Gündogan on Kompany: "He was always destined to become a top manager" | OneFootball

Vincent Kompany has led FC Bayern back onto the road to success – and is now receiving the highest international recognition. Ilkay Gündogan, who knows the Belgian from their time together at Manchester City, raves about his former captain in an interview with kicker and praises his development into a top coach.

The Galatasaray Istanbul professional knows Kompany’s leadership qualities up close. The two were both under contract at Manchester City between 2016 and 2019, where Kompany was a defining figure of the Guardiola era as captain.

“He’s doing very, very well,” said Gündogan about Kompany’s work at FC Bayern. “I spoke with him a few times during his time at FC Bayern. I think he presents himself very well – in the way he expresses himself in the media, how he talks about his team, but also about the opponents and about how his team plays football.”

For Gündogan, none of this comes as a surprise: “I’ve known Vincent for several years now, and for me, he was the best captain I’ve had in my career.”

Gündogan sees Kompany as a role model

Photo: IMAGO/Action Plus

Gündogan sees Kompany not only as a close friend but also as a role model for life after his active playing career. “I believe that, because of his qualities, he was always destined to become a top coach – and that’s exactly what he is now. He’s on a great path, a path that I might want to take myself one day and that can serve as a role model for me.”

The appreciation between the two is mutual: Kompany had already emphasized in the summer how much he values Gündogan’s football intelligence and leadership style. The fact that the Bayern coach is now being publicly praised by his former teammate shows just how great his international reputation is after such a short time in Munich.

“As a friend, I wish him all the best,” Gündogan concluded. Words that sound more like genuine connection than mere respect – and show that Vincent Kompany has long since arrived among the ranks of Europe’s great coaches.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.