Bayern Munich have announced the appointment of Vincent Kompany as their new head coach.
The Belgian was the overwhelming choice to take the reins at the Allianz Arena following the club’s decision to part ways with Thomas Tuchel. Kompany was keen to speak to Bayern after learning of their concrete interest in him despite suffering relegation to the Championship with Burnley earlier this month.
The former Manchester City captain was tied to Burnley until 2028, but the lure of managing the six-time European Cup winners was too much to ignore and he has now penned a three-year deal.
“Whilst we were initially confident in retaining our manager, the changing dynamics of the situation made this impossible,” Burnley said in a statement.
“We understand the allure and prestige of a club like Bayern Munich and respect Vincent’s ambition to explore new opportunities. We wish only the best for Vincent and would like to put on record our appreciation for his dedication every single day he was a part of this football club.
“Our priority remains the stability and success of Burnley FC, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that our ambition is realized – namely our return to the Premier League.”
The club has now started the search to replace Kompany, who leaves the Clarets with a record of 41 wins, 24 draws, and 31 defeats in 96 games in the Turf Moor hotseat.
Kompany is no stranger to the Bundesliga, having spent two years at Hamburg before his move to the Etihad Stadium in 2008, where he spent the next 11 years as a player. However, the 38-year-old now has the immediate task of dethroning champions Bayer Leverkusen and wrestling back the Bundesliga title from Xabi Alonso’s men.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said after signing a deal that keeps him at the club until 2027. “It’s a great honour to be able to work for this club – FC Bayern is an institution in international football. As a coach, you have to stand for who you are as a person: I love having the ball, being creative – and we also have to be aggressive on the pitch and courageous. I’m now looking forward to the most basic things: working with the players, building a team. When the foundation is in place, success will follow.”
Kompany will have familiar faces at his disposal in the form of Harry Kane and Eric Dier – two players he went head-to-head with during his playing days.
The Belgian will know all about Kane’s qualities first hand after many tussles both in the Premier League and Champions League.
Kompany was not Bayern’s initial first choice for the vacant managerial post after failed attempts to replace Tuchel with Leverkusen boss Alonso, Germany head coach and former manager Julian Nagelsmann, and Austria coach Ralf Rangnick fell short.
Credit: Talksport
