Vincent Kompany

Vincent Jean Mpoy Kompany (French pronunciation: ​[vɛ̃sɑ̃ kɔ̃pani]; Dutch pronunciation: [vɪnsɛnt kɔmpani]; born 10 April 1986) is a Belgian professional footballer and manager who plays as a centre back and acts as a player-manager for R.S.C. Anderlecht. He also plays for the Belgium national team. Kompany began his professional career at Anderlecht; having graduated from their youth system, he was with the club for three seasons as a first team player before moving to Bundesliga club Hamburg in 2006. In the summer of 2008, at the age of 22, he completed a transfer to Premier League club Manchester City. He established himself as an integral part of the squad and was regarded as one of the bargain buys of the revolutionised City era, blossoming into one of the league's best centre backs. In the 2011–12 season he was awarded the captaincy of Manchester City, leading his club to win the Premier League that season, their first league title in 44 years. Kompany was included in the Premier League Team of the Year for two years in a row in 2011 and 2012 as well as being included in the 2014 team, and won the Premier League Player of the Season in 2012. Regarded as one of the best defenders in the world, he was listed 23rd in "The 100 Best Footballers in the World" by The Guardian. In May 2019, after 11 years at Manchester City, he announced he would leave the club in June 2019 when his contract expired. On 1 July he became the player-manager at RSC Anderlecht of the Belgian First Division A where he started his professional playing career.