“Manchester will be in his heart” – Pep Guardiola tips Vincent Kompany for Etihad Stadium return | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has paid a glowing tribute to former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany after his Bayern Munich side clinched the Bundesliga title.

Kompany has guided Bayern Munich to back-to-back Bundesliga titles, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young managers in European football in the process.

The 40-year-old’s Bayern side are also through to the UEFA Champions League semi-final, underlining a remarkable rise that Guardiola insists he saw coming from the moment Kompany took his first steps in management.

Manchester City travel to Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday night in a fixture that takes on added significance given City’s pursuit of Arsenal at the top of the table.

Guardiola: Not bad at all, congratulations Vinny!

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Turf Moor, Guardiola was warm in his assessment of how far Kompany has come since their last managerial encounter three years ago.

“Well, I would say not bad at all,” he said. “So, congratulations of course (to) Vinny and Bayern Munich (on winning the 2025-26 Bundesliga) – a place (where) I was, a place (where) I have a lot of friends.

“Again they show high, high quality football and entertaining football with a lot of goals and actions. I know the people are so happy in Munich, so they won again the Bundesliga. Just a huge congratulations for the whole organisation from Bayern because it’s extraordinary.

“Really, really extraordinary club, well managed on the sidelines, on the board, with all the people, to the fans. And now, yeah, ready for the semi-final of the Champions League. So I wish him of course all the best.”

Guardiola spent three seasons at Bayern Munich between 2013 and 2016, winning three successive Bundesliga titles before departing for Manchester City. His affection for the club and the city is well-documented, making his praise for Kompany’s work there carry a particularly personal weight.

Manchester will be in Kompany’s heart, says Guardiola

Pressed on whether Kompany remains a future Manchester City manager, a suggestion Guardiola himself has floated publicly on more than one occasion, the 55-year-old was characteristically thoughtful.

“I’m not suspicious to say. I did it, I said that for a long time ago when he was in, I think in Burnley, in the FA Cup or Carabao Cup we played at home and I saw the games, I said that guy will be manager sooner or later,” he said.

“But he’s so young, still have just two years in Munich, one or two years in Munich, so still will be there. But sooner or later I have the feeling when just in case, just in case he decides in a certain moment, he will decide, Bayern will decide, to come back to England, I’m pretty sure Manchester will be in his heart and will be in his mind, and hopefully the path will cross at a certain point in his life.”

The comments will inevitably reignite speculation over Guardiola’s own future at the club, with the Catalan due to make a decision on whether to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium beyond the current season before the end of May.

Whoever fills the dugout at Manchester City in the years ahead, Guardiola’s endorsement of Kompany as a natural long-term successor is as clear as it has ever been.