Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany has been officially unveiled as the new Bayern Munich manager and has now given his first interview and press conference in the job.
The former Belgian footballer and Premier League veteran spent 11 seasons at Man City, eight of them as captain, before going on to become player-manager at Anderlecht and then the Burnley boss since 2022.
Having won the EFL Championship in his first season with the club, Kompany has been touted by many as one of the most promising individuals among the next generation of coaches. However, the appointment has left many slightly puzzled and wondering whether he’s skipped ahead too many steps.
Nevertheless, the German giants pulled the trigger on acquiring the 38-year-old’s services, giving him a three-year contract, and now the ex-Man City stalwart has opened up on what he hopes to bring to the massive role, with Munich having won a record 32 Bundesliga titles.
"I want my players to be brave on the ball" 🔊
New Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany on what he expects from his players on the pitch 👔🔴 pic.twitter.com/znA5oZo9li
“It’s a privilege and an honour”, he said in a sit down with his new employers. “I’m excited, so my feeling and my energy is really positive. I’m really looking forward to working with the players, the staff, and hopefully [I can] give everything that the fans love to see about this club.”
Explaining his brand of football and its roots in his upbringing on the streets of Brussels, he said: “We love the ball; we’re creative – I like players who are brave on the ball but also I was always a very aggressive player, so I like the team to be aggressive. That’s what suits my personality”.
He went on to describe the club as “an institution” and that he’s simply looking forward to working with people and building a team, insisting that after that “the rest will follow”. He also said in his first press conference that he will soon assess those “hungry” enough to represent such an iconic shirt.
Kompany failed to steer Burnley away from relegation in his debut Premier League season, leading many to question why Bayern were so quick to give him the top job given that he’s still relatively unproven, especially at the top level.
Sky Germany’s Felix Fischer, for instance, was quick to state that no matter how much optimism there is around him potential, “you have to win titles” if you want to stay in post at a club like Bayern Munich, though there will likely be some added patience with the young coach.
On the other hand, the likes of former manager Pep Guardiola have spoken highly of Kompany’s prospect, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Bayern spoke with the Blues boss before the appointment and labelled him a “talented coach, a smart guy” and an “ideal candidate for the job.”
The club sacked Champions League winner and former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel after he failed to win the title last season, falling short of Xabi Alonso’s ‘invincible’ side, and are said to have paid Burnley a fee of £10.2 million in compensation to bring him in, so they clearly have faith in his future.
A highly-admired centre-back before he became a coach, Kompany insisted he had “a lot of interest” from different clubs” and that wasn’t in the least bit surprised by such a significant offer so early in his career, adding: “I live my job so intensively that I don’t have much time for that. At top clubs like Bayern, you have to stand together internally. What the outside world thinks doesn’t matter, I don’t care.”
He certainly looked dominant in the English second tier and perhaps with an already-established elite squad, not to mention much more spending power behind him in the transfer window, we might just get to see why Bayern Munich are so excited about Vincent Kompany.
You can watch his first full press conference HERE.
Fantastic news for Vincent Kompany – he’s now coach of Bayern Munich. I’m so pleased for him.
I watched this excellent piece of coaching (see video)…and thought I’d make a few notes from a psychological perspective.
Manchester City set to re-sign former youth keeper James Trafford
Danny Jones
Manchester City look set to re-sign their former academy goalkeeper, James Trafford, just over two years after he left the club.
The Burnley shot-stopper was signed by the Lancashire side back in June 2023 after he impressed in two consecutive seasons on loan at Bolton Wanderers.
Now, just a few transfer windows later, it looks like Man City are set to fend off interest from other Premier League outfits for the chance to bring him back to the Etihad Stadium.
As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, an agreement is already in place for him to return to Manchester in the next few days.
🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City agree deal to sign James Trafford as new goalkeeper, here we go!
Deal in place with Burnley under value of £40m buy back clause. Trafford said yes to Man City as Pep Guardiola wanted him.
According to Romano, the Cockermouth-born and Carlisle-blooded keeper, who joined the City youth setup at the age of 12, will be signed once again for a fee below the previously reported £40m price tag.
