Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has credited former mentor Pep Guardiola for inspiring his transition into management following the announcement of Guardiola’s departure from Manchester City.
Speaking in Berlin ahead of Saturday’s German Cup final against Stuttgart, Kompany described the opportunity to work under the Spanish tactician at City as “a gift.”
Kompany, who captained Manchester City during Guardiola’s first three seasons at the club, said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager played a major role in shaping his coaching ambitions.
“I have my own personality and character, but the trust and belief that I could become a coach — for that, I owe gratitude to Pep,” Kompany said.
“That shows just how significant his influence has been. Maybe I wasn’t always his closest ally in the dressing room, and perhaps I wasn’t always popular, but I had tremendous faith in his leadership style.”
Guardiola enjoyed a hugely successful decade at Manchester City, winning six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League trophy among numerous other honours.
Kompany captained City to consecutive league titles in 2018 and 2019 under Guardiola before beginning his own managerial career. Since taking charge of Bayern Munich in 2024, the Belgian has guided the club to back-to-back Bundesliga titles and could secure another trophy in this weekend’s cup final.
The Bayern coach also argued that Guardiola’s legacy goes beyond tactics and technical expertise.
“People focus too much on tactics or technique,” Kompany said. “For him, it was always about the relentless desire to win everything, no matter the competition.
“It was a privilege to work with him during those years, and I know my hunger to become a coach came from that experience.”
