Former Manchester City, Barcelona and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has retired from playing and will move into coaching, his agent has said.

The 35-year-old has not played since having his contract at Greek side Olympiakos terminated in December 2018.

He moved to Greece following his release by Manchester City last summer after winning three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups.

"Yaya has decided to end his career as a champion," agent Dimitri Seluk said.

Last month Toure told the BBC he had no immediate plans to retire from football and had not ruled out playing in the Middle East, United States or Asia.

But Seluk said: "The farewell match which Manchester City gave him was, in principle, the real end of his playing career, not only in that team, but in general."

Seluk, who was speaking to Russian website Sport 24 and endorsed the article on his Twitter account, continued: "Yaya is one of the best players in Africa and had one of the brightest careers in the history of African football, so should leave football at its peak.

"Of course every footballer wants to play as long as possible and in terms of his physical condition Yaya could do this at a sufficiently high level for another five years."

The four-time African Footballer of the Year won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2009 before spending eight years with Manchester City, for whom he scored 79 times in 316 appearances including the winner in the 2011 FA Cup final.

He won 101 caps for Ivory Coast and played at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

"I'm sure that two years after Yaya gets the Pro coaching licence, he will head one of the serious clubs and achieve great success in the coaching field. Now he has already begun to take steps in this direction," Seluk added.



Source: https://gidifeed.com/ex-manchester-city-barcelona-midfielder-yaya-toure-has-retired-says-agent/

I wish him d best in his quest to become a coach

Yaya is an African G.O.A.T

Go and turn to a coach

At least he worked for my club Manchester City which is the best club in the world

Vwaw

He should un retire and head to China...he can do another 5 years there bullying midfielders.

How time flys

Remember when he was birthed and the news got to his dad who was a fellow combatant in the fronts of World War 2. His dad was so happy on that day.

Very Good player not like that useless and over rated Messi that can’t perform magic at Anfield...

Anyway I heard the coach field Messi Aigbe against Liverpool

handsomeyinka:
Very Good player not like that useless Messi that can’t perform magic at Anfield...

Have seen a goat perform magic at an abattoir?

I Love the coaching dream. I dont know other great African players shy away from that. Goodluck man.

Everything come to an end... What a player , Quality plus Quantity

Go player but guadiola hated him so much dats y he left Barca him come jam am for city, Put am Bench a whole Season chai... Congratulations to him any way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo__Hp1DzVA

Benekruku:

Have seen a goat perform magic at an abattoir?

YES!
The goat actually gave birth when it was supposed to be butchered.

Pure Legend. Better than Pogba !!

Pep guardiola really destroy this boy shall

he really do well for Man city b4 Gandolar put sand sand for him garri

NaijaCelebrity:
Go and turn to a coach

coach self dan plenty pass players

African best ever midfielder

A very talented mid-fielder and surprisingly quite nimble with the ball despite his size.

Benekruku:
How time flys

Remember when he was birthed and the news got to his dad who was a fellow combatant in the fronts of World War 2. His dad was so happy on that day.

Indian hemp can do a lot of damage

I be think say he die. Legend moving tank

LearnITsmash:
At least he worked for my club Manchester City which is the best club in the world

Manchester city best club in the world? What did you smoke??

Too early

andrew444:
African best ever midfielder

Arguable

Jarus:


Arguable

You agree or not bro ?

Time is coming that coaches are gonna be more than teams to coach