Bayern Munich confirm the role Pep Guardiola played in Vincent Kompany move

Former Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has admitted the German club reached out to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as they prepare to unveil Vincent Kompany as their new head coach.

Bayern are close to appointing Kompany as Thomas Tuchel’s successor at the Allianz Arena after thrashing out talks with Burnley. Kompany took over at Turf Moor in June 2022 and took the club back to the Premier League in his first season in charge, winning the Championship title.

However, Burnley were relegated straight back to the second tier this season. They won just five of their 38 matches, finishing eight points adrift of safety.

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Despite that, Bayern have identified Kompany as the ideal candidate to become their new boss. An official announcement is expected imminently, at the time of writing.

And Rummenigge has revealed that Bayern touched base with Guardiola – who was the Bayern boss between 2013 and 2016 – to source more information about Kompany. The Belgian also played under Guardiola at City, of course.

Rummenigge told Sky Germany: “Pep Guardiola was also helping us with Kompany, he spoke very highly of Vincent as talented coach. Pep knows Vincent well and his opinion was really appreciated.”

Kompany, who was in charge of Anderlecht before being lured to Turf Moor, is held in high esteem by Guardiola, so much so that he has already backed him to follow in his footsteps and manage City in the future.

“He will be back sooner or later,” said Guardiola 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.”