Why school paid off for Manchester City's Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany enjoys the
lifestyle which comes with being a modern millionaire footballer. But,
despite rising to the top of his sport, the Belgian remains grounded and
committed to education.
Kompany made his
Anderlecht debut in 2003. The defensive player had been with the club's
academy since 2000 and went on to win the Belgian Championship with the
team in 2004 and 2006.
Kompany made his
Anderlecht debut in 2003. The defensive player had been with the club's
academy since 2000 and went on to win the Belgian Championship with the
team in 2004 and 2006.
Kompany made his
debut for the national team in 2004 in a friendly match against France.
He is pictured here tackling legendary French playmaker Zinedine Zidane.
Kompany made his
debut for the national team in 2004 in a friendly match against France.
He is pictured here tackling legendary French playmaker Zinedine Zidane.
Kompany was
consistently excellent for the Abu Dhabi-owned club and was one of the
team's standout performers as they beat Stoke City 1-0 to win the FA Cup
in 2011.
Kompany was
consistently excellent for the Abu Dhabi-owned club and was one of the
team's standout performers as they beat Stoke City 1-0 to win the FA Cup
in 2011.
The highlight of
Kompany's career to date arrived in May 2012. A goal from Sergio Aguero
deep into injury time gave City a 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers and
secured the team a first league title in 44 years. As captain, Kompany
was the man who lifted the trophy.
The highlight of
Kompany's career to date arrived in May 2012. A goal from Sergio Aguero
deep into injury time gave City a 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers and
secured the team a first league title in 44 years. As captain, Kompany
was the man who lifted the trophy.
Manuel Pellegrini
was appointed as City manager in May following the sacking of Roberto
Mancini. The Chilean is the third different manager Kompany has worked
under during five years in Manchester.
Manuel Pellegrini
was appointed as City manager in May following the sacking of Roberto
Mancini. The Chilean is the third different manager Kompany has worked
under during five years in Manchester.
HIDE CAPTION
In good Kompany
Bright start
Belgium breakthrough
At home in Hamburg
City slicker
Silverware
Dramatic climax
Manuel's man
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Vincent Kompany joined Manchester City from Hamburg in 2008
- The defender is captain for both City and the Belgium national team
- Kompany combined a football career with his studies as a teenager
- He hopes to see authorities take a hard stance when tackling racism
Whether it is players
falling foul of the law, refusing to play, or simply getting swept up by
the revolving door at the club's Etihad Stadium, Kompany has seen a
number of teammates and managers come and go during his five years in
Manchester.
But the Belgian has led the line for City both on and off the pitch.
The 27-year-old is
captain of both club and country and his leadership helped City clinch a
first English championship in 44 years in 2012.
The
transfer window means football is rarely off the newspaper back pages in
the off season. Much ink has been already been devoted to the question
of whether Spurs' Welsh international Gareth Bale will join Real Madrid.
Despite
their interest in Bale, Real have already flexed their muscles in the
transfer window by signing young Spanish stars Isco (pictured playing
for Malaga last season) for $40m and Asier Illarramendi from Real
Sociedad for $51m.
Despite
their interest in Bale, Real have already flexed their muscles in the
transfer window by signing young Spanish stars Isco (pictured playing
for Malaga last season) for $40m and Asier Illarramendi from Real
Sociedad for $51m.
Wayne
Rooney's future as a Manchester United player continues to be in doubt
after Chelsea declared an interest in signing the England forward.
Wayne
Rooney's future as a Manchester United player continues to be in doubt
after Chelsea declared an interest in signing the England forward.
Meanwhile
United have made several unsuccessful bids to sign Barcelona midfielder
Cesc Fabregas, who before rejoining the Catalan club had played for
Arsenal.
Meanwhile
United have made several unsuccessful bids to sign Barcelona midfielder
Cesc Fabregas, who before rejoining the Catalan club had played for
Arsenal.
United's
rivals Manchester City have been active in the transfer market signing
Fernandinho for $45m, Stevan Jovetic ($33.5m), Alvaro Negredo ($25m) and
Jesus Navas ($23m).
United's
rivals Manchester City have been active in the transfer market signing
Fernandinho for $45m, Stevan Jovetic ($33.5m), Alvaro Negredo ($25m) and
Jesus Navas ($23m).
Liverpool
are facing a fight to keep hold of striker Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan
forward has openly talked of wanting to join Real Madrid, while Arsenal
have made a number of bids for Suarez.
