Vicent Kompany – Fortunebets

Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has left his role as Anderlecht head coach amid suggestions he is the front runner to take over at relegated Burnley.

The 36-year-old has been strongly linked with the Clarets for a number of weeks, with the interest apparently not dimming despite Burnley suffering relegation from the Premier League after their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday.

Kompany returned to his boyhood club Anderlecht in the summer of 2019, initially joining as player-manager before hanging up his boots in August 2020 to focus on his coaching career. He guided the club to third in the Belgian league this season.

But on Wednesday Anderlecht confirmed his departure after three years.

In a statement on the club website, Kompany said: “Today only one feeling prevails: I am proud that I was able to start this new chapter at the club of my heart. I have now been a player and a coach of RSC Anderlecht, but above all I remain a loyal fan.”

A move to Burnley would allow Kompany to return to a region where he spent 11 years after signing for City in 2008. His wife Carla is from Manchester and their three children were all born in the city.

However, he would be taking on a sizeable task at Turf Moor.

Following their relegation, Burnley have nine first-team players out of contract this summer and suitors are expected to line up for a number of other regulars, not least England goalkeeper Nick Pope, Dwight McNeil, Maxwel Cornet and Wout Weghorst.

The required rebuilding project would also be hampered as the club is now required to repay a “significant proportion” of a £65million loan taken out during ALK Capital’s leveraged takeover in December 2020.

Wayne Rooney and Chris Wilder have also been linked with the post at Turf Moor, which has been vacant since Sean Dyche was sacked by the club in April. Caretaker boss Mike Jackson, the under-23s manager, took 11 points from eight games but fell short of achieving safety on the final day of the season.

A line-up of Premier League legends gathered in London tonight, for the first Premier League Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Hall of Fame 2022 inductees Vincent Kompany, Wayne Rooney, Patrick Vieira and Ian Wright were in attendance and took to the stage alongside inaugural inductee Alan Shearer.

The ceremony, hosted by broadcaster Kelly Cates, featured each of the players formally receiving their Hall of Fame medallions from Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Masters, in front of their families and guests including Gary Lineker and Dan Walker, DJ Roman Kemp, music artist AJ Tracey and YouTubers Chunkz and Elz the Witch.

Manchester United duo Paul Scholes and Peter Schmeichel, Chelsea’s legendary forward Didier Drogba and Manchester City’s all-time leading scorer Sergio Aguero shared video messages after they were unable to attend in person.

Rooney, who attended the event with wife Coleen, said: “If I had the chance to have played with any of the Hall of Fame inductees, it would have to be Thierry Henry because of the player he was and his ability to score and create goals.

“Current Premier League players who I think can be future inductees, I’d have to go for Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah and Harry Kane.”

When asked the same question, Vieira selected from one of his fellow 2022 inductees, while picking a player under his present charge at Crystal Palace as a potential future Hall of Famer.

“It would have to be Paul Scholes,” Vieira said. “He’s one of the best to ever play in the Premier League.

“The current players that I can see making it into the Hall of Fame would be Kevin De Bruyne for sure. I hope that Wilfried Zaha will make it one day, and Sadio Mane.”

Wright said that when he found out he had been inducted, it was extremely “emotional and humbling” and dedicated the honour to his former Palace manager Steve Coppell.

He said: “I have received so many messages from fans which is incredibly touching. It’s the stuff dreams are made of to be amongst this group of elite players. I want to dedicate my induction to Steve Coppell who first took a chance on me, to take me off the building site and give me my chance at being a professional footballer.”

Kompany, whose guests included wife Carla and his father Pierre, said: “This moment is difficult to describe but I am incredibly honoured. I am probably the most injured Hall of Famer though. I may have depended on my team-mates at times but I also tried to make others better.”

Shearer felt honoured to have the current crop of stars join him in the Hall of Fame.

“I just love football, I would play in a Sunday League if I wasn’t professional, so to be on a list among so many great players who have graced the Premier League and achieved so much is a great honour.”

Shearer also went for De Bruyne, Salah and Kane as current players destined to join him. “They’re all fantastic players,” he said.

The Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates the exceptional skill and talent of individuals who have graced the Premier League since its inception in 1992. It is the highest individual honour awarded to players by the League.

All inducted players receive a medallion engraved with their name and the year of their induction, as well as a £10,000 donation from the Premier League to a charity of their choice.