Player name in full: Vincent Jean Mpoy Kompany
To/from dates: 2008-2019
Number of appearances: 338
Goals scored: 20
Biography:
Vincent Kompany was born on 10th April 1986 in Uccle, Brussels. Graduating from the youth leagues at Anderlecht when he was 17, Vincent played for three seasons between 2003-2006, moving to Hamburg in 2006 and joining Manchester City in 2008 at the age of 22.
Francis Lee would later call Kompany “the best centre-back ever” to play for the club in 2011, a year that saw him as part of a F.A. Cup winning and Champions League qualifying squad.
During the 2011/12 season as Captain, he would lead the squad to victory in the Premier League with a nail-biting win over QPR in the final game – one that saw Joey Barton attempt to headbutt Kompany.
The club would next win the Premier League in the 2013-14 season, with Vincent scoring City’s second goal against West Ham in the final match of the season.
From 2015, Vincent was plagued by recurring muscular injuries that marred the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons. He made a triumphant return in the 2016 League Cup Final, defeating Liverpool and being named man of the match, but exited the Champions League campaign early with injury.
Kompany’s determination to succeed for his team was evidenced by him returning as soon as he was fit to do so, earning him the respect of his teammates and supporters.
In the club’s Centurions year, Vincent managed 17 league starts, suffering further muscular injury, but he scored the second goal of a 3-0 victory over Arsenal in the 2018 League Cup Final.
Vincent’s leadership meant that he continued to attend the dressing room even when not playing to lead the team as Club Captain. His legendary goal against Leicester, giving City a vital 1-point lead in the Premier League before the final game of the season proving the claims that he was one of the greatest Manchester City players of all time. This was his only goal for the club outside the box. Aguero, Sterling and Guardiola amongst others would recall shouting for Kompany not to shoot from 25 yards, Vincent sent City fans from all over the world into hysteria with an astonishing finish into the top corner of the Leicester goal. The goal placed City one point above Liverpool prior to their final game against Brighton. City won the game at Brighton which resulted in Captain fantastic leading the team to their fourth domestic trophy of the season.
Notable facts/stories:
In 2012, Vincent was ranked the 23rd Best Footballer in the World in a Guardian poll
Vincent has a keen interest in politics and graduated with an MBA at Manchester Business School in 2018.
Vincent also set up with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, Tackle4MCR, an initiative to address homelessness in the city.
Non-City career (briefly):
Vincent has appeared for Belgium 89 times since 2004, scoring 4 goals.
Since departing Manchester City, Vincent has taken on a new challenge as player-manager of Anderlecht returning to the club where he began his professional career.
