Bayern Munich have appointed Vincent Kompany as manager on a three-year contract until June 2027.
Munich’s move for Kompany has bought the Belgian’s two-year stint in charge of Burnley to a close, during which he guided the Clarets to promotion from the Championship only to suffer relegation from the Premier League at the end of this season.
His managerial performances though caught Bayern’s eye as they seek to regain their Bundesliga title next season, after a lacklustre campaign under Thomas Tuchel in which they finished second but reached the Champions League’s semi-finals.
As part of their move for Kompany, Bayern have agreed to pay £10.3million in compensation to Burnley for the Belgian, who has signed a three-year contract at the Allianz Arena until June 2027.
Announcing Kompany’s departure, Burnley iterated that they ‘were initially confident’ of retaining Kompany but felt that ‘changing dynamics’ plus ‘the allure and prestige’ of Bayern meant that letting him take the job was a ‘respect’ of his ‘ambition’ as a manager.
Burnley proceeded to issue the follow statement: “We wish only the best for Vincent and would like to put on record our appreciation for his dedication every single day he was a part of this football club.
“Our priority remains the stability and success of Burnley FC, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that our ambition is realised – namely our return to the Premier League.”
In his first statement as Bayern manger, Kompany spoke of his pride at receiving the job and the challenge that lies ahead.
“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.
“As a coach, you have to stand for what you are as a person: I love having the ball, being creative – and we also have to be aggressive on the pitch and courageous. I’m now looking forward to the very elementary things: working with the players, forming a team. When the basis is in place, success will come.”
Bayern Chairman, Jan-Christian Dreesen added: “All of us at the club agree that Vincent Kompany is the right coach for FC Bayern and are very much looking forward to working with him.
“Max Eberl and Christoph Freund never let up and worked meticulously to find a coach who would lead FC Bayern to success and develop it with new ideas. Vincent Kompany stands for exactly the togetherness and team spirit that we need.”
Freund meanwhile described Kompany as the type of manager “who fits very well with FC Bayern’s playing philosophy and identity: his teams want the ball, want to play dominant and high-intensity football.
“He is a young, very ambitious coach who has a lot of international experience, has his finger on the pulse of the players and knows exactly what should happen on the pitch. He can and will give our team an enormous amount.”
Kompany will meet his new playing squad when pre-season commences in July, ahead of the new Bundesliga season commencing on weekend of 23-25 August, although Bayern will be involved in DFL-Supercup on 17 August after Bayer Leverkusen achieved the domestic double.
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