History maker! Yaya Toure becomes the first African coach on the UCL's biggest stage
Tonight at the Parc des Princes, history walks the away touchline: Yaya Toure becomes the first African coach to lead a team in the Champions League league phase.
Details: Toure's Slovan Bratislava visit defending champions PSG in their league phase opener, capping a remarkable two months in his first ever head coaching job. The Ivorian, appointed in June on a three-year deal, guided the Slovak champions through qualifiers past Iberia Tbilisi, Mjallby and Celje, sealed with a dramatic extra-time playoff win.
The 43 year old remains unbeaten in charge, with seven wins and two draws from his opening matches, and has demanded courage and passion from his players against the holders, admitting his side are going to suffer in Paris. The symbolism runs deep: a four-time African Player of the Year who won everything as a midfielder with Barcelona and Manchester City now opens a door for African coaches that has stayed shut for decades in Europe's top competition. Whatever the scoreline tonight, Toure has already won something no result can take away, and the road he has cleared will be walked by many after him.
It's worth noting that Toure's coaching journey to this point took him through assistant roles in Ukraine, Russia, Belgium, Saudi Arabia and Tottenham's academy before Slovan handed him the top job.
Reminder: Cherif Ndiaye announces his retirement from international football.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
