Vincent Kompany - Captain, Leader, Legend

It’s hard to imagine the time when Vincent Kompany wasn’t at Manchester City, but incredibly, it has been ten years to the day since Mark Hughes signed the little known defender from Hamburg for a fee of around £6m.

Since then, Kompany has seen another three managers, three Premier League titles, three League Cups, two Community Shields and one FA Cup. For Manchester City, Kompany has made 249 league appearances, played in 20 FA Cup ties, 12 league Cup matches, 52 European games, making a total of 332 appearances. He has also scored 19 goals for the club, with 17 coming in the league, one in the League Cup, coming in the final last season against Arsenal and one in the Champions League at Barcelona.

Kompany made his debut for the blues in a 3-0 home win over West Ham in 2008, and scored his first City goal in a 2-1 defeat at Wigan. At the start of the 2011/12 season, Kompany was installed as club captain when Carlos Tevez declared his intention to leave the blues. The Belgian would have a magnificent season, scoring the winner against United which sent the blues back to the top of the league. In the final home game of the season, it was Kompany’s drive forward from defence which began the move towards City’s dramatic last minute winner.

Kompany has become a legendary figure in the footballing world and has often been envied by rival fans. The defender has a knack of getting injured, then coming back even stronger than before, which is something not a lot of players can achieve.

But away from City, Kompany has been an official FIFA ambassador for the charity SOS Children since 2014, and also bought Belgian third division side FC Bleid, which offers disadvantaged youngster the opportunity to use sport as a vehicle for self-improvement. Respectful on and off the field of play, Kompany is a role model to youngsters everywhere.

Four Great Moments That Define Vincent Kompany

Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United

In 2012, City were three points behind United in the race for the Premier League title, and hosted the reds at the Etihad Stadium. The blues had to win to stand any chance of pipping United to the title, and it was Kompany who settled it.

The defender rose highest to meet David Silva’s corner and power a header past de Gea to give City the lead. The blues held on for a win which sent them above their neighbours to top the league on goal difference.

Manchester City 3-2 QPR

Kompany’s contribution to this match is often forgotten, with Sergio Aguero taking all the plaudits. But Kompany should be remembered not only for lifting the trophy but for two other reasons. The first was standing tall in the face of Joey Barton’s provocation. The former City man had just been shown the red card for an elbow on Carlos Tevez, then kicked Aguero then attempted a headbutt on Kompany in an attempt to take a City man with him. Kompany barely flinched.

The second was the build up to City’s winner. It was Kompany who drove forward with the ball and passed to Aguero. The Argentine played the ball into Balotelli, who then flicked the ball back to Aguero. A space opened up for Aguero to run into but who created it? Vincent Kompany. He continued forward and his run across goal was enough to distract the defender’s attention to allow Aguero space to score the winner.

The Tweets About Sir Alex Ferguson

In 2013, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson finally retired from the game. It was a day that opposition supporters were desperate to see and while they celebrated, Vincent Kompany took to Twitter to pay tribute to the Scot. “Sir Alex, one of the best managers of all time. After 26 years of success in the game, we all owe him a tribute” Kompany wrote.

And in May 2018, when news broke that Ferguson had been rushed to hospital with a brain haemorrhage, Kompany again led the City wellwishers. “Hang in there Sir Alex. Thoughts are with the family and close ones.”

Jose Mourinho recently said you can’t buy class. To Vincent Kompany, it just comes naturally.

His Goal Against Arsenal

Kompany has only ever scored two goals outside the league for City, and his goal against Arsenal in March’s League Cup Final was one of them. But it wasn’t the fact that he had scored, it was the passion he showed when scoring it.

It wasn’t the first time he had showed such passion, but it just shows what this club means to him. He loves the club, loves the fans and I’m sure if he could stay another ten years with us, he probably would.

So here’s to you, Vincent Kompany, thank you for ten glorious years. You have stuck with us through the best and worst times and have earned your legendary status.