Vincent Kompany succeeds Thomas Tuchel as Bayern Munich head coach

31.05.2024

Bayern Munich have named Vincent Kompany as their replacement for Thomas Tuchel in the head coaching role.

Kompany, 38, has signed a three-year deal through to 30 June 2027, after two seasons in England during which he took Burnley up to the Premier League and back down again to the Championship.

The former Belgium international defender is a German speaker following a two-year playing stint in the Bundesliga with Hamburg between 2006 and 2008.

He replaces Tuchel, who agreed in February to leave the club by mutual consent at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge," Kompany said. "It's a great honour to be able to work for this club - FC Bayern is an institution in world football.

"As a coach, you have to stand for what you are as a personality: I love having the ball, being creative - and we also have to be aggressive on the pitch and courageous. I'm now looking forward to the basics: working with the players, building a team. When the foundation is in place, success will follow."

Watch: Kompany on having "the best job in the world"

As well as managing in England, Kompany spent time in charge of Anderlecht, initially returning to his boyhood club in a player-coach role. He oversaw fourth- and third-placed Jupiler Pro League finishes, before winning the 2022/23 English Championship title in his maiden season in charge of Burnley.

As a player, the Belgian enjoyed 11 years at Manchester City, winning 10 major honours, including four Premier League titles. He previously won two Jupiler League crowns with Anderlecht, as well as the now defunct UEFA Intertoto Cup in Hamburg colours. Bayern's new boss also helped Belgium finish third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

"We're delighted to have signed Vincent Kompany," Bayern sporting director Max Eberl. "In our talks with him, we were immediately on the same page. He clearly showed us how much FC Bayern appeals to him and that he is keen to take on the challenge.

"Vincent Kompany is hungry and has everything he needs: He was already a leading figure in top international football as a player and is also leading the way as a coach. We would like to see more continuity in this position. Together with him, we want to achieve a lot at FC Bayern - and of course be successful together."

Kompany (l.) played under former Bayern head coach Pep Guardiola (r.) at Manchester City. - Imago

Kompany takes the Bayern reins following the club's first trophyless season since 2011/12. After an unprecedented run of 11 straight Bundesliga title wins, the record champions finished third behind champions Bayer Leverkusen and surprise runners-up VfB Stuttgart. They also lost to RB Leipzig in the Supercup, before falling to third-tier Saarbrücken in the DFB Cup second round and Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

Bayern's first competitive game of Kompany's tenure will be in the opening round of the 2024/25 DFB Cup (16-19 August). The new Bundesliga season kicks off a week later.