Vincent Kompany won the Championship with Burnley in 2023 but Clarets were immediately relegated from the Premier League this season; ex-Man City captain replaces Thomas Tuchel after his exit was confirmed at the end of season; Kompany has signed a three-year deal at Bayern
Bayern Munich have appointed Burnley boss Vincent Kompany as their new head coach on a three-year deal.
The 38-year-old replaces Thomas Tuchel after he departed at the end of the season, with Bayern agreeing a compensation fee of around £10.2m with Burnley to appoint Kompany.
The Belgian’s arrival comes despite him enduring a tough season at Turf Moor after the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League for an immediate return to the Championship.
But the ex-Manchester City captain has a knowledge of the Bundesliga having played at Hamburg, and is a fluent German speaker.
Bayern have brought in Kompany after a series of rejections in their search for Tuchel’s successor with Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso, Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann and Austria coach Ralf Rangnick all turning down the job.
Kompany, who began his managerial career at Anderlecht, departs Burnley after two seasons in charge, which included him guiding the club to the Championship title in 2023.
A Burnley statement read: “We can confirm that Burnley Football Club has come to an agreement that will allow Vincent Kompany to leave Turf Moor.
“Whilst we were initially confident in retaining our manager, the changing dynamics of the situation made this impossible.
“We understand the allure and prestige of a club like Bayern Munich and respect Vincent’s ambition to explore new opportunities.
“We wish only the best for Vincent and would like to put on record our appreciation for his dedication every single day he was a part of this football club. Our priority remains the stability and success of Burnley FC, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that our ambition is realised – namely our return to the Premier League.
“We have started the search for a new manager and will make an announcement in due course.”
A four-time Premier League winner as a player with Manchester City, Kompany will look to rediscover his winning touch at Bayern after the German giants suffered a first trophyless season in 12 years.
Style and substance? Kompany to Bayern raises questions
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate:
Vincent Kompany’s move to Bayern Munich was initially greeted with ridicule and disbelief. A more balanced view has since emerged but there is no escaping the incredulity when a coach relegated with Burnley is set to walk into one of Europe’s biggest jobs.
The German giants did not come calling for Sean Dyche when he finished seventh in the Premier League. Their views on Stan Ternent and Steve Cotterill are unconfirmed. But Kompany is regarded as a gamble worth taking, a coach of vast potential.
There are many factors involved, not least Bayern’s own fraught recruitment process. But choosing Kompany also highlights the changing view of what makes an elite coach, a growing willingness to look beyond results and towards a style that could transfer.
Kompany, it should be acknowledged, has plenty else going for him. As a player, he captained club and country, winning the Premier League with Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. That brings instant respect and a relationship that imbues a certain shine.
The trend in modern management is towards those disciples of Guardiola. Mikel Arteta has emerged as his biggest challenger in the Premier League, Xabi Alonso has just triumphed in the Bundesliga. Enzo Maresca has followed Kompany in winning the Championship.
The connection with Guardiola, widely regarded as the outstanding coach of his generation, is particularly significant at Bayern. Some frame his work there as unfinished without a Champions League win but he wowed with his ideas. There is a legacy there.