In an unexpected turn of events, Bayern Munich revealed on Wednesday that Vincent Kompany would be taking the helm as their new coach. The 38-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the German giants, a decision that caught many off guard.
Kompany's appointment comes on the heels of a challenging season with Burnley, which saw the team face relegation from the Premier League. Despite this setback, Bayern have placed their trust in the former Manchester City captain to lead the club forward.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge of FC Bayern. It's a great honour to be able to work for this club - FC Bayern is an institution in international football," said Kompany in a club statement.
"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 appointment marks the conclusion of Bayern's extensive search for a successor to Thomas Tuchel following the club's first trophyless season in 12 years.
Bayern announced Tuchel's departure in February after falling behind Bayer Leverkusen in the title race.
Reports suggested that Leverkusen's coach Xabi Alonso, Germany's Julian Nagelsmann, and Austria's Ralf Rangnick all declined Bayern's interest.
Kompany took charge of Burnley in July 2022 and guided them to promotion from the Championship in his debut season.
Despite their struggles in the Premier League, winning only five games and tallying 24 points, Kompany retained the support of his former Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, who recommended him to Bayern.
"Vincent Kompany is the type of coach who fits in very well with FC Bayern's playing philosophy and identity," said sporting director Christoph Freund.
"He's a young, very ambitious coach with a lot of international experience.
"He his finger on the pulse when it comes to the players and knows exactly what needs to happen on the pitch. He can and will give our team an enormous amount."
Kompany's Bundesliga experience, gained during his two seasons at Hamburg early in his playing career, adds value to his appointment. His proficiency in speaking German is viewed as a significant advantage by the Bayern board.
Burnley is set to receive £10 million ($13 million) in compensation for releasing their manager to join Bayern.
"Whilst we were initially confident in retaining our manager, the changing dynamics of the situation made this impossible," Burnley said in a statement.
"We understand the allure and prestige of a club like Bayern Munich and respect Vincent's ambition to explore new opportunities."
(With AFP inputs)
