Vincent Kompany is set to manage a Premier League team a few years after his retirement as one of the best defenders to play in the league following Burnley’s promotion to the English top flight.
The Clarets achieved this feat with seven games to spare and Vincent Kompany’s groundbreaking managerial style which the club have never experienced in their history.
The former Manchester City defender took the role at the beginning of the season following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2021/22 season. Sean Dyche was sacked after decades and Kompany, whose only managerial experience was an 18-month spell at his boyhood club RSC Anderlecht following his retirement from professional football, was handed the reins of the club.
At the time, the Belgian was considered a managerial talent and was even touted to replace Pep Guardiola, who influenced his coaching style, at Manchester City in the future. The Clarets’ gamble has paid off as Kompany has led them to within sights of the EFL Championship title with seven games to spare.
They achieved the feat by beating Middlesbrough, managed by another promising manager in Michael Carrick, who is being propped up as a future Premier League manager. The defeat sent Middlesbrough down to fourth, further jeopardising their chances of advancing to the Premier League automatically.
Burnley will look to finish the season strong and possibly increase their 11-point lead at the top of the table. In the meantime, Kompany and his team are planning to enjoy their early promotion back to the top flight.
“We didn’t expect it. We wanted to experience it someday but we had a different timing on it,” said Kompany. “It’s Easter and there’s seven games to go and we’re already celebrating. Quicker is better sometimes.”
Burnley’s chairman Alan Pace re-echoed Kompany’s statements while praising the team for a swift return to the top flight.
“Vincent has done a phenomenal job. He is one of the most incredible people I have ever met, something very, very special,” Pace said. “This is a complete surprise, this wasn’t our plan. We gave ourselves two or three years and I just think what you see is a lot of magic coming together.”
Kompany still has his sights set on claiming the EFL Championship title and so will alert his team to that fact. Their next opponents are second-placed Sheffield United and a loss will see their lead cut down to eight points.
“In the morning they still have to come in. I’m not a monster, they’ve earned it,” he said. “I’ve experienced these moments myself and I hope the emotional momentum is worth a lot more than anything. Celebrate, be happy and then tomorrow the coaching staff will be ready.”
