Vincent Kompany received a glowing recommendation from Pep Guardiola when Bayern Munich were collecting character references in their search for a new manager.
Kompany is set to be announced as the next Bayern boss, replacing the outgoing Thomas Tuchel, after the German giants failed to land other targets. Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann and Austria manager Ralf Rangnick all rejected their approaches before Tuchel turned down the opportunity to stay on.
Kompany has since emerged as the frontrunner and will take the job after being relegated from the Premier League with Burnley. The 38-year-old, who previously managed Anderlecht in his native Belgium, speaks German thanks to a two-year stint with Hamburg and impressed sporting director Max Eberl in interviews.
Many were surprised to see Kompany shortlisted for the role, given he won just five of 38 league games with Burnley this season, but Bayern board member and former chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says Guardiola’s praise was influential in him landing the role.
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“Our sporting director has chosen Kompany, it is not yet official but there are only the last details to be sorted out,” he told Sky Sports. “I am convinced that Kompany will arrive in the end. Guardiola spoke to us in a very positive way about Vincent. He had him at City as captain and Pep also followed him when he was at Burnley, so he gave us a good hand."
Guardiola, who managed Bayern between 2013 and 2016 before heading to City, didn’t just speak privately in support of Kompany, whom he managed for three years at Manchester City – he also publicly backed him. "I'm happy the link has happened for Bayern to Vinny," Guardiola said last week.
"I have a huge opinion about Vinny, doesn't matter the relegation with Burnley. What I felt playing against him and knowing him, I have the highest opinion of his work, personality, his knowledge of the game, how he handles the media.
Pep Guardiola is a big fan of Vincent Kompany (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)"I'd love Bayern to take the best decision. I love that club. I'm in love with Bayern Munich for many many reasons. Hopefully take the best decision, if they believe Vinny is the right decision, for Munich they will have a guy to support unconditionally."
Kompany could be officially announced as the new Bayern coach on Wednesday and will bring Floribert Ngalula and Bram Geers with him as backroom staff, but not Craig Bellamy. Burnley are understood to be receiving around £10.2million in compensation for the former centre-back.
If all goes well in Bavaria, Kompany could eventually end up at City. "He will be back sooner or later," Guardiola predicted in March last year. "His destiny to be manager of City is already written in the stars. It's going to happen. I don't know when but it's going to happen."
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