Vincent Kompany changes player-manager role at Anderlecht after poor start

Anderlect have announced that Vincent Kompany will no longer serve as player-manager after the club’s worst start in 21 years.

The 33-year-old Belgian central defender, who returned home this summer following an 11-year association with Manchester City where he lifted four Premier League titles, will instead focus primarily on his on-field duties after being named captain.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7343141-chelsea-can-get-excited-about-n-golo-kante-s-messi-impression

Kompany on arrival took up a player-coach role and subsequently brought Simon Davies – who recently served as City’s head of academy coaching – and Craig Bellamy along with him as part of his backroom staff.

He’s since played the full 90 minutes in Anderlect’s opening four Belgian top division matches with Davies’ presiding on the touchline, however the results have been nothing to write home about: two defeats, two goalless draws, six goals conceded and three scored.

All this means the Brussels-based club have endured their worst opening start to a league campaign since the 1998/99 season, which has prompted a restructuring with Davies taking on greater responsibilities regarding the first team and Kompany just concentrating on his football as skipper.

Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.

“As players and staff we’re trying to find which players suit the system better than some. There’s always going to be change, especially at the start,” Davies told reporters.

“We’re trying a new project here. It’s not going to happen overnight. This is a playing style that’s new to the football club.

“We need some stability and one of those things that’s going to change straight away is Vinny is going to be captain from the next game. He’s going to lead the team and really concentrate on being a player on matchday.”

“This is one of the things that we’re going to try. We work so well as a staff during the week. Vinny and the club have a vision and we all work to it as staff. But it’s important he’s a player on match day.

“If Vinny can be the best player in the league, which he is, and lead on the field and I can take the responsibility in terms of other things, how we play, if we need to change shape during the game – I will take that responsibility with the staff on the side.

“We’re finding out about each other. This is a new and different situation. All we know is we’re going to be successful. This is just another step and a little bit more learning about each other.”

What went wrong for Kompany? Five key things to know…

• Kompany, born and raised in Brussels, broke through at boyhood club Anderlecht in 2003 aged 17.
• He’d go on to make 103 appearances before joining Hamburg (2006-2008) and then Man City where he became a legend.
• 360 appearances and 12 trophies later he returned to Anderlecht as player-manager.
• However, after four winless games (including two defeats), he stepped down as coach to focus on his on-field duties.
• Anderlecht, having started their worst season in 21 years, face Genk on August 23.