Former Manchester City captain and legend Vincent Kompany has left his post as Anderlecht head coach, and is poised to take over at Burnley as the new head coach following Sean Dyche’s dismissal. The Belgian will be faced with the difficult task of leading the Clarets back to the Premier League after crumbling in the battle for survival. Felice Mazzu is also in advanced talks with Anderlecht to replace the Belgian.
Kompany was first named player-manager of Anderlecht after leaving the Etihad in 2019. After presiding over their worst start to a league campaign, he returned to playing duties for the rest of the season. In August 2020, he was appointed permanent manager on the same day he announced his retirement from playing. In his first season, he led them to a fourth-place finish in the Belgian first division. He guided Les Mauves to a third-placed finish this season, and has now parted ways with the club by mutual consent.
Burnley were relegated for the first time since 2016 after a 2-1 loss to Newcastle at St James’ Park. Because of their relegation, their financial situation will likely see them sell star players like Maxwell Cornet and Nick Pope, while nine other players are out of contract, including influential defenders Ben Mee and James Tarkowski. The Clarets are set to undergo a transition period. There will be an enormous rebuilding job in the Championship at Turf Moor, but there might not be much cash around to do it.
Mike Jackson was in charge of the final eight games of the season after Sean Dyche was sacked, but an upturn in form was not enough to prevent the club from finishing 18th.
Taking over at Burnley would see Kompany and his family return to more familiar grounds, having played for City from 2008-2019. His wife is from Manchester, and his three kids were born there too. He is not the only candidate on Burnley’s shortlist, with Joey Barton and Wayne Rooney also linked, but Kompany is at the forefront to take the job.
