Vincent Kompany
File:Vincent kompany.jpg | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Vincent Kompany | ||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Hamburger SV | ||
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 17, 2006 |
Vincent Kompany (born April 10, 1986 in Uccle) is a Belgian football defender, who plays for the German club Hamburger SV and the Belgian national team. He is considered "one of Europe's premier talents"[1].
Kompany won several awards in Belgium when he played for RSC Anderlecht, including the Belgian Golden Shoe and the Belgian Ebony Shoe[1]. Another player, Aruna Dindane, decided to wear the number 27 on his shirt at his arrival at RC Lens in the summer of 2005, in dedication to Kompany (who had the same number at Anderlecht).
In the second half of the 2005-2006 season, Kompany injured his shoulder and decided in favour of an operation, even though it meant he would miss the last couple of months of the competition. The fact that he underwent the surgery and rehabilitation in Lyon fueled strong rumours that French Olympique Lyonnais would become his next team[2]. On June 9, 2006 it was announced though that he was acquired by HSV for a fee of € 8 million to replace his fellow countryman Daniel Van Buyten[3]. He made six Bundesliga starts for the club before suffering an achilles injury in November that ruled him out for the rest of the season[4]; however, he has been selected in a 30-man provisional squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship[5]. Recent reports in the media have linked Kompany with a possible move to Liverpool FC in a € 10 million deal, expected to be concluded before the start of the season.