It’s fair to say that Vincent Kompany’s glorious return to Anderlecht has turned out to be anything but.
The Belgian defender elected to bring an end to his 11-year spell at Manchester City to return his homeland as a player-coach this summer.
It’s not worked out for him, though, with Anderlecht 13th in the Jupiler League with just one win from their first nine games.
The last few weeks have seen Kompany’s role at the club steadily reduced, and that’s continued today, with him now no longer picking the first-team at the club.
That’s because they’ve elected to hire Franky Vercauteren as their new manager, after removing Simon Davies from the role.
“We needed someone who identified with our project, which eliminated several candidates who are too defensive or who propose a-typical football,” Michael Verschueren, Anderlecht’s sporting director, told DH.
“We are 100% convinced of the project and the way we play, we want the possession of the ball, we want to play offensively, we continue our youth policy, we do not touch philosophy.
“Vercauteren can put his accent on that. He is the one who will choose the team and who will coach during the match.”
Kompany will naturally be wondering what his role in the club now is, but when asked, Verschueren says he will remain as a player-manager.
“Yes, he’s the one who introduced the style of play, he’s the guy who, with Franky, will ensure that the style of play is preserved.
“There will be some kind of coworking between the two. around the table after Charleroi to define things well, but I do not worry about that, but at the base, Vincent is a player, and Franky is a coach.
“We all know the character of Vercauteren: he always gives his opinion, but do not be fooled: Kompany accepts being contradicted, especially from someone who knows what he’s talking about like Franky.”
And what of Simon Davies, the coach who followed Kompany to Anderlecht and has been replaced as the club’s manager?
Verschueren has defended him, saying things didn’t work out because he didn’t understand Belgium.
“First of all, his training was very good,” he added.
“We see he’s from Manchester City school, and he can continue to practice, but in match situations, he did not have the required expertise.
“Especially in the Belgian league, Real Madrid were against Brugge: do not underestimate our championship. “
