Albert Martens in '51' interview: Kompany's teacher

[Original photo unavailable: the source has not permitted this download.]

© Raj Dhunna

'Bayern is the right place for him'

Saturday, 03 October 2026 at 05:01 GMT-4Sat, 03/10/2026, 05:01 GMT-4

Albert Martens coached Vincent Kompany in the RSC Anderlecht academy. In an interview with FC Bayern Magazine 51 , the now 75-year-old describes an extraordinary boy who couldn’t bear defeat – and who he still recognises in the current Bayern manager.

Interview with Albert Martens

Mr Martens, you coached Vincent Kompany when he was 10, 11 years old. Could you already see him as a future coach back then?

“Vincent was certainly always the boss, no matter what team he was playing in. He always spoke his mind, whether you wanted to hear it or not. Belgian television once filmed a feature about the Anderlecht U11s, where he criticised the transfer policy in front of the cameras: the club signed players for a lot of money and hardly gave its own youngsters a chance. I have to say, he argued his case really well. He always found it easy to come up with the right words.”

He seems to find the job of coach easy too. Does his success surprise you?

“Not at all. With players it's like this: you can train good players – but top players are born. Of course they also have to work hard and learn, but they have something that others don’t. It’s exactly the same with coaches. With Vincent I was always sure that he’d be a top coach. He’s intelligent, honest, a good man manager, a winner. And he’ll never say, ‘I’m the best.’ Even if he wins the Champions League, he’ll say, ‘Nice that we’ve achieved that – tomorrow it’s back to work.’”

[Original photo unavailable: the source has not permitted this download.]

It was already clear at Anderlecht: Vincent Kompany is a true leader. | © Raj Dhunna

What was Vincent like after defeats?

“In training we often played 2v2, 3v3 or 4v4 – and when he lost, there were tears. And obviously, it was always the others’ fault – always. The young Vincent was not the easiest character for his team either.”

How did that manifest itself?

“We once played against Molenbeek with the U12s, a team from Brussels. We were really bad in the first half. The only good thing was that it was still 0-0 at the break. Vincent sat in the dressing room and was annoyed with the team. He said: ‘Coach, I think you’ve seen it too: we’re playing really rubbish.’ Then I said: ‘Vincent, I’m very glad that you know you were bad. You can go and shower now.’”

Was he really that bad?

“He was actually the best player! But I had to show him that wasn’t acceptable, that he can’t be such a stinker. I said to the others: ‘We’re three times better than this team here. And if you don’t down them in the second half, that lad’s going to be just as moody. Then you can pack your things, go home and don’t need to come back. Because if you can’t beat this team – what are you doing here at Anderlecht?’”

Vincent will never say, ‘I’m the best.’ Even if he wins the Champions League, he’ll say, ‘Nice that we’ve achieved that – tomorrow it’s back to work.'

Albert Martens

And how did it turn out?

“We won hands down. After the game, Vincent’s father Pierre came to me and thanked me for the little lesson. Vincent was never that disgruntled again after that if his team ever played badly.”

When you watch him now at Bayern, do you still see that boy?

“Yes, I see the little Vincent – and sometimes I even see myself. The way he lives and breathes this job! Bayern is just the right place for him. He has the chance to develop himself there and win trophies. He knows that. I don’t think he’ll go anywhere else in a hurry. Vincent isn’t the type to move clubs just because he can double his salary somewhere else. He’s loyal, like me. I was at Anderlecht for 32 years, and Vincent is very Anderlecht.”

What does “very Anderlecht” mean?

“We spoke to each other a while ago, and he said: ‘I basically encourage them to play the way we used to play at Anderlecht.’ Total football of Johan Cruyff – that’s what we’ve always stood for at Anderlecht. It’s the nicest thing for me to see that there’s still a bit of Anderlecht in his football.”

Excerpts taken from an interview in the October edition FC Bayern Magazine 51.