Toure wins African Footballer of Year

Ivorian and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, Thursday,emerged the Glo CAF Player of the Year for 2013, beating Eagles star John Mikel Obi and his Ivorian national team mate Didier Drogba to the prized diadem. 

It is Toure’s third straight African Player of the Year award.

At a colourful, grand and entertaining show held last night at the Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Toure was presented his award amidst pomp and pageantry.

HAT-TRICK KING: Yaya Toure crowned Africa Footballer of the Year for the third time last night.

HAT-TRICK KING: Yaya Toure crowned Africa Footballer of the Year for the third time last night.

Born on  May 13, 1983, Touré is renowned for combining great vision, passing ability, and physical power with technique.   A  versatile

player, he aspired to be a striker during his youth and has played centre back for clubs including  FC Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final. He frequently plays as a box-to-box midfielder for club and country and often switches between defensive and offensive positions throughout matches.

Touré began his playing career at Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas, where he made his debut aged 18. He was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2011 and 2012.

His performances attracted attention from Europe, playing for clubs in various European leagues. 

Touré played for Beveren in Belgium, Metalurh Donetsk in Ukraine, Olympiacos in Greece, and AS Monaco in France. In 2007, Touré moved to Barcelona, playing over 100 matches for the club and was part of the historic 2009 Barcelona team which won six trophies in one calendar year.

Yaya Touré then moved to Premier League club Manchester City in 2010, where he has since scored a number of key goals for the Citizens – most notably the only goals in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and Final. Touré has a distinguished international career with 74 caps for Ivory Coast, representing the team in their first appearance in a FIFA World Cup, in the 2006 competition and in 2010.

Touré has been a regular member of the Ivory Coast national team since his debut in 2004.

In 2006, he appeared for les Éléphants in all three of the team’s matches at its first ever World Cup. In the 2010 tournament, he again appeared in all of Côte d’Ivoire’s matches, scoring the opening goal in a 3–0 win over North Korea.