My Favorite Player: James Sands

Mark Booth

Just when you thought we’d completed our series, James Sands became our newest addition to the NYCFC roster.

Our first-ever Homegrown Player signed his first professional contract last week and so we thought we’d find out who inspired him when he was first learning the game.

James keeps it in the family, choosing a player who’s been with our sister club Manchester City since 2010… it’s Yaya Toure.

James on Toure…

“Yaya Toure – I’ve been a lifelong Man City fan and watching him play reminds me of what the next level looks like. He can do everything – he can score, he can defend – I’ve always looked up to him as a player.”

Yaya Toure: Man City Legend

One of the greatest players in the Premier League era, Yaya Toure has inspired Manchester City ever since signing from FC Barcelona in 2010.

One of the most complete soccer players of his generation, the Ivorian is arguably the most decisive player in City’s history, netting some of their most important goals in modern times.

Whether it was the brace he scored against Newcastle in 2012 which paved the way for Sergio Aguero’s last-second title-clinching goal, his winning strikes against Manchester United and Stoke City which landed the FA Cup in 2011 or his ridiculous 40-yard equalizer against Sunderland in the League Cup final at Wembley, Toure certainly has a habit of showing up at the big moments.

Yaya had already won the UEFA Champions League under Pep Guardiola with FC Barcelona before he made his switch to the Etihad Stadium where he linked up with Patrick Vieira in the heart of midfield.

Since moving to Manchester, Toure has won the Premier League and League Cup twice, as well as the FA Cup and, individually, Yaya has been named African Footballer of the Year on four occasions and won City’s Etihad Player of the Year award in 2014.

At international level, Toure finally won the African Cup of Nations in 2015 and was named in the Team of the Tournament.