Vincent Kompany has named four players that he thinks could win the Ballon d’Or award in the future.
Kompany’s appointment as manager of Bayern Munich was confirmed on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, with the Belgian making the step up from Burnley.
The 38-year-old has penned a 3-year contract with the Bavarian giants, which runs until 2027.
Vincent Kompany replaces Thomas Tuchel, who led Bayern Munich to a trophyless campaign for the first time since the 2011/12 season.
Kompany has his work cut out for him, as he will need to convince fans of the German giants alongside the club’s administrators that he is the best man for the job.
Vincent Kompany will also be working with many top and senior players, and it will be fascinating to see how he galvanizes them, particularly when their backs are against the wall.
Kane, Müller, and Neuer are some players he played against during his playing days and it will be interesting to see how he charges them without any clash of egos.
Vincent Kompany Names Four Possible Future Winners Of The Ballon d’Or
Anyway, before the confirmation of his appointment as Bayern Munich boss, Kompany was involved in an interview with ESPN where he was questioned on which players he could see claiming football’s biggest individual honor in the future.
The former Hamburger SV man replied by saying: “I can’t say Mbappe? Because you do know they are going to win it for a long time.”
Kompany added that the award will be won by either Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe for the next one-and-a-half decade.
He said: “It’s going to be him and Haaland for the next 15 years at least.”
Vincent Kompany also mentioned two other shocking names aside from Erling Haaland and Mbappe.
Gavi
The 38-year-old first mentioned youngster, Gavi, 19, who plays for Barcelona, with the Spaniard being an academy graduate of the Spanish side.
Gavi’s market value based on Transfermkt is €90 million, and he functions primarily as a central midfielder, but he can also play as a left winger or an attacking midfielder.
The 19-year-old has made 111 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 7 goals and providing 14 assists in all competitions.
Internationally, Gavi has made 27 appearances for Spain, scoring 5 goals and providing no assists.
Julien Duranville
Kompany also mentioned Julien Duranville, who is currently 18 years old, and the starlet has made only three appearances for Borussia Dortmund since joining the club in January 2023.
Duranville is being tipped for big things and has represented the national team of Belgium across youth levels – Under 16, 19, and 21.
He joined the Black and Yellows from RSC Anderlecht on January 27, 2023, for a fee of €8.50 million.
Julien Duranville has made 13 club career appearances thus far, scoring 1 goal and providing no assist in all competitions.
The 18-year-old plays primarily as a right winger, but can also function as a left winger.
His market value based on Transfermkt is €8.5 million.
Meanwhile, speaking after he was made boss of Bayern Munich, Kompany asserted that he is “looking forward to the challenge” of managing such a big side.
Vincent Kompany also tagged the German club as “an institution” in international football.
He said: “It’s a great honor to be able to work for this club – FC Bayern is an institution in international football.
“As a coach, you have to stand for what you are as a character: I love having the ball, being creative – but we also have to be aggressive and courageous on the pitch.
“I’m now looking forward to the basics: working with the players, building a team. Once the basis is right, success will follow.”
Kompany’s first assignment will be to wrestle the German Bundesliga title off Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, whilst also battling to win the UEFA Champions League and possibly the DFB-POKAL.
