Known for his versatility and power on the field, professional footballer Yaya
Touré has made a pretty big name for himself in recent years. The African
Footballer of the Year three years in a row (2011, 2012, and 2013), the
Manchester City player is popular among European football fans and
Ivorians back home. Touré has been an integral part of the Côte d’Ivoire
national team for nearly a decade. But beyond his phenomenal playing
ability, here are 10 things you didn’t know about footballer Yaya Touré.
1.
Touré got his first pair of football shoes at the age of 10
A natural talent, he played football with friends and family in the streets of
Abidjan from a young age. He soon followed in his older brother Kolo’s
footsteps to become a key player for the local youth team, ASEC Mimosas.
2.
He is a practicing Muslim
Frequently named Man of the Match during his time in the Premier League,
Touré has turned down the English tradition of champagne after league
games in accordance with his religious beliefs.
3.
He almost joined Arsenal in 2003
While playing for the Belgian team, Beveren, Touré trialed with Arsenal in
2003. While the manager was interested in signing him, he had difficulties
getting a work permit to play in England. Rather than waiting, Touré took a
contract with the Ukrainian team Metalurh Donetsk instead, where he played
for more than a year.
4.
Both of his brothers are professional footballers
Most are familiar with older brother Kolo Touré, Yaya’s teammate both on
the Côte d’Ivoire national team and Manchester City, before Kolo was
transferred to Liverpool in 2013. Few may be able to name Yaya’s younger
Late brother, Ibrahim Touré, however, who plays for Al-Safa Sporting Club in
Lebanon.
5.
He’s been known to give PUMA equipment to children in West Africa
A spokesman for the athletic company Puma, Yaya has never forgotten his
roots and frequently donates gear to children in need back in Côte d’Ivoire
and other countries in West Africa, among his other charitable endeavors.
6.
He clashed with AS Monaco manager, László Bölöni
When Yaya moved to play for the French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco in 2006,
he initially had issues with the manager, László Bölöni. Bölöni wouldn’t put
Touré at the midfield position where he had played the majority of his career
and proven himself. He was sacked in the middle of the season as Monaco
was performing poorly.
7.
He is one of the few midfielders to win African Footballer of the Year
Before Yaya’s first African Footballer of the Year award in 2011, the
previous 12 years’ awards had gone to African forwards. As forwards
receive more scoring opportunities, they occupy higher-profile positions on
the field and receive recognition more often.
8.
He has a history of being targeted by racist mobs.
Yaya has commented several times on his love of playing football in
England, where racist mobs targeting black players is a rare occurrence. The
worst incidents occurred while he was playing in Portugal and Moscow.
9.
Touré is known for staying behind after training each day
A strong believer that practice makes perfect, Yaya stays behind after
practice in order to continue to improve his free-kick technique in particular.
10.
He is a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Environment Program
After joining a campaign against elephant poaching in October, Yaya was
named a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. and helps to raise awareness
about the problem, along with other environmental issues.

See im staunch face...d nigga does no fall in Pes
After niggas will br comparing himwith mikel.

Nice one.