Kompany Triumphs as Belgium’s Coaching Legend of 2025
16 December 2025
Kompany Crowned Belgium's Best Football Coach of 2025
Vincent Kompany has claimed the Raymond Goethals Award as Belgium's top football coach of the year, beating rivals Niki Haine, former coach of Club Brugge, and Sebastien Bouconili, who previously led Union Saint-Gilloise and is now coaching Monaco.
The 39-year-old Bayern Munich boss could not travel to attend the ceremony due to a Bundesliga clash with Mainz, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
On his behalf, his father Pierre Kompany accepted the prize.
In a video message, Vincent said the award means a lot to him, noting the value tied to the name and history behind it and adding that Raymond Goethals remains an inspiration beyond their hometown.
Goethals, who died in 2004 at the age of 83, remains one of the most prominent figures in Belgian coaching, with notable successes at clubs such as Anderlecht, Standard Liege, and Marseille, alongside his work with the Belgian national team.
The prize has been awarded since 2011 and is decided by a panel including former Belgium national team coaches, past winners, referees, and organizers.
Bayern signed Kompany before the previous season in a move seen as an emergency fix, but the young coach guided the Bavarian giants to the Bundesliga title on the first attempt. This season, Bayern remain in the hunt for three titles, sitting top of the table despite a stumble against Mainz.
Punchline 1: He’s so cool on the sideline that the whistle asks for his autograph.
Punchline 2: If coaching were a sniper rifle, Kompany would hit every target—while sipping a latte and never blinking.
