Pep Guardiola left Bayern Munich in 2016 but it appears the German giants are grateful to him for their current success.
Bayern are on course for another Treble this season having already won the Bundesliga, while they are in the German Cup final and Champions League semi-finals.
Vincent Kompany has been in charge of the club since the start of last season, with his debut campaign seeing the club lift the Bundesliga title once again.
And reflecting on Kompany’s success, Bayern’s chiefs have once again told the story of how they nearly didn’t hire him in the first place.
Speaking in an interview with ZDF, Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl revealed the influence Guardiola had in helping them pick Kompany.
Kompany had just suffered relegation with Burnley and was on Bayern’s shortlist but was behind the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Hansi Flick, Ralf Rangnick and Oliver Glasner.
Pep Guardiola’s endorsement of Vincent Kompany (pictured) helped Bayern hire him as boss
Bayern chief Max Eberl (left) has revealed the influence of Guardiola’s verdict back in 2024
‘I did get the feeling that there were initially some question marks and surprise when I put forward the name,’ Eberl recalled.
‘Of course, we had received rejections beforehand. It’s no secret that Julian Nagelsmann was a possibility, that we spoke with Ralf Rangnick, that we spoke with Oliver Glasner. Some also wanted Hansi Flick back. We don’t need to beat around the bush about that.
‘As I have said before: Vincent Kompany was indeed already on our list. But to be honest – and I am being completely open about this – I didn’t dare propose Vincent Kompany first. Instead, we first approached top coaches with name and fame.
‘When the question came up whether we were really sure, I said to Kalle [Karl-Heinz Rummenigge]: “Kalle, you’re so close to Pep, aren’t you? Call him and ask what he thinks of Kompany.” That was the breakthrough.’
Guardiola managed Kompany for three years at Manchester City, with the pair winning six trophies during their time together.
Before managing City, Guardiola enjoyed a trophy-laden three-year spell at Bayern between 2013 and 2016 – winning three Bundesliga titles, two German Cups, one UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
