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26.08.2009 13:12
Touré returns to the Louis II after a three-year absence
Pau Ramírez
Touré Yaya is going back to Monaco for the European Super Cup final three years after leaving there to sign for Barça.
The Ivory Coast international played for just one season (2006-07) in Monaco before his performances earned him a transfer to FC Barcelona.
A great season in Monaco
Touré Yaya joined Monaco when he was 23 from Greek side
Olympiakos, his first major European team. He had a shaky start as the then coach Lázló Bölöni left
him on the bench for the first ten matches. However, after a run of poor results the coach was
sacked and new man Laurent Banide immediately assigned Touré Yaya an important role in the team.
Versatility
Touré became a key player in the team and Monaco climbed from second bottom at the end of October to ninth by the end of the season. He alternated between attacking and defensive midfield roles and became the star of the team.
Touré Yaya played 27 matches with Monaco, scoring five goals and making such a name for himself that he was rewarded with a move to FC Barcelona.
Three more players with a Monaco connection
Apart from Touré Yaya, three other Barça players
have a past link with Monaco. Mexican international Rafael Márquez played there for four seasons
after joining the French club from Atlas de Guadalajara in 1999 at the age of 20. In France he won
a league title (2000), a Super Cup (2000) and a League Cup (2003), and was voted best defender in
Ligue 1 at the end of his first season. After four excellent seasons, Márquez signed for Barça in
the summer of 2003.
Henry and Abidal
The first team’s two French stars also started their football careers at Monaco. Thierry Henry made his professional debut with Monaco at the age of 17, playing there from 1994 to 1999 and winning a league title (1996/97) and a Super Cup (1997) before moving to Juventus.
Eric Abidal signed for Monaco at the age of 21 in July 2000. He spent two seasons there and played 26 games before being loaned to Lille, where he made his name as one of the top players in the country.
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Happy memories
Touré Yaya, who also had the company of his younger brother Ibrahim who played for Nice at the
time, goes back to Monaco whenever he can and retains many friends there. He told
www.fcbarcelona.cat: “It’s a joy to go back there because I have a lot of happy
memories. Whenever I have holidays, in summer or in December, I try and go because I have a lot of
friends there and know a lot of people. In the club I have a good relationship with the coach and
the president and prince Albert of Monaco, who are all friends of mine and that’s why I try
and visit them as often as possible”.
