Man City legend Yaya Toure hopes new Standard Liege role can help him secure a Premier League job

Yaya Toure is targeting a future managing in the Premier League and revealed the belief that his new coaching role at Standard Liege will help him achieve that goal.

The former Manchester City title-winning midfielder has been appointed as the Belgian club’s new assistant coach to Carl Hoefkens and is keen to progress through the coaching ranks.

Toure previously spent time working with the Under 16s team at Tottenham prior to securing his new role abroad and wants to learn from Hoefkens before attempting to take on a management position of his own.

It’s clear he has a burning desire to succeed as much off the field as he did on it and is already flirting with the prospect of being back in the Premier League. 

‘One hundred per cent, that is my plan and idea [to coach in the Premier League].’ he told PA. 

Former Man City midfielder Toure wants to one day return to England and manage in the Premier League

‘For me I have to go step after step, I am on a learning journey. I am very open to everything, just carrying on what I am doing.

‘Why not the Premier League? I don’t know how long it is going to take, maybe sooner or later, for me I am always open for it.

‘I know it’s going to be a big challenge and coaches’ jobs are becoming tougher and tougher. You see coaches surviving for a maximum four or five months.

‘That is what it is now, that is the reality. For me, I am quite patient and I have to take my steps very carefully and in the right manner. 

‘That’s why I am going to Belgium because I want to learn from top coaches like Carl, who has huge experience,’ he added.

Meanwhile, Spurs have made wholesale changes to their coaching set-up at the club with the appointment of Australian Ange Postecoglou taking over the first-team.

Toure built a strong relationship with Spurs personnel during his time of less than 12 months at the club and has revealed that he would love the opportunity to go back and work with the senior side in the future.

Toure revealed he is keen to learn while at Standard Liege and has future plans to become a coach in the English top-flight

The 40-year-old would be keen to return to Tottenham in the future where he coached the club’s Under 16 team

‘If the opportunity to go back was there then why not, because what Tottenham did for me was incredible, they allowed me to work there and develop as a coach and for what they did for me I will never be able to thank them enough.

‘They opened the door for me and allowed me to express myself in the right manner and do the things I wanted to do.’

Stnadard Liege players will be getting a first-had taste of the ruthless practice sessions that Toure has developed during his short-time in coaching so far. 

The former Ivory Coast international adopts a possession-based approach in training and during his time in London but Spurs academy hopefuls through gruelling drills focused on being creative in tight spaces.