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Vincent Kompany leaves Manchester City to return to Anderlecht as player-manager

Ibrahim Mustapha

Vincent Kompany has announced he will be leaving Manchester City to take up the player-manager role at former club Anderlecht.

The Belgian ends his 11-year association with City after the club completed a historic domestic treble with a 6-0 hammering of Watford in the FA Cup Final.

Kompany will return to his homeland after signing a 3-year deal at the Brussels-based club.

33-year-old Kompany revealed his decision via a two-part post on his Facebook page.

“Man City has given me everything,” he wrote. “I’ve tried to give back as much as I possibly could.

“The time has come for me to go now.

“As overwhelming as it is, I feel nothing but gratefulness.

“I am grateful to all those who supported me on a special journey, at a very special club.”

“I have decided to take up the challenge as RSC Anderlecht Player-Manager,” he continued. “I want to share my knowledge with the next purple generations.

“With that, I will also put a bit of Manchester in the heart of Belgium.”

The centre-back began his career at Anderlecht before joining Hamburg as a 20-year-old in 2006.

After two years in Germany, Kompany moved to Manchester in 2008 and was made captain three years later ahead of City’s first title-winning season for 44 years.

During his time at the club, Kompany helped the Sky Blues to three further Premier League titles, four League Cups and two FA Cups, and of course, this season’s remarkable treble.

READ MORE: Manchester City thrash Watford to win the FA Cup and secure unprecedented domestic treble

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City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak paid tribute to the player’s contribution to the most successful era in the club’s history.

"There have been many important contributors to Manchester City’s renaissance, but arguably none are more important than Vincent Kompany.

"He defines the essence of the club. For a decade he has been the lifeblood, the soul, and beating heart of a supremely talented squad.

"His leadership, intelligence and determination have seen him adapt brilliantly to playing under four different managers and overcome some debilitating injuries. He is a special character who has answered every demand the club has made of him.”

Kompany leaves City after captaining the club the first domestic treble achieved by a men’s team in the history of English football.

The commanding defender played a total of 360 times for the club scoring 20 times.

His final goal proved to be decisive in the Premier League title race this year, as his incredible 30-yard thunderbolt gave City a crucial 1-0 victory in the penultimate game of the campaign Leicester.

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