Burnley promoted to Premier League after Kompany’s claret revolution

I t looked like a marriage of convenience when Vincent Kompany returned to the north-west of England to take up the role of Burnley manager last summer. The former Belgium defender had spent an illustrious 11 years down the road in Manchester, where he had met his Mancunian wife and brought up children whom he was bringing home. But following Friday’s 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough, now he can add promotion to the Premier League to his romantic regional ties.

The Clarets had spent a decade under the rule of Sean Dyche, which petered out with his sacking and the club’s relegation last May. Many of the senior players left and there were serious concerns over the club’s finances, so the appointment of the relatively inexperienced Kompany was a risk.

The squad was refreshed, something Dyche had been unable to do in recent years. Recruitment was key for Kompany to move Burnley into a new era of exciting, fast-paced and effective football, a long way from what was offered previously.

Kompany was hands-on with his approach to scouting, more so than many managers in the modern game. Just recently he was in Denmark looking at targets. He earmarked a number of players he knew from Belgium. Five joined from the Jupiler League, including Josh Cullen from Kompany’s previous club, Anderlecht.

The Republic of Ireland international has been integral to the team’s success in central midfield, knowing everything his manager wants from the position after two years with him in Brussels, allowing him to set the tone on and off the pitch. He keeps everything around him ticking. “His strength is that he’s the ultimate player that puts the team before himself,” Kompany said.

The attackers Anass Zaroury and Manuel Benson arrived from Charleroi