Why all roads lead back to Manchester for Vincent Kompany

November 26, 2025 Oliver Obel

Onuoha told ESPN that he first encountered Kompany during the Belgian’s period at Hamburg, well before they became teammates in England. Even at that stage he said Kompany carried himself with unusual maturity for a young player.

When Kompany arrived at City in 2008, at the same moment that Sheikh Mansour’s takeover transformed the club’s ambitions, Onuoha remembered a 22 year old who already behaved like a senior figure.

According to Onuoha, Kompany’s comfort switching between multiple languages and his ability to cut across different parts of the dressing room gave him immediate authority during a period of rapid transition.

Rather than pointing to one specific tale, Onuoha highlighted a pattern of moments that displayed Kompany’s drive and competitiveness. These, he said, were the traits that consistently pushed standards within the squad.

How those traits evolved into a managerial Identity

Onuoha said Kompany carried the same sense of responsibility into his coaching career. While managing Burnley, he often framed tactical adjustments as personalised development plans, convincing players that structural changes aligned with their own ambitions. Onuoha described it as a teacher’s instinct rather than a rigid top down approach.

At Bayern Munich, Kompany has relied heavily on tactical flexibility. ESPN reporting noted that he has responded to contrasting Bundesliga styles by adjusting his system, sometimes using Harry Kane or Jamal Musiala in false nine roles.

Bayern’s decision to extend his contract suggests that he has earned trust in one of Europe’s most demanding environments.

Outside ESPN, several German outlets have observed a similar pattern. Publications such as Kicker and Süddeutsche Zeitung have described Kompany’s early months in Munich as a mix of idealism and practical problem solving, a combination that aligns with the expectations at Manchester City.

Why the fit at Manchester City makes sense

The eventual succession of Guardiola will depend as much on personality as on tactics. Any coach who follows him will inherit a structure that is stable, ambitious and detailed in its playing identity.

Onuoha told ESPN that Kompany’s long history at City would give him immediate credibility. Just as important, he said, is that Kompany would not try to imitate Guardiola but would rely on his own convictions and clarity. Onuoha believes this independence would be essential during the early stages of any transition.

Leaving Bayern would present challenges, and Guardiola has given no firm indication of when he intends to step away. Even so, Kompany’s progress, combined with his understanding of City’s culture and expectations, has put him among the few realistic candidates for the role.

Some Premier League executives, speaking in earlier interviews about managerial prospects, have suggested that Kompany is likely to return to England eventually. If that happens, City appears to be the most coherent match for him.

Sources: ESPN interview with Nedum Onuoha, ESPN, Kicker and Süddeutsche Zeitung.