May 31 – Vincent Kompany says Bayern Munich “already feels like home” after being unveiled as the manager of the German Bundesliga club.
Bayern confirmed Kompany, 38, had been handed a three-year deal on Wednesday, replacing Thomas Tuchel.
“My mentality is that I never haven’t ever worked for a top club in my head,” Kompany said in his first press conference as Bayern boss.
“A top club is the environment you create. It’s the mentality you have towards your job in good and bad times, that’s what defines working at the top level.
“It already feels like home.”
Bayern finished third in the Bundesliga last term, halting their run of 11 successive titles as they fell 18 points short of champions Bayer Leverkusen.
The Bavarian outfit ended a campaign without a trophy for the first time since 2011-12.
Meanwhile, Kompany’s Burnley finished 19th in the Premier League to mark an end to a disappointing return to the top flight. They won the championship convincingly in 2022/23- giving a view to what a Vincent Kompany side can look like when given a top team.
Bayern’s move for Kompany raised more than a few eyebrows across Europe, with the 38-year-old Belgian still unproven at the top level – especially when compared to the departing Thomas Tuchel.
Young, modern managers are valuable stock, though, as the recently dethroned German Champions look to take a page out of Bayer Leverkusen’s management profile.
“I’m eternally motivated, I wake up from the morning to the evening motivated with the intention to make everyone around me better,” added Kompany.
“I’m not defined by the successful years in my life, it’s the moments I had tough times.
“I don’t want to be successful on my own I want to bring as many people with me, that’s in my nature.”
Many of FC Bayern’s squad have already departed to international camps ahead of next month’s European Championships, so Kompany will have to wait to make his impact for the club’s tour of South Korea in pre-season.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1732293482labto1732293482ofdlr1732293482owedi1732293482sni@g1732293482niwe.1732293482yrrah1732293482