Vincent Kompany has addressed rising speculation linking him with the Manchester City job, making clear he has no intention of looking beyond his current role at Bayern Munich.
The former City captain has long been spoken about as a natural heir to Pep Guardiola, whose time at the Etihad Stadium is expected to come to a close in 2027.
Guardiola signed a renewed two-year contract in late 2024, committing him to Manchester City until the end of the 2026–27 campaign.
While the Catalan coach is expected to see out that deal, developments behind the scenes have fuelled questions about what comes next for the club.
City are undergoing significant internal adjustments following the arrival of Hugo Viana as director of football earlier this year, and his influence has already begun reshaping both the first-team squad and the club’s long-term direction.
After a disappointing 2024–25 season, Viana has been tasked with guiding the Sky Blues into a new era.
That transition has naturally brought renewed focus on Guardiola’s future, particularly as he embarks on his 10th season in Manchester — a stay that has far exceeded the four-to-five-year cycle he once expected.
Within the club’s Abu Dhabi hierarchy, attention has increasingly shifted toward identifying potential successors.
Guardiola’s impact since arriving in 2016 has been unprecedented, delivering 18 major trophies including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups.
Any appointment that follows him will mark one of the most significant leadership changes in modern English football.
Roberto De Zerbi and Andoni Iraola have been among the names discussed internally as possible replacements.
Yet it is Kompany, the man who captained Manchester City during some of their defining years, who continues to draw the most intrigue.
His 11-year spell at the Etihad, yielding 360 appearances and four Premier League crowns, cemented him as one of the club’s most influential leaders.
The link is strengthened by Guardiola’s longstanding admiration for Kompany. The City manager reportedly urged Bayern Munich executives to hire him in 2024, citing his exceptional leadership qualities and the deep tactical understanding he developed while working under Guardiola between 2016 and 2019.
Those recommendations appear to have been vindicated, with Kompany making an impressive start to life in the Bundesliga.
Still, despite Manchester City’s interest and Guardiola’s endorsement, Kompany has been unequivocal in distancing himself from any talk of a future return to England.
Speaking during Bayern’s preparations for the new season, Vincent Kompany speaks on replacing Pep Guardiola, stating that he has no intention of engaging in speculation.
“I can’t think that far ahead” he said when asked about the possibility of returning to the Etihad as manager one day.
His message was straightforward: his attention is fixed solely on the challenges in front of him. “My focus is on Bayern Munich and what we can achieve now.”
Kompany went further, stressing how little space there is in his life for contemplating alternative futures.
“I like to live in the world in front of me right now – that takes up all my time. I have zero thoughts about other teams – I only see FC Bayern,” he told Bulinews.
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While Kompany has dismissed the speculation, his rise as a manager has inevitably drawn comparisons to Guardiola.
What he has achieved in Germany so far is more than a continuation of his early work at Burnley; it is evidence of a manager with a clear identity, tactical conviction and strong communication — traits City executives often seek when projecting long-term leadership.
His football mirrors Guardiola’s in several ways: patient possession, coordinated pressing, and a deep commitment to attacking structure.
That resemblance has led observers to describe him as the most natural successor to the Catalan currently working in Europe.
For City staff who know Kompany’s personality, the idea of him eventually returning to lead the club carries both emotional and symbolic weight.