Vincent Kompany was born on April 10, 1986, in Uccle to a Congolese father and Belgian mother. At age 17, he signed his first pro contract with Anderlecht. His debut? August 9, 2003, at home against Antwerp. He played the full 90 minutes — and stood out instantly for his intelligence, strength, and technique.

Under Aimé Anthuenis, he soon became a Red Devil — one of the youngest ever. In 2005, he won the Golden Boot in Belgium with a record lead over Luigi Pieroni. That same year, Kompany played at Camp Nou in the “Football for Hope” charity match — instantly rubbing shoulders with the world’s elite.

A move to a top club seemed inevitable, but Vince the Prince stayed at Anderlecht. The 2005–2006 season was ruined by a shoulder injury. Surgery in the U.S., rehab in France — and eventually a €11 million transfer to Hamburg. In Germany, things were rocky at first, but by 2008 he was back to form. That earned him a move to Manchester City for just €8.5 million. It took until 2011 to become a regular, but 2012 changed everything: team captain, Premier League Player of the Season, and league champion after 44 years. Kompany even scored the title-deciding goal against Manchester United. The finale against QPR? Legendary. Agüero’s 94th-minute strike brought glory. Kompany lifted the trophy — and entered English football folklore.

Though he left Anderlecht early, his legacy is huge. He proved the quality of the club’s academy, raised Belgium’s footballing profile, and stayed close to the club and its fans. Off the pitch, he founded BX Brussels to help local youth and remains active with SOS Children’s Villages.

In 2014, Kompany captained Belgium at the World Cup in Brazil. A perfect group stage (9/9), a dramatic win over the USA in extra time — but heartbreak against Argentina after an early mistake led to a 1–0 loss.

Coach
After returning to Anderlecht as player-coach, he implemented his philosophy — but clashed with management. He then joined Burnley, took them back to the Premier League, and moved on to Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga. Vince the Prince, now Vince the Boss.