Vincent Kompany Leaves Manchester City On a High

In his 11 years at Manchester City, since he joined from Hamburg, Vincent Kompany has been a brilliant player for us.

There is a wonderful picture taken on the day he signed  for us, where an impossibly young looking Vinnie is stood next to a tracksuited Mark Hughes, who was our manager at the time. Vinnie with his full head of hair, looks slightly embarrassed to be stood next to Mark Hughes in one of those slightly portentous pictures. I like to think Vinnie is looking into the middle distance focussed on the glories to come, whilst Hughes is predicting his sacking at Southampton and Stoke.

During this lifetime at City, Kompany has become part of the fabric of our lives. His set us on our way to our first proper trophy wins in over 35 years when he scored important goals. His ability to step up in the biggest of games and make a difference has been a key feature of his life at our wonderful Club.

Other players have come and gone, some have barely passed through but the thing we all know is that Vinnie gets it. He understands what drives us, what we care about and why. He feels the same hurt we do and for these long years – has been an important part of our dreams too.

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Our players often live in mansions, have security staff and cooks and other staff. But Vinnie, with his Manchester wife and family always seemed different. He knew us and importantly he had seen us at our worst and in our Sunday best.

He always spoke so eloquently and he has an undoubted presence. When he walks in a room he has charisma and is clearly a leader of men. To think he has used this to drive his team to excellence, by pushing and being focussed is one thing but Vinnie has also used his voice to drive change. To utilise the proceeds and focus of his testimonial year to raise funds to tackle homelessness in Manchester City centre speaks volumes about the kind of man we know he is.

And now as the song says, the end is near. Again though, Vinnie has shown his utter class. He knows and we know he could have signed a one or two year extension and we would have been happy. He could have taken that money – good money – but he would know he would play less and we would watch his light begin to dim.

Instead Vinnie has in his last three games for us done something ultimately remarkable. In his last home game, Vinnie scored the goal of the season. In his last Premier League match, Vinnie won the Premier League for a 4th time. In his last ever game for City he won the FA Cup Final and completed an unprecedented domestic trophy treble.

He has earned the right to choose the manner of his own departure. And as I said before, Vinnie is one of us – he understands us – and he chooses to go at the top of his game having just accomplished the impossible. There is no long drawn out goodbye – only thanks.

So, tomorrow evening Manchester City will be undertaking their victory parade through the streets of Manchester. Let us all go there and not only pay our respects to this glorious team and this great achievement – but it is time for us to give thanks to Vinnie for the moments he has given to us as fans.

This will be our last chance to see Vinnie before his testimonial game rumoured to be on 11 September at the Etihad Stadium. Although I think, like many blues, I will probably try and make a trip over to Brussels to see Vinnie at his new club Anderlecht. But today it is time to mourn the passing of our Captain. The King is dead! Long Live the King.