Liverpool
are facing a fight to keep hold of striker Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan
forward has openly talked of wanting to join Real Madrid, while Arsenal
have made a number of bids for Suarez.
Another
Uruguayan international Edinson Cavani has changed clubs during the
transfer window. Cavani signed a five-year deal with French champions
Paris Saint-Germain for a reported French record fee of euro 64 million
($84 million).
Another
Uruguayan international Edinson Cavani has changed clubs during the
transfer window. Cavani signed a five-year deal with French champions
Paris Saint-Germain for a reported French record fee of euro 64 million
($84 million).
After
Cavani joined PSG, Napoli used some of the money to sign Argentine
international Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid. Higuain, who is reported
to have cost Napoli in the region of $50 million, spent six-and-a-half
seasons at the Bernabeu and scored a total of 107 goals in 187
appearances.
After
Cavani joined PSG, Napoli used some of the money to sign Argentine
international Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid. Higuain, who is reported
to have cost Napoli in the region of $50 million, spent six-and-a-half
seasons at the Bernabeu and scored a total of 107 goals in 187
appearances.
PSG
are not the only French club spending big. Monaco served notice of their
intent to challenge at the top of world football by completing the
signing of Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao. The transfer fee
wasn't disclosed by Monaco, but it was reported to be almost $80
million.
PSG
are not the only French club spending big. Monaco served notice of their
intent to challenge at the top of world football by completing the
signing of Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao. The transfer fee
wasn't disclosed by Monaco, but it was reported to be almost $80
million.
Prior
to signing Falcao, Monaco's owner Dmitry Rybolovlev -- worth $9.1
billion, according to Forbes -- funded the transfers of Porto pair Joao
Moutinho and James Rodriguez for $90 million.
Prior
to signing Falcao, Monaco's owner Dmitry Rybolovlev -- worth $9.1
billion, according to Forbes -- funded the transfers of Porto pair Joao
Moutinho and James Rodriguez for $90 million.
Real deal?
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Movers and shakers in transfer window
Nadine Angerer reacts after saving a second penalty kick during the women's European Championship final in Solna.
German players react to the only goal of the Euro 2013 final from Amja Mittag.
German players react to the only goal of the Euro 2013 final from Amja Mittag.
Germany's women lift the Euro 2013 title after a 1-0 victory over Norway in the final in Sweden.
Germany's women lift the Euro 2013 title after a 1-0 victory over Norway in the final in Sweden.
Germany win Euro 2013 title
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Germany win Euro 2013 title
His stellar performances and articulate interviews have made Kompany an idol among fans and a respected figure within the media.
Kompany's level head is
something he credits to his education and his parents, who kept him
grounded even when it became clear he was destined for sporting stardom.
"I couldn't go anywhere
without finishing my studies," Kompany told CNN reflecting on the years
he spent combining football and his education.
"I always remember
playing in big games, millions of people watching, and the next day
coming back at two o'clock in the morning.
"At eight o'clock I was
just sitting on the bench with all my classmates and I was just a normal
guy, but it's always given me the right balance.
Pele
(right) joined the New York Cosmos in 1975 and led a troop of
superstars who flocked to the North American Soccer League (NASL).
George Best, pictured here with the Brazilian, was a Manchester United
legend who enjoyed three separate spells in the NASL.
Franz
Beckenbauer was captain of the West Germany team which lifted the 1974
World Cup. The Bayern Munich icon won three NASL Soccer Bowls with the
Cosmos between 1977 and 1980.
Franz
Beckenbauer was captain of the West Germany team which lifted the 1974
World Cup. The Bayern Munich icon won three NASL Soccer Bowls with the
Cosmos between 1977 and 1980.
Pele
and his compatriot Carlos Alberto spent one season together in the "Big
Apple" which culminated with the Cosmos winning the 1977 Soccer Bowl.
Carlos Alberto, who captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 1970, played
100 times for the Cosmos in two separate spells.
Pele
and his compatriot Carlos Alberto spent one season together in the "Big
Apple" which culminated with the Cosmos winning the 1977 Soccer Bowl.
Carlos Alberto, who captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 1970, played
100 times for the Cosmos in two separate spells.
Pele
meets Giovanni Savarese, the Venezuelan coach of the modern day Cosmos.
Saverese has pedigree in U.S. football and enjoyed a prolific spell with
the New York/New Jersey Metrostars.
Pele
meets Giovanni Savarese, the Venezuelan coach of the modern day Cosmos.
