Now calling Vincent Kompany Manchester City’s greatest Premier League player is going to be subjective.

People will have their own opinion. Some will state that it’s David Silva, others will point out Sergio Aguero’s goals and then there will be those that will be adamant that it’s Yaya Toure.

To be fair, I think those players all have terrific merits and they too helped put City back on the footballing map.

Maybe some of the older generation will point out the majestic skill Georgi Kinkaldze brought to Maine Road, people will feel cult hero Shaun Goater deserves a mention and others will fondly remember the goals Uwe Rosler brought to The Citizens.

Yet for me, no one touches Vincent Kompany. His contribution to Man City’s cause have been unmatched!

The Belgian signed just before the big takeover and has since spent ten seasons at the club.

In the early days of the new era funded by the Abu Dhabi elite, players came in and left the Etihad Stadium like a revolving door as the new regime tried to find a route to success.

Like every other player Kompany had to find a way of settling into the side and keep his place. He would often be deployed as a holding midfielder in his debut season but once he found his place in the heart of defence he was set for life!

Vincent gave the backline much needed stability. He was an all-rounder that could win aerial battles, make inch perfect tackles and calmly take the ball of out defence.

The centre-half was strong, yet at the same time he was elegant.

Importantly he was also a natural born leader. It was easy to see why Roberto Mancini gave the international defender the captain’s armband by the time the 2011 season kicked off.

He would then captain them to their first Premier League title in 2012.Before adding three other league winner’s medals to his trophy cabinet.

A huge part of Kompany’s quality is that he can remain composed no matter what happens around him.

In his time at City Vincent has had to partner with the likes of Richard Dunne, Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Stefan Savic, Matija Nastasic, Martin Demichelis, Eliaquim Mangala, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Nicolas Otamendi in the team’s defence.

Some were better than others but whomever partnered Kompany always looked better when they had him playing alongside them.

Now it seems like Pep Guardiola has found a healthy partnership in Laporte and Stones but when the chips were down and they needed to close the season out with an unbeaten run, the rock that is Vincent Kompany was flung back into the starting line-up.

That’s because the captain brought with him an assurance that no other centre-back yet possesses at Man City. He would lead the team in thirteen games in 2019 as the won their first back-to-back top flight titles.

His goal in City’s penultimate game against Leicester City was an absolute peach and showed that top class players stand up to be counted when they’re really needed.

Vincent Kompany announced in the last seven days that he was leaving the Etihad and was set to become the new player/manager at Anderlecht.

His departure has been met with understandable sadness. The club will no doubt spend £60m+ on a new central defender as they try and find a replacement and even that kind of money won’t guarantee that they’ll get a defender in to embody the club like Vinny did,

As I say, I don’t think anyone has contributed more (both on and off the park) to cement Manchester City’s place as an elite football club. He is respectful, he’s loyal, a great ambassador and a world class footballer.

Guardiola stated that his club were really going to miss their captain (Via The Mirror):

“I think we’re going to miss him a lot,”

“I’m going to miss him, but he’s going to see us in the future because he’s coming back – sooner or later.”

“It’s the best way to say goodbye after an incredible season together. He was a real captain, he helped us a lot and we’re going to show him how we love him.”

I think Pep was hinting that Vincent Kompany might one day comeback to Manchester to take on the managerial hotseat at the Etihad.

I, for one, won’t be surprise if that ends up being true. Kompany is extremely intelligent, dedicated and has an aura about him that will have footballers believing in themselves.

But for now Man City fans should applaud one of their greatest players and wish him all the best in his new adventure!

Posted on May 21st, 2019 by scott
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