After a successful playing career, Kompany had only managed at two clubs – Anderlecht and Burnley – before Bayern decided he was the perfect fit for their oroject going forward.
Here are seven things that caught Soccernet.football’s attention about the deal
1. Stunning Appointment Post-Relegation
Despite Burnley’s relegation, Bayern Munich’s decision to appoint Vincent Kompany as head coach has taken many by surprise.
However, Kompang did wonders in the Championship last season to get Burnley into the Premier League and that would have played a key role in boosting Bayern’s confidence in his managerial potential and philosophy.
Still, this surprising move raises eyebrows given Kompany’s recent struggles in the Premier League.
2. Significant Compensation
Bayern Munich have agreed to pay a substantial £10.2m compensation fee to release Kompany from his Burnley contract.
Big money in the bank for Burnley, no doubt, but also indicates Bayern’s strong belief in Kompany’s capabilities to lead the team despite his recent challenges.
3. Immediate High Stakes
Kompany takes charge following Bayern’s worst Bundesliga finish since 2010-11 and their first trophyless season in 12 years.
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen have joined perennial rivals Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig’s as Bayern’s biggest rivals in the Bundesliga title race.
The pressure will be immense on Kompany to restore the club’s dominance both domestically and in Europe.
4. Fluent German Speaker
One big advantage for Kompany is that he is fluent in German and has previous Bundesliga experience with Hamburg.
These would be crucial assets as he looks to find his feet in the deep managerial waters of the Bundesliga.
These linguistic and cultural connections are expected to ease his transition and enhance communication with players and staff.
5. Guardiola Pedigree
Having played under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Kompany brings a respected tactical knowledge and style of play.
He has exhibited these at Anderlecht and Burnley and he will hope his experience with Guardiola’s philosophies aligns well with Bayern’s tactical expectations.
6. Failed Recruitment Attempt
One unfortunate tag that will drag Kompany in his early days at Bayern Munich is the fact that he was not Bayern Munich’s first choice as replacement for Thomas Tuchel.
Bayern’s pursuit of high-profile managers such as Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, and Ralf Rangnick all ended in rejections.
It was the complexity and urgency in finding Tuchel’s successor that eventually led Bayern to Kompany.
7. Commitment to Youth and Potential
By opting for Kompany, Bayern Munich signals a strategic shift towards younger, innovative coaching talent.
This is in line with what obtains at other clubs, especially going by the success of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal and Xabi at Bayer Leverkusen among several others.
Bayern’s decision to toe that line reflects a growing trend to prioritize potential and modern football philosophies over established reputations.