Vincent Kompany claims he rejected bigger clubs to become Burnley’s new manager because they can have “an incredible future”.
Kompany was considered by Borussia Moenchengladbach and says Burnley was the best option when he compared all his offers. The Manchester City legend has quit Anderlecht after three years to take over at Turf Moor and is excited by their potential, despite being relegated last season.
“I see only potential and that’s exciting for me,” he said. “It’s true I had other offers and when I laid down all the offers on the table, some of them were perhaps more appealing in terms of name and in terms of what they would represent to the wider public, but I had a chance to look into everything that Burnley was in great depth and what they wanted to achieve.
“I’m not saying it will be easy, but I saw a path that will be different to other places. I see a plan, I see good people. I want to work with people who are already in Burnley. Together, without necessarily having to change everything, you can see the core of everything you appreciate about the club - the culture, just how honest people can be, how warm and friendly they are. Then you add some detail to take all of this good stuff to the next level. I’ve chosen this project because I know that after a difficult start, will come an incredible future.”
Kompany, 36, arrives at a club in transition and defensive stalwarts Ben Mee and James Tarkowski have left, while Dutch striker Wout Weghorst wants to quit. He must rebuild Burnley on a budget because the club’s US owners, ALK Capital, must repay a significant portion of a £65million loan taken out when they bought the Clarets in December 2020. Kompany believes he can utilise his contacts at City and he wants to re-sign England Under-21 captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who spent the first half of last season with him on loan at Anderlecht.
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Former Burnley defender Stephen Ward claims Kompany’s name will attract players and believes he can turn the Clarets into promotion contenders. “Everyone knows how tough it is when you get relegated,” he said. “We’ve seen the likes of Tarkowski and Mee leave the club so it’s a big job.
“But bringing in someone of his stature is great for the club, he’s going to attract players, he’s going to have ambitions to manage in the Premier League. Also it may make some of the players who had their eye on moving on want to stay and work under Vincent Kompany because there’s only going to be one aim next season and that’s a return to the Premier League.I think it’s the perfect appointment and hopefully with the lads who are still there, there’s still a really good core there, who can challenge in the Championship. And if he can attract one or two players of quality then Burnley will be right up there next season.”
