Vincent Kompany is currently a central defender or defensive midfielder at Manchester City and joined the club from Hamburg SV. in August 2008. Vincent started his career in Belgium and his talent, as well as his intelligent and mature play soon attracted the attention of major European clubs. Nike has been his personal sponsor since 2008.
Full professional contract at the age of 17
Vincent started training with Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht as a junior in 1992. He won the junior Belgian Cup with them as well as receiving the player of the year award. July 1st 2003 was an important milestone for Vincent because at just 17 years of age he signed the first professional contract of this career with Anderlecht. His debut came in the UEFA Champions League qualifier against Romanian club, Rapid. His first goal came on February 1st 2004 against Belgian club, Saint-Trond.
Vincent’s career skyrocketed in his first three seasons, winning the Belgian League with Anderlecht in 2004, and he quickly became talked about as one of the games brightest emerging stars. Aimé Anthuenis, the Belgian national team coach, made him one of the youngest players ever to play for his country in the same year, aged 17. Since that moment and up to now, Vincent often defended the national colors of Belgium, alongside the Red Devils.
He won the Ebony Boot, for the best player of African origin in the Belgian League in 2004 and 2005. In January 2005 he received the Belgian Golden Boot for the best player of 2004. Aged only 18 he played in the ‘Football for Hope’ charity match in aid of the victims of the Asian tsunami at Barcelona’s Nou Camp Stadium alongside the best players in the world.
The first international move
Having enjoyed the best of Belgium football, it was time for Vincent to take up other challenges. On June 9th 2006, Vincent signed with Hamburg SV. Unfortunately, he soon suffered Achilles tendon and knee injuries, so he only appeared six times that season. Despite this setback, his hard work, perseverance and mental attitude meant that he emerged from this experience stronger than ever.
In the following season he played almost every game for Hamburg and became a core member of the squad. He also became a key member of the Belgian national team thanks to his maturity, his insight and multilingual skills. In 2008, he played in the first game of the Red Devils Olympic campaign in Beijing before being recalled to Hamburg.
Blue Moon
In August 2008, Mark Hugues signed Vincent on a four year contract with Manchester City (nicknamed The Citizens), a few months before the club was bought by his Royal Highness Skeikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. At City, Vincent Kompany rapidly carved out a place in the first eleven. Driven by a fierce desire to play and uplifting team spirit,he quickly became a favorite with City fans, and went on to achieve runner-up for the Player of the Season 2008/9.
Vincent extended his contract for two seasons until 2014. Always trying to push the envelope, he sustained an injury at the start of the 2009/10 season and felt that he had taken a step back. However, his faster than expected recovery and the arrival of the new manager, Roberto Mancini at the end of December 2009, gave Vincent a new platform to start progressing again. But once fit again he was back on track, with good performances every for every appearance. He scored two goals in the Premier League against Portsmouth and Burnley.
Kompany wears the number 4 (before 33) since the start of the season 2010-11. So far, he played the best season of his career by confirming the good performance of the previous year and growing steadily. He was elected man of the match against Chelsea September 25, 2010. He was elected Player of the Month in October 2010 by the fans. Since then he starts every game and he’s considered among the best central defenders in England and Europe.
