On Saturday evening, Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany played his last game for the Citizens in a 6-0 pummelling of Watford in the FA Cup final. The victory helped Pep Guardiola’s team to a never achieved treble in English football.
The 33-year-old was out of contract this summer and his future with the English champions was the subject of speculation. However, it was not announced that Kompany had played his final game for City until after the Watford game.
The announcement that the centre-back would become the player-manager of former club Anderlecht on Sunday raised even more eyebrows than his departure.
Returning to his roots
Kompany’s return to his former club is a very much a tail of the defender coming full circle. The veteran star made 100 appearances for Anderlecht as a player, winning two league titles in the process.
The way Kompany has talked about his former club, he has a big passion for his former employers. The defender has revealed that he has been in touch with the club’s hierarchy for a while.
The club and Kompany himself are both taking a risk, but it could be the start of something very special. Anderlecht have not enjoyed the best of times of late, failing to win the title in the last five seasons.
Could have stayed at the top-level longer
In truth, Kompany’s decision to join Anderlecht as player-manager was a shock one. The Belgian Jupiler League is far from the same standard that the 33-year-old is accustomed to in the Premier League.
Kompany has proven in recent months that he is still very capable of playing at the top-level. A number of foreign clubs were linked with a move for the centre-back, including big-spending French giants PSG. In fact, there would have been a lengthy list of clubs queuing for the centre-back
The decision to accept Anderlecht’s offer to become player-manager was obviously a decision motivated by his aforementioned passion for the Belgian club.
Would he still have had as much motivation elsewhere? Kompany has won virtually every trophy there is to be won in the game with City. Only the Champions League eluded the experienced defender. He is a winner, so maybe motivation may not have been a problem, though.
Kompany looks to have the perfect attributes to be a top coach
Vincent Kompany has for a long time been one of the few genuine leaders on the pitch for the big teams in the English top-flight. City will badly miss his leadership skills, as he seems to have a major influence in the Citizens dressing room.
He is the sort of player that looks to have all the leadership skills to become a top coach when his playing days are over. However, his first managerial role seems to have come sooner than expected. The fact that he is willing to play a dual role says a lot about the centre-back.
Not all great players make great coaches. The signs are good with Kompany, though. The fact that he has played under Guardiola for the last few years has given him a good grounding when it comes to coaching.
City boss Pep Guardiola described Kompany as ‘Special’, which he is. He is a true modern great for the club from Manchester. The 33-year-old has been a big success as a player. I doubt there many observers out there who would write Kompany off as a boss. He may even return to Manchester one day to coach his old team, who knows.
Will Vincent Kompany be a successful boss?
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
