Kompany’s Bayern Boom: A Lucky Strike That Could Shape the Next Era

Kompany’s Impact and a Possible Nagelsmann Return

Herbert Hainer, Bayern Munich’s president, praised the work of Belgian coach Vincent Kompany as he steers the club forward, while not ruling out a future return for Julian Nagelsmann, the current Germany coach, to lead the Bavarian giants someday.

In an interview with Munich Abendzeitung, Hainer said of Kompany: “I trust in his ability to forge a new era for Bayern Munich, just as Jupp Heynckes, Ottmar Hitzfeld, or Pep Guardiola did.”

He described Kompany, who joined Bayern in the summer of 2024, as a “stroke of luck for Bayern Munich” and “the current success guarantor,” adding: “I give him the lion’s share of the credit for what the team is achieving now.”

Perhaps he could return to Bayern Munich

He confirmed that signing Kompany was a “bold move by the sporting management,” noting: “Kompany had been relegated with Burnley from the Premier League, and the fact that this experiment is developing with such success is a wonderful story indeed.”

Great praise for Kompany

Hainer praised how Kompany has brought vitality back to the squad, saying: “The team is incredibly solid and enjoys playing together and has a high degree of cohesion,”

insisting that the credit for that goes to the 39-year-old coach.

He added that Kompany knows how to win the players’ support and fully understands how Bayern Munich works. He was a great player and captain of Manchester City, so he has natural authority and great respect inside the locker room.

Hainer noted that the greatest trait of Kompany is his humility: “He never puts himself first, and the players repay him on the pitch.”

Currently, Bayern Munich sits top of the Bundesliga table with 28 points from 30 after 10 games, and things are going well in the Champions League, where the team recently beat Paris Saint‑Germain, preserving top spot in their group after four games.

German talent under the microscope

Meanwhile, Julian Ayekhorn has caught the eye in Germany after shining with Hertha Berlin despite being only 16, becoming a key pillar in the first team and attracting major European clubs’ attention.

According to Sky Sports, Ayekhorn, who plays as a defensive midfielder, is under contract with Hertha until 2029, but his deal includes a release clause that could allow him to depart next summer.

The release clause and its value

Sources indicate the clause ranges between €10m and €12m, varying with the interested club, the league, and potential Champions League participation.

European giants are vying for the rising star, led by Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint‑Germain, and Manchester United have also expressed interest.

In recent weeks, Bayern and Dortmund scouts attended Hertha matches, alongside Leipzig officials, watching Ayekhorn closely in a bid to secure his signature early.

Future of Ayekhorn

The Germany U‑17 international’s future remains open, but staying in Berlin beyond next summer seems realistic, especially if Hertha can return to the Bundesliga.

Hertha currently sits eighth in the second division after three straight wins, while Ayekhorn continues to prove himself as the youngest player in the competition’s history to start a game, having started seven times and come on as a substitute twice, before a suspension next round for cards.

The environment around the player seems balanced; his family prefers he stays in a setting that gives him regular playing time rather than a quick move to a big club, in a measured path designed to progressively develop his talent without excessive pressure.