For Vincent Kompany, FC Bayern’s away game at Hamburger SV will be more than just another Bundesliga match. When the Munich side take on the Volksparkstadion at 6:30pm on Saturday evening, the head coach’s journey will take him back to a place that has had a lasting impact on his career
It is a journey into his own past. Exactly 20 years ago, Vincent Kompany moved from RSC Anderlecht to Hamburger SV as one of Europe’s greatest talents. Two years later, he made the big move to Manchester City, where the Belgian matured into a world star. But despite all the titles and successes, Hamburg remained a special place for Kompany
„Of course it remains a special story for me. Living and working in Hamburg – anyone who has ever lived there knows what a special city it is. That remains,“ explained the 39-year-old before the game. Words that show how deeply this time is still anchored in him – even if it was comparatively short
Memories of a „great team“
At the matchday conference on Friday, it became clear how vivid the memories of his HSV days still are for Kompany. Although he is no longer in close contact with the current managers of the long-established club, he still meets old companions time and again
„We had a great team back then, I have to say. I always had this connection with people like Ivica Olic, David Jarolim, I still sometimes meet them somewhere in the catacombs. Jerome Boateng. Who else was there? Paulo Guerreiro, Guy Demel, Timothée Atouba was always fun. Frank Rost in goal too. It was just a great time, a great team,“ enthused Kompany, visibly moved
It is particularly remarkable how strongly these two years shaped him. „In the end, I only played at HSV for two years and yet, in terms of feeling, these two years are actually more memorable than perhaps two years elsewhere, because it was simply a great time,“ said the Belgian, adding: „I hope that the next generation will experience that again.“
No gifts despite nostalgia
As emotionally as Kompany talks about his past, his attitude towards the present is just as clear. Sentimentality has no place on match day. „Of course, I’m mainly there because I want to experience my greatest time with Bayern Munich,“ he made unmistakably clear. His goal is clear: „That’s why I just want to win tomorrow and then I’ll look forward to everything else.“
For FC Bayern, Hamburg is about important points in the title race, for Kompany personally it is about balancing memories and responsibility. The return to his old place of work is emotional, but in sporting terms only one thing counts for the Bayern coach.