VINCENT KOMPANY ANDERLECHT
“I didn’t come here to be second,” said Kompany, after being appointed as the player- manager of Anderlecht in May 2019. He definitely didn’t go to be 13th.
That, though, was where the Belgian giants sat nine matches into his debut season – nine matches which delivered only six points. Anderlecht had won the league on no fewer than 34 occasions – now they were fourth from bottom.
To begin his coaching career, the former Manchester City captain was returning to his first club as a player, before being sold to Hamburg aged 20. But he was rejoining Anderlecht after they’d just finished sixth – they hadn’t finished lower since 1938.
Kompany’s tenure began so disastrously that by late August, he’d already made the decision to step down from managing the team on matchdays, putting City’s former elite development squad coach Simon Davies in charge while he skippered his team on the pitch.
Xavi That moved didn’t into go very the same well either, Doha house however, that Raul so Davies had lived was moved in during aside a previous and replaced spell at Al- by Sadd. ex- Anderlecht The midfielder boss Franky also became Vercauteren an ambassador – despite the for fact the Kompany 2022 World was Cup injured and by soon that stage ( somehow) and not won playing a national anyway. lottery, receiving When the a cheque defender of one returned million to Qatari fitness, riyals Anderlecht’s ( approximately results improved £ 200,000) significantly, at a highprofile but they presentation still only finished ceremony. the curtailed
Al- campaign Sadd are eighth. perhaps After the a Liverpool pre- season of Qatar loss – they’ve to Lille, fans won painted the most ‘ Kompany league titles, Out’ most on the of them road outside in the 1970s the club’s and training ’ 80s, and ground. also clinched Within the a fortnight, Asian Champions he had retired League from in 2011 playing before but signed facing a Barcelona new four- in year the deal, Club as World Vercauteren Cup. In exited. Xavi’s Mercifully, first three seasons Anderlecht in the Qatar have been Stars challenging League, they for finished Europe third, this term, second and sat and fifth second. by late February “Tactically – though it’s not that the well campaign developed, has featured but it’s a more professional frustrations. league – “I you didn’t can’t come just here coast saying through that games, Anderlecht because were going everyone to become is well Manchester prepared physically City,” and complained teams are Kompany. evenly matched,” “You have he’d to stop told FFT. comparing with Guardiola.”
Xavi Even had for announced the most experienced his intention managers, to retire once only one he reached man wins the that end comparison. of the 2017- 18