Although the details of the contract are yet to be fully confirmed, it is said that City maintained the option to match the bid of any other team that came in within three days as part of the stipulation.
Backed up by The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, it seems the club have done just that, entering a matched price of £27m (before add-ons) after an offer was made by Newcastle United.
Once again, the wages he will earn upon returning to the Etihad remain undisclosed, but you can assume they have promised a more attractive package than Newcastle; you would expect some assurances surrounding playing time, too.
Although Ederson is the first-choice goalkeeper on paper, he and backup keeper Stefan Ortega have been increasingly rotated across multiple competitions, and the 22-year-old said in an interview back in 2021 that he believes he has the potential and talent to become “Manchester City’s number one.”
Here are some of the highlights from the previous term.
Having impressed at youth level for England and most notably keeping 29 clean sheets – conceding just 16 goals in all 45 league fixtures in 24/25 – with Burnley securing automatic promotion as one of the best defences in the EFL, he’s not just a young prospect any more: he’s a sought-after shot-stopper.
It seems only a matter of time before his comeback is officially announced by the clubs, with Trafford preparing to sign a five-year contract with his old employers and where the bulk of his youth development took place.
The question is, Man City fans: can you see him pushing Ederson and Ortega, who have both been linked with moves away themselves, for the starting gloves?
Meanwhile, although Pep might be looking to phase in a new go-to between the sticks, another member of his senior squad who has struggled to nail down a consistent spot in the first XI could, conversely, be on his way out the exit door.
Jack Grealish linked with Serie A switch as Manchester City star reportedly wants a move away
Danny Jones
Manchester City star and England international, Jack Grealish, has been linked with leaving for a possible Serie A switch as the midfielder is reportedly eyeing an exit from the Etihad Stadium.
The 29-year-old is already being monitored by a number of clubs here in England and in mainland Europe, but it appears that Italian champions Napoli have emerged as the latest and seemingly strongest suitors looking to add Jack Grealish to their growing roster.
A number of outlets are reporting interest from the ‘Gli Azzurri’, who have already signed former Man City talisman Kevin De Bruyne this summer, and look to be continuing with a productive period of recruitment ahead of defending their fourth league title – the second in the space of three seasons.
It wouldn’t be a change in colour or even in position, apparently, as they have identified him as a number of left-sided targets this summer, according to the likes of Corriere dello Sport.
🚨 Jack Grealish remains on a list of wingers still being considered by Napoli, @CorSport claim 👀🩵
The former Aston Villa favourite was left out of the FIFA Club World Cup after Pep Guardiola revealed the pair had shared “honest” discussions regarding his future in Manchester, but did reassure that it was the “best” decision for him and is not ruling out a resolution before the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
The Telegraph‘s Matt Law states that Grealish has returned to City but only to train alone and will remain apart from the rest of the team until an outcome has been decided.
Other clubs that are said to be keen on tapping up the dynamic winger and attacking midfielder include Spurs, West Ham, Newcastle and even Everton are thought to be exploring a potential approach.
Guardiola‘s squad are expected to resume training on 28 July following a much-needed break post-tournament, which they crashed out of in the round of 16 following a shock defeat to Saudi side Al-Hilal.
Meanwhile, it is claimed that the England star has already flown to Naples.
As per Manchester Evening News (MEN), Grealish’s driver, Salvatore, told the ‘Radio Goal’ show on native station Kiss Kiss Napoli that the footballer is already training privately on the Amalfi Coast.
The outlet also recently wrote that the 29-year-old would be available if the right offer came in, with Man City supposedly wanting around £40 million for his prospective sale.
Jack Grealish is now considered well within his traditional ‘prime years’, and arguably soon to exit this crucial period for any athlete, so he will no doubt be pushing hard for a move this summer if his place with the sky blues is still undecided.
Despite being a well-regarded talent and regularly picked for his national team, the Brummy-born footballer has struggled to cement a spot in the starting XI under Pep, so perhaps leaving City might be the best for both Grealish and City, who are continuing to rebuild with new personnel.
He’s not the only Manchester-based star looking to the continent for a new lease on life.
Danny Jones -
30th May 2024 
