In the near future, Manchester City will need to find a successor for Pep Guardiola. While it’s uncertain whether this will happen next year, the following year, or even three years from now, Vincent Kompany of Bayern Munich has emerged as a prominent candidate.
As Bayern prepares to face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League at the Emirates on Wednesday, it can be argued that two of the most likely successors to Guardiola—Kompany and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta—will face off. However, despite having been Pep’s assistant at City for three years before taking the Arsenal position in 2019, Arteta seems deeply invested in his own vision at Arsenal, making it unlikely that he would leave for City.
I’ve known Kompany—let’s refer to him as Vinny—for nearly 20 years, having first met him through a mutual friend when he was playing for Hamburg in 2008. I genuinely believe he is the right person to take over from Pep at City.
– Why clubs shouldn’t freeze players out, like Chelsea is doing with Sterling
– Guardiola expresses ‘shame’ over altercation with cameraman
– Why is everyone talking about Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl?
Timing is crucial in football—many touted successors to Pep have come and gone over the years. It’s important to remember that Vinny is managing a powerful club like Bayern. For many players, the opportunity to leave for a club like Real Madrid would be irresistible. For Vinny, Manchester City may well represent that dream.
In my view, he would be an exceptional choice to replace Pep in the future. Transitioning from a strong personality like Guardiola requires someone equally as compelling, and Vinny fits that bill. He possesses the political acumen to navigate relationships with management and players alike, along with a deep emotional connection to the club, established during his 11 years as a player at the Etihad, where he won 12 trophies, including four Premier League titles.
Before discussing Vinny’s football philosophy, it’s worth noting his personality. When we first met, he played as a No. 10 for Hamburg next to Rafael van der Vaart, a promising young player known widely as a sensation in the video game Championship Manager. Vinny left a strong impression as a grounded individual, and we vowed to stay in touch.
A few months later, by chance, he joined me at City. Shortly after, Sheikh Mansour’s takeover transformed the club from what we deemed “Joke City” into one of the most successful and prominent footballing establishments worldwide.
At just 22, Vinny’s leadership and presence were abundantly clear. He was respected across the squad, able to communicate with teammates in English, French, German, and Spanish. His ability to unite different groups within the team made him a cherished figure.
He is one of those rare individuals who excels in multiple fields, emphasizing hard work alongside innate talent. He’s also academically inclined, having earned a business degree from the University of Manchester in 2017 while captaining City, all the while remaining an exceptionally skilled footballer.
Yet, beneath his amiable surface, Vinny can also be direct and firm. I’ve seen him show anger when he believes standards aren’t upheld.
During a preseason match against Inter Milan in Baltimore in 2010, I witnessed that anger. After losing 3-0 to a team that had just won the Champions League, Vinny became frustrated with our lackluster performance. He began taking out his aggression on every player, especially star striker Samuel Eto’o, who was one of the best in the world at the time. To Vinny, losing was acceptable, but not when it felt like the opposition was easily outmatching us.
At halftime, Eto’o requested our teammates, Yaya and Kolo Touré, tell Vinny to ease up; it was just a friendly match after all. Vinny’s response? The more Eto’o complained, the harder he would tackle him—which he indeed did.
Witnessing Vinny’s drive and intensity as a teammate raised the overall standards within the team. He led through example, showcasing the fierce mentality that characterizes great players and teams. As City’s captain, he naturally transitioned these leadership qualities into management.
At Burnley, Vinny emphasized high pressing and intensity. However, he cleverly personalized his tactical messages for each player, rather than imposing uniform demands. For instance, he motivated one striker, who typically scored 10-15 goals per season, to press more by suggesting that winning the ball higher up the pitch would lead to more scoring opportunities. Suddenly, that forward understood the benefits of doing more defensive work.
0:53
Moreno: No Bundesliga team can compete with Bayern at their best
Alejandro Moreno reacts to Bayern Munich’s 6-2 victory over SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga.
At Bayern, where he is accustomed to dominating matches in the Bundesliga, Vinny develops tactical plans to counter various approaches from opponents trying to neutralize Bayern. Some teams employ a double press, while others utilize man-to-man marking or adopt a low or high defensive line. Vinny has found success using players like Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala as false No. 9s. While some managers adhere strictly to their philosophies, flexibility in tactics can be quite beneficial.
Vinny must have relished the recent challenge against Paris Saint-Germain, where Bayern played with 10 men for the entire second half yet still secured a victory over the reigning European champions. The grit and resilience displayed during that match are crucial attributes for success in a long season.
At Bayern, there is immense pressure as the expectation is to win the league and compete fiercely in Europe every season. Despite initial skepticism about his qualifications when he took over after being relegated with Burnley, Vinny has proven his critics wrong and has secured a contract extension as a result.
Passing each test at Bayern makes him a more viable candidate for City than he would have been had Pep stepped down at the end of the 2023-24 season. His playing style resonates with the current City squad, and his rapport with fans and club management would provide a stability that past successors like David Moyes and Unai Emery lacked when taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger, respectively.
Should Vinny return to City as their manager, he wouldn’t attempt to mimic Pep, which is crucial. While he may feel pressure at the prospect of filling those shoes, his strength of character will undoubtedly guide him through challenges. Yet, timing remains essential, as leaving Bayern is a significant decision.
Ultimately, Vinny aspires to prove himself at a top Premier League club, and none would be better suited for him than Manchester City.
Nedum Onuoha spoke with ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden