MUNICH, May 29, (AP): Vincent Kompany is the unlikely new coach of Bayern Munich after a months-long search that saw the German club rejected by several top candidates.
The 38-year-old former Manchester City captain arrives at Bayern tasked with overseeing a turnaround after his predecessor, Thomas Tuchel, led the team only to a third-place finish in the Bundesliga, 18 points off champion Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern said Kompany had signed a three-year contract. Kompany was Burnley's manager in the English Premier League and won praise for his team’s attractive style despite relegation this past season. He had been under contract at Burnley through 2028 and there was no immediate confirmation of the size of the release fee.

Kompany said he saw the Bayern job as a welcome challenge and signaled he would bring the same tactical philosophy to Germany.
"I love to have the ball, to be creative,” he said in a Bayern statement.

Even though he arrives at a low point for Bayern, Kompany will still be expected to win trophies and potentially reach the 2025 Champions League final, which is to be played at Bayern's own Allianz Arena.
In recent years, Kompany’s appointment is one of the most prominent roles for a Black coach in European soccer.

"While we were initially confident in retaining our manager, the changing dynamics of the situation made this impossible,” Burnley said.
"We understand the allure and prestige of a club like Bayern Munich and respect Vincent’s ambition to explore new opportunities. We wish Vincent only the best and would like to show our appreciation for his dedication every day he was a part of this football club.”
The announcement ends a search that took more than three months since the club said in February that Tuchel would leave at the end of the season.