Bayern Appoint Vincent Kompany as Head Coach
Bayern Munich has officially named Vincent Kompany as their new head coach, signing him to a three-year contract. The 38-year-old Belgian takes over from Thomas Tuchel, departing Burnley for the Bundesliga after the two clubs agreed on a compensation fee reportedly amounting to £10.2 million.
Kompany, who led Burnley to a Championship title in the 2022-23 season, faced relegation with the Clarets this year after finishing 19th in the Premier League. Despite this setback, his impressive management skills caught the attention of Bayern.
“It’s a great honour to be able to work for this club—FC Bayern is an institution in international football,” said Kompany, reflecting on his new role. The former Manchester City defender retired from playing in 2020 and joined Burnley from Anderlecht in 2022, signing a five-year contract extension with Burnley last year.
Kompany avoided questions about his future after Burnley’s defeat by Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season, leaving Burnley initially hopeful of retaining him. However, the lure of Bayern Munich proved irresistible. “We understand the allure and prestige of a club like Bayern Munich and respect Vincent’s ambition to explore new opportunities,” Burnley stated.
Bayern Munich’s sporting director, Christoph Freund, praised Kompany as a coach who fits well with the club’s playing philosophy and identity. “He is a young, very ambitious coach who brings a lot of international experience, has his finger on the pulse of the players, and knows exactly what should happen on the pitch,” Freund said.
Thomas Tuchel’s departure earlier this month left Bayern finishing third in the Bundesliga, their worst position since the 2010-11 season. Efforts to find a replacement included approaches to Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso, Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann, and Austria’s Ralf Rangnick, all of whom declined the position.
The status of Kompany’s backroom staff, including assistant manager Craig Bellamy, joining him in Germany remains unannounced. Meanwhile, Frank Lampard, former Chelsea and Everton coach, has shown interest in succeeding Kompany at Burnley, whereas former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has ruled himself out, aiming for a Premier League position instead.