Saverese has pedigree in U.S. football and enjoyed a prolific spell with
the New York/New Jersey Metrostars.
Ahead
of Saturday's match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the Cosmos'
first competitive fixture in 30 years, the top of the Empire State
Building is turned green.
Ahead
of Saturday's match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the Cosmos'
first competitive fixture in 30 years, the top of the Empire State
Building is turned green.
Major
League Soccer's New York Red Bulls have shown that soccer in the city
can be a success. Cosmos COO Erik Stover spent three years with the
team, helping the Red Bulls move to a new purpose-built stadium.
Major
League Soccer's New York Red Bulls have shown that soccer in the city
can be a success. Cosmos COO Erik Stover spent three years with the
team, helping the Red Bulls move to a new purpose-built stadium.
Superstars stateside
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The rebirth of the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos' grand plans
"I thank my mother every
day and my father every day for pushing me in that direction. They've
never ever said to me, 'You're a great footballer. You've made it now
just focus on your football.'
"They've always said keep other things at hand and I guess I still have this in my life now."
Kompany's present is a
far cry from his parents' past. His parents fled Zaire, now known as
Democratic Republic of Congo, during the regime of president Mobuto Sese
Seko, heading to Belgium where Kompany was born and raised.
"They've given us so
much love when we were younger, but I guess like any modern family as
well, we've had our problems in the fight," said Kompany of his parents.
"We've had financial
difficulties like any normal family would have, but I think that the
biggest lesson for me is that we've always come back to that education,
the strength to do our own thing ... knowing that we would be okay even
if we didn't have any money because we knew exactly how to handle
situations."
Despite the success he has enjoyed since signing for City in 2008, Kompany continues to have numerous extracurricular interests.
Gerardo Martino has signed a two-year deal at Barcelona after agreeing to replace former coach Tito Vilanova.
Barcelona's
star player Lionel Messi is a huge admirer of fellow Argentine Martino.
Both men hail from Rosario and Messi's father is a close friend of the
new Barcelona manager.
Barcelona's
star player Lionel Messi is a huge admirer of fellow Argentine Martino.
Both men hail from Rosario and Messi's father is a close friend of the
new Barcelona manager.
Vilanova
took over from Josep Guardiola as Barcelona coach in June 2012 but was
forced to leave his post to continue his fight against throat cancer.
Vilanova missed nearly three months of last season undergoing
chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Vilanova
took over from Josep Guardiola as Barcelona coach in June 2012 but was
forced to leave his post to continue his fight against throat cancer.
Vilanova missed nearly three months of last season undergoing
chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Guardiola
won 14 trophies with Barcelona between 2008 and 2012 before taking a
sabbatical. Now in charge of Champions League winner Bayern Munich,
Guardiola will face his former side in a friendly game at the Allianz
Arena.
Guardiola
won 14 trophies with Barcelona between 2008 and 2012 before taking a
sabbatical. Now in charge of Champions League winner Bayern Munich,
Guardiola will face his former side in a friendly game at the Allianz
Arena.
As well as Messi, Martino will be able to deploy the considerable talents of Brazilian star Neymar next season.
As well as Messi, Martino will be able to deploy the considerable talents of Brazilian star Neymar next season.
New man at Camp Nou
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New man at Camp Nou
Ozil: Real Madrid needs Ronaldo
British newspaper the
Daily Mail reported in January 2012 that Kompany had signed up for a
three-year Business Administration course, while he also purchased a
football club in his hometown and renamed it BX Brussels.
The team, which plays at
the bottom level of the Belgian football pyramid, is Kompany's attempt
to ensure up and coming players are given the best possible start to
their careers.
"I played football for
Anderlecht from the age of 6 to the age of 20 so that has had a big
impact on my life, at the same time as my parents and the schools I went
to," he explained.
"I really believe that the interactions between all of those different assets led me to be better.
"I want to make a very strong link into the schools, maybe sometimes even the life at home for the kids.
"I think a part of the reason why a lot of young kids fail is because they don't have the support from home that they need to."
One obstacle faced by
some modern footballers is racism. The key to tackling discrimination,
according to Kompany, is also education.
While Kompany pays
little heed to the abusers, he still says it is important for the game's
governing bodies to clamp down on the vocal minority.
"It's a very sad life, it's a very sad way of behaving so I wouldn't give them too much attention," he added.
"But at the same time,
as much as I wouldn't teach my kids to give them too much attention, I
hope the governing bodies will be extremely hard and extremely exemplary
in the way that they deal with those situations."
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