FC Bayern lacks an alternative to Vincent Kompany.

FC Bayern is forced to consider Vincent Kompany due to circumstances.

Different trainers have stepped down from FC Bayern, but the record-winning team is still attempting to present Vincent Kompany as their answer. Nonetheless, Kompany isn't a well-liked choice among the Munich management, which includes sporting director Max Eberl.

Kompany embodies attacking soccer, but when he appeared for the first time as the new coach of FC Bayern, he confronted a club in a defensive state. "If it comes to the ranking, whether we're first, second, third, or somewhere in the middle, Vincent was placed in the list of potential head coaches somewhere between fifth and tenth," Eberl tried to explain early on, addressing the numerous interpretations of the seemingly endless search. "A lot was misconstrued, which was incorrect," said Eberl critically about the widespread reporting on the hunt.

Nevertheless, even FC Bayern's former president Uli Hoeness stated that Ralf Rangnick was the third option - the one who took over as the national coach in Austria. The fact that the succession of Thomas Tuchel "should have been decided in April" (quote Eberl) and that Kompany is now presented in late May shows that FC Bayern's plans have had to be changed numerous times.

"I had to speak with Kompany first-hand, and then the entire search would have been concluded," Eberl said, implying that the discussion about the search could also be put to a halt. However, this debate is likely to linger with the Munich team for at least several more months.

Obviously, FC Bayern can't present Kompany, who has signed until 2027, as a temporary fix and undermine the authority of the new coach. Eberl and Co. must maintain that Kompany is the optimal candidate. And he deserves the chance to prove himself, even in these conditions.

Still, the approaches to Xabi Alonso and Julian Nagelsmann, the talks with Ralf Rangnick, Hansi Flick, and Oliver Glasner, the "stay with us" negotiations with Thomas Tuchel, the rumors about Roberto De Zerbi, Zinedine Zidane, Julen Lopetegui, Roger Schmidt, and Sebastian Hoeneß don't just vanish. When Eberl says "some have registered and withdrawn, with whom we haven't even spoken."

Meanwhile, Kompany has already embarked on his mission to successfully organize a squad makeover and bring FC Bayern back to the top after their first title-less season in over a decade. "Being here indicates they're doing a fantastic job," Kompany praised his new teammates, avoiding discussing the many other candidates. Certainly, he has a strong desire to see some business-like composure at Säbener Straße.

"We have the opportunity to turn back the clock and become one team again," Eberl declared, but he didn't only criticize externally, but also internally: "This is what I envision: The entire club unites behind our trainer and supports him." Uli Hoeneß could sympathize with this remark, who had criticized Tuchel for not supporting young players - to which the departing coach replies, "I was wounded by these demands in honor of my trainer."

There is widespread agreement among Munich residents about the person of Vincent Kompany. Kompany confirmed that he had spoken with Uli Hoeneß and also knew that he had the club's full support. The two members of the supervisory board may no longer have daily operations, but they do occasionally intervene. Wanted, like the transfer committee from the previous year, or unexpectedly, as with Hoeneß's criticism of Rangnick and Tuchel or Rummenigge's announcement that the FC Bayern agreed with Kompany.

Board Chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen, who often finds himself in the spotlight among all the larger figures, described receiving Kompany as the "best start you can get as a coach and a club." This probably sounds more like a desire to regain communication control: "The critical aspect is that we're all on the same page regarding Vincent Kompany as a coach."

Eberl is correct when he says that Kompany is "one of the most intriguing coaches in Europe" - simply because he switches from the relegation candidate FC Burnley to Munich, where winning the championship is the bare minimum requirement. Like Xabi Alonso and Pep Guardiola, he had great success as a player, learned from top coaches, and now feels ready to take charge of a big club. Regarding his coaching philosophy, he once said, "In every phase of the game, we must have a plan or a strategy to score a goal, be it a defensive throw-in or a corner kick we're defending." At his introduction, he reiterated that he wants to focus on "bold players" and aggressiveness.

As for which players from the current roster might play a role, Kompany didn't comment on that yet. "From my standpoint, it's still premature to discuss any players. I'm thrilled to work with everyone. However, I want to find out how dedicated the players are." [Additional information: Kompany started his career in Anderlecht, moving on to Hamburg, Manchester City, and Burnley. He won several championships and was a member of the Belgium national team. He was also appointed as the Player of the Season multiple times and was part of the Premier League's Team of the Year. He has no prior coaching experience.]

In emphasis, Eberl highlighted that he and sporting director Christoph Freund are possibly ahead of schedule, disregarding the notion of any striking list. However, players at FC Bayern could face tougher times ahead, as this is customary in competitive sports. The bubbling transfer speculations regarding Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, and others will continue undeterred. The challenge that lies ahead for Vincent Kompany in his maiden major coaching position will be revealed in the impending months, as he's "proud but also determined to get started now." Perhaps, Munich could finally return to the tranquility it has been lacking for so long.