Vincent Kompany might be the guy to take over at Burnley as the Clarets seek promotion from the Championship at the first attempt.
He is the immediate past manager of RSC Anderlecht, a Belgian team. He is most known for his 11-year stint at Manchester City, which he captained for eight of those years. He also spent 15 years as a member of the Belgian national team, which he captained for seven years.
The Clarets were demoted after Mike Jackson’s resurgent side couldn’t drag themselves out of a relegation race following a terrible season under club legend Sean Dyche. Kompany, 36, is thought to be on a three-man shortlist for the job.
After two seasons in Belgium’s top flight, Kompany abandoned his employment at boyhood club Anderlecht “by mutual accord” after finishing fourth and third in his two seasons spells at the club. During the 2019-20 season, Vincent Kompany was also a player-coach for Anderlecht, which finished seventh.
On Anderlecht’s website, Kompany said, “Today, only one feeling prevails: I am proud that I was able to begin this new chapter at the club of my heart. I’ve been a player and a coach for RSC Anderlecht, but I’ll always be a supporter.”
Even with parachute money, Jackson would have been among those considered for the job, which will be a significant undertaking. Although Kompany’s status may assist Ben Mee, a fellow ex-Man City player, stay in the Championship, Wout Weghorst, Maxwel Cornet, Dwight McNeil, Nick Pope, and James Tarkowski all appear certain to go on to new top-tier clubs, whether in England or elsewhere.
Jack Cork, Aaron Lennon, Erik Pieters, Dale Stephens, Phil Bardsley, Ashley Barnes, and Matej Vydra are among the out-of-contract players joining Mee and Tarkowski.
As we’ve seen with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, Kompany’s name will assist get some good loanees in the door. Last season, he had Bayern Munich’s Joshua Zirkzee and Fiorentina’s Christian Kouame, who combined for nearly 30 goals at Anderlecht.
