player and was impressed by their local mentality.
“I started my professional career in Donetsk. Now I am here to start my coaching path,” Toure told the club website.
Toure, who now follows his older brother Kolo Toure who is also an assistant manager to Brendan Rodgers at former English Premier League champions Leicester City, will assist Ihor Klymovskyi in the dugout at Donetsk, who are campaigning in the Ukrainian Premier League.
“Of course, I understand that Olimpik is not Metallurg, but I remember well how friendly and open people were in Donetsk. I am very impressed by the local mentality,” he said.
Donetsk are currently placed seventh in the Ukrainian Premier League table with 17 points from 12 games – 13 points behind leaders Dynamo Kyiv.
Yaya has been doing a lot to land this position. He has been learning from youth coaches at English Championship clubs Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and Blackburn Rovers.
“To be honest, even my agent was surprised when he found out that I wanted to study to be a coach in Ukraine,” he added.
“But I was firm in my decision. “It is not so easy to find a place where you can calmly, without unnecessary pressure, study, where you will be accepted as a friend.”
