ANDERLECHT feared Vincent Kompany would return to Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager, according to reports.
But now he is on course for a “bigger role” at the Belgian club, where he has become an investor.
Vincent Kompany is being lined up for a “bigger role” at Anderlecht after staying put in BelgiumCredit: Getty – Contributor
Guardiola remains on the hunt to find a replacement for Mikel Arteta who quit to take over at Arsenal in December.
And according to HLN in Belgium, Kompany’s current club Anderlecht were worried he was going to resign just months after joining.
The former City captain, 34, left the Etihad on a high at the end of last season.
He captained the club to a historic domestic treble but ended his 11-year stint in Manchester to take on the role as player-manager at his first professional club.
But things did not go according to plan with a nightmare start leading to Kompany stepping down from managerial duties to focus on playing and being captain.
Frank Vercauteren has since been named as head coach since the debacle involving Simon Davies leaving earlier this year.
Despite a slight recovery, the Belgian giants are still closer in terms of points to bottom club Waasland-Beveren than table-toppers Club Bruges.
So when Arteta made the switch to the Emirates, Kompany was tipped to come in as Guardiola’s new No2.
Instead he stayed put with Anderlecht where he has two years remaining on his contract.
However, now there is a suggestion that a more senior job is being lined up for the four-time Premier League winner at the Brussels side.
Anderlecht announced on Thursday their new five-year plan to “bring the next Vincent Kompany, the next Romelu Lukaku and the next Youri Tielemans into the first team to achieve success”.
On top of that, while a return to the Etihad is still a possibility later down the line, Kompany is expected to invest in the club he joined aged 17.
The defender completed his Masters of Business Management at Alliance Manchester Business School in December 2017, possibly with a view to step into the boardroom at a football club at some stage.
The former Manchester City captain was tipped to replace Mikel Arteta as Pep Guardiola’s No2Credit: Reuters
Vincent Kompany screams at Anderlecht fans after they throw flare at Simon Mignolet during Club Brugge loss
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
