Vincent Kompany is returning to the Hanseatic city for the first time since leaving Hamburger SV.
“This remains a special story for me,” said Vincent Kompany before returning to his old place of work: “It wasn’t just the HSV, but really life in Hamburg. I think everyone who lived there feels what a special city it is. That remains.”
Kompany misses his first chance to return to HSV
It was clear to the Belgian how important he attached to his time at Hamburger SV, even though he left the club in 2008 after two years with unpleasant noises surrounding his transfer to Manchester City for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Now the coach of FC Bayern Munich is returning to the Hanseatic city on an official mission for the first time since his departure. He was unable to take advantage of his first and only chance to play again as an active player at the Volksparkstadion. He was missing from the first leg of the 2008/09 UEFA Cup quarter-final between HSV and ManCity.
Reversed signs for Kompany and HSV
Kompany was only fit again for the second leg in Manchester, but he couldn’t prevent the Skyblues from being eliminated despite a 2-1 win against his old club. An unthinkable scenario today.
So now the renewed meeting between Kompany and the Rothosen. While City was still considered an upstart and HSV an established force at the time, things have changed for Kompany. The 39-year-old dominates at will with FC Bayern, while HSV is trying to regain a foothold in the Bundesliga after seven years in the second division.
Kompany warns against away game in Hamburg
Kompany knows the power that the diamond can develop. “When HSV is stable and calm, I also felt in my time what huge potential there is. This is a big club. Normally, when they appear healthy and stable, then this is a team that should be at the top in Germany,” said the four-time English champion.
Given this, he doesn’t expect an easy game for his Bayern team when they take to the pitch in Hamburg on Saturday at 6.30 p.m. “I expect a team that fights for the points, that knows that now is an important phase in the season and that also has the belief at home that something can happen,” warned Kompany before the second “North-South summit” of the season.
Kompany nostalgia: “We already had a great team”
Despite all his caution, he briefly fell into nostalgia shortly afterwards when he was asked about his old teammates at HSV.
“We had a great team at the time, I have to say. It was Jerome Boateng, (Rafael, editor’s note) van der Vaart, Nigel de Jong. Who else was there? Paolo Guerreiro, Guy Demel. (Timothée, editor’s note) Atouba was always funny. Frank Rost in goal. It was a great time, a great team. I actually only played for HSV for two years, but from the feeling “I remember these two years better than two years ago because it was just a great time,” enthused Kompany.
Kompany wants to “experience my best time with Bayern”
Any doubts about a diminished will to win before the away game at 14th in the table. the Bayern coach immediately dispelled – despite all the good memories. “The main reason I’m here is because I want to have the best time with Bayern. And that’s why I just want to win tomorrow,” he announced.
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Source: BR24 January 30, 2026 – 3:35 p.m
