Are we going to witness the end of a long and trying soap opera in Bavaria? Following a series of poor results on the national scene (early elimination in the German Cup, left behind in the title race by Bayer Leverkusen), Bayern Munich made the decision to part ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season. From then on, the Munich board worked in all directions to ferret out the worthy heir of the former coach of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. From Xabi Alonso to Julian Nagelsmann via Ralf Rangnick and Sebastian Hoeness, many coaches were approached by the Bavarians in turn, but all refused the position. The same goes for Thomas Tuchel who saw his management reverse its initial decision in the manner of what may have happened in Catalonia between FC Barcelona and Xavi.
While a comeback was in the pipeline, the German technician, although supported by his locker room as well as part of his management, stuck to his positions by declaring loud and clear at a press conference that he would indeed leave well Bayern Munich at the end of the 2023-2024 financial year. So back to square one for the Rekordmeister. In a more than uncomfortable situation, the most successful club in Germany has resumed its research and seems to be holding the right end of the rope with a surprising coach: Vincent Kompany. Indeed, various German and British sources have agreed in recent hours that the Belgian, who has been stationed at Burnley for two years and linked to the English club until June 2028, has given his verbal agreement to the Munich leaders. If the two parties must work to find common ground on the transfer fee, with the Clarets demanding no less than €20 million to let it go, the situation finally seems to be settling in Bavaria.
Vincent Kompany, anything but a plan A
However, the choice to go to the Belgian coach leaves our German neighbors perplexed, starting with the former emblematic player of Bayern Munich and the German team, Lothar Matthäus. “Of course it’s a risk. He is now a coach who has not necessarily coached the very big clubs, who has had very great success as a coach., underlined the former Mannschaft international regarding the Belgian’s CV considered far too thin. Returning to England after two years on the Anderlecht bench, the former Manchester City defender saw his popularity increase visibly at the end of his very good season with the Clarets who outclassed their opponents in the Championship to handily validate their promotion to the Premier League. However, the main player did not have the expected success in the first division. With 24 points taken in 38 championship matches, the Lancashire club finished the edition in a disappointing penultimate place, synonymous with relegation to the lower level.
Therefore, this rapid rise within the English elite, which ultimately ended in a bitter failure twelve months later, raises multiple questions about the Belgian’s ability to take over the reins of a European leader, who more is from a Munich team which is coming out of a very poor exercise without the slightest trophy to show for it. Close to Munich news for many seasons, Lothar Matthäus believes that time and the numerous failures suffered to date have worked in the favor of the former Red Devil. “I can’t imagine that all the leaders of Bayern Munich are completely convinced by Vincent Kompany. But what matters most is that sports directors Max Eberl and Christoph Freund are. Currently there is no coach for next season, so it is essential to present a coach as quickly as possible to begin preparations.added the German analyst on the antennas of RTL.
The Belgian has arguments to put forward!
Same story with regard to the German press, far from being seduced by the idea of seeing the native of Uccle take up the torch from Thomas Tuchel. For the editorialist of Sport Bild, Christian Kynaste, Vincent Kompany is weakened by the fact that he is not the first choice of the Munich board. “The new Bayern coach has already lost. This is Bayern’s most embarrassing coaching search ever. Whoever takes the job has already lost. At least, provided that his name is not surprisingly Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp or Zinedine Zidane! The entire sporting world knows that you are the managers’ seventh choice and so does the team… Bayern needs a strong coach. A coach who does not shy away from big names and bosses. A coach who sometimes puts stars on the bench or who is not afraid to dismiss them immediately. Far from appearing as the big favorite, Vincent Kompany nevertheless has arguments to put forward.
Long before swapping his footballer’s costume for that of a coach, the technician, now 38 years old, had the opportunity to play in the Bundesliga for SV Hamburg, a club with which he played between 2006 and 2008 before flying to the north of England. In addition to his perfect knowledge of German football, the main interested party also masters the language of Goethe, a search criterion imposed from the outset by the Munich board. Subsequently, Vincent Kompany also had the luxury of playing under Pep Guardiola for three years. We thus imagine that the Belgian imbibed the tactical ideas of his mentor (offensive game philosophy based on possession and high pressing on the opponent) and his coaching method to reproduce them in Germany, to the great happiness of the Munich supporters, undoubtedly still nostalgic for the time when the Iberian officiated at Bayern Munich. Obviously, the profile of Vincent Kompany appeals to the Bavarian management board embodied by the Max Eberl-Christoph Freund tandem, ready to take on this risky bet. It remains to be seen whether the deal will materialize.
