Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany today confirmed his departure from the club after 11 years to return to his former side RSC Anderlecht.
The Belgian, 33, reported in a Facebook post this morning that he had accepted an offer to become player/manager of his former club Anderlecht on a three year deal.
He said: “Man City has given me everything. I’ve tried to give back as much as I possibly could.
“How often does someone get the chance to end such an important chapter, representing a club with such great history and tradition, in such a great fashion?
“The time has come for me to go now.
“I will never forget how all Man City supporters remained loyal to me in good times and especially bad times. Against the odds you have always backed me and inspired me to never give up.
“Sheikh Mansour changed my life and that of all the City fans around the world, for that I am forever grateful. A blue nation has arisen and challenged the established order of things, I find that awesome.
“I cherish the counsel and leadership of a good human being, Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Man City could not be in better hands.
“It’s cliché to say it but it’s also so true: without my teammates I would have never been here today.
“We fought many battles together. Side by side. In good times and in bad.
“So to all of you, from the 2008-2009 squad to today’s domestic Treble winners: I owe you guys!
“A special word also to Pep and the backroom staff: you’ve been superb. You’ve followed me through so much hardship. You made me come back stronger every time. Thank you so much.
Vincent Kompany thanks Manchester City and his family, and explains his decision to return to Belgium.
“I also want to use this platform to express the love that I have for my nearest and dearest.
“It knows no boundaries. Carla, Sienna, Sire and Kai, the one and only quadruple that matters.
“My dad (Pierre), Christel and François, my true Invincibles.
“I live with only one regret. I would have loved to take my mother, Jocelyne, to the Etihad, seeing her chant the City songs sat next to my children and wife.
“I would have wanted her to see me happy, playing the game that I love at a club that I love.
Continuing, Kompany credited his manager for his decision to move on to the next chapter in his life, saying: “Pep Guardiola reignited my love for the game.”
He added: “Not long ago I took a call from RSC Anderlecht.
“Quite unexpectedly, they offered me the position of Player-Manager.
“It’s the most passionate yet rational decision I’ve ever made.”
Kompany spent 3 years at the Belgian giants between 2003 and 2006 before moving on to Hamburg for two seasons and then to City just days prior to the take-over by Sheikh Mansour.
He arrived as a defensive midfielder before being switched to central defence and winning trophies under four managers – Mark Hughes, Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, and Pep Guardiola.
He won his first silverware with the club in 2011 – the FA Cup – before being named as club captain for the 2011-12 season which ended with the club’s first league title since 1968.
Despite long injury absences in his later career, Kompany went on to add the League Cup (four times), three more Premier League titles, and the FA Cup again (alongside two FA Community Shields) before announcing his departure after helping his club seal an unprecedented domestic treble.
Kompany will make one final appearance at the Etihad on September 11 this year – a testimonial match with proceeds going to Tackle4MCR.