Bayern Munich appoint Vincent Kompany as new manager
Bayern Munich have appointed Vincent Kompany as their new manager on a contract until June 2027 after the Belgian left Burnley following their relegation from the Premier League, the two clubs announced on Wednesday.
"We understand the allure and prestige of a club like Bayern Munich and respect Vincent's ambition to explore new opportunities," Burnley said in a statement.
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said: "We all at the club agree that Vincent Kompany is the right coach for FC Bayern and are very much looking forward to working with him."
Bayern, the Bundesliga champions for the previous 11 seasons, finished third, trailing Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart.
They also failed to win domestic or European silverware for the first time in over a decade, prompting coach Thomas Tuchel's departure, which was announced in February.
Kompany's arrival concludes a months-long search for Tuchel's successor, with several potential candidates opting to stay in their current positions.
Before hiring Kompany, Bayern considered several candidates for the vacant managerial position, including Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso, former coach Julian Nagelsmann, and Austrian Ralf Rangnick.
"I look forward to this challenge at Bayern," Kompany said. "It is an honour to work for this club. Bayern are an institution in international football.
"As a coach you have to just like your personality. I love having possession, being creative, and we also have to be aggressive and courageous on the pitch."
Kompany, who played 360 matches in all competitions for Manchester City and won four Premier League titles, has built a reputation for playing free-flowing, possession-based football during his brief managerial career.
He began his coaching career at Belgian club Anderlecht, where he spent two seasons before joining Burnley in 2022. His approach worked well in the second-tier Championship, as the Lancashire club secured promotion with seven games to spare.
However, Burnley's insistence on playing that style against teams of a higher calibre in the Premier League meant they struggled in the top flight and were relegated after finishing 19th with 24 points and only five wins.
Bayern will hope that Kompany's attacking philosophy can be used more effectively with the quality of players in the Bavarian club's squad, and his two-year Bundesliga experience with Hamburger SV is an added bonus.
SportsLigue