Swapping the silverware-smelting works that are Manchester City for the role of player-coach at his old Anderlecht stomping ground, Vincent Kompany will be only too aware of the enormity of the challenge he faces at the Brussels club.
Anderlecht is, to put it bluntly, a wreck at the moment. Once Belgium’s number one side by a country mile, and renowned for their continental trophy exploits in the 1970s and 1980s, Les Mauves simply no longer inspire the same awe-struck respect. This season they could only finish sixth in the league and next term they must do without European football for the first time in 56 years.
Their squad is not good enough to compete for trophies in Belgium, let alone Europe, and money for new signings is tight. Just to make matters worse, the police recently raided the club offices in an investigation into alleged money-laundering and dubious transfers.
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Denne historien er fra June 2019-utgaven av World Soccer.
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Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines
