On the 19th of May, Vincent Kompany announced he is returning to Anderlecht. The 33-year-old Belgian will combine his job as a player together with being head coach at the club after 11 years of playing for Manchester City.
Although Kompany has no experience as a manager, he did agree to the proposal of the management of Anderlecht. Kompany has cited City boss Pep Guardiola as a big factor in his decision to step into coaching. “I have learned so much the last 3 years from an incredible manager. Pep Guardiola reignited my love for the game. Man City play the football I want to teach and to see played.”
Kompany made it to the first team of Anderlecht as a 16-year old in 2003 and stayed there until 2006, where he was soon affectionately called “Vince the Prince”. Via Hamburger SV, the Belgian ended up at City in 2008. The defender won four titles, won the FA Cup twice and the League cup four times. Kompany is the face of Manchester City and ex-England and ex-Man City star Joleon Lescott even went on record saying the Belgian was the best central defender in the Premier League when he’s fit.
One day after the FA Cup final victory against Watford (6-0), the Belgian announced that he is leaving. In a short clip with the title “The prince is back”, Anderlecht later revealed that Kompany is coming to Brussels. In this way, the biggest team in Belgium hopes to bounce back after one of the worst seasons in the club’s history. “If the castle is besieged, you need a real warrior with a big heart and purple blood. He is coming home”, the video stated.
Combining the job of coach and player at a top club: is that a good idea though? A coach must analyize matches, study statistics, set up training sessions… While a player has to train, rest, work out and sometimes rehabilitate. Even for a workaholic like Vincent Kompany, this might be too much. That’s why maybe 3 or 4 assistants, now at Manchester City, will be joining him in Brussels.
Rumors are that Welshman Simon Davies, currently employed as the manager for Manchester City’s under-23s reserve team, will officially be the head coach but Vincent Kompany will be the one making the final decisions. Sam Erith, Man City’s head of sports science is likely joining the manager team as Kompany’s assistant. The return of Vincent Kompany to Belgium could be the first step in a closer relationship between Manchester City and Anderlecht. Man City is in talks with Anderlecht to loan out their promising youngsters to Anderlecht after Kompany becomes manager.
