Manchester City have been the most dominant side in the Premier League over the past 13 or so years, winning eight titles between 2012 and 2024.
But despite this, they haven’t had the reputation that other dynasties have had – one of their neighbours, for instance – when it comes to giving referees a hard time.
Indeed, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has named a Manchester City icon as the easiest player he ever dealt with in his career.
Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images
Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images
And it was interesting – though not all that surprising – when it came to his answer for who was the most apt at the dark arts.
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Mark Clattenburg says Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany was the easiest player he dealt with
Clattenburg took part in a ‘Build a Player’ quiz on the Daily Mail, albeit with a refereeing slant.
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For instance, he was asked about the mouthiest player he has ever had to deal with, and he went with Craig Bellamy – himself a former City man, though just for two years.
Clattenburg effectively answered ‘nobody’ when it came to the funniest player, saying they’re usually all moaning – as opposed to being funny – when something goes against them.
Robbie Keane then got the title of ‘biggest moaner’, before Bellamy got another shout out – that of ‘hardest player to deal with’.
Then came the ‘easiest player to deal with’ column, and Clattenburg named iconic City captain Vincent Kompany – and he didn’t hesitate either.
Finally, when it came to the master of the dark arts, Clattenburg replied: “All of the Manchester United team under Sir Alex Ferguson”.
Vincent Kompany hailed as a ‘true gentleman’
It’s not surprising to see Kompany earn the accolade of the easiest player Clattenburg has had to deal with.
It’s well known that Kompany is a real gentleman, winning plaudits from fans and peers alike.
For instance, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak described Kompany to the club’s media team as a “booming voice in the dressing room yet a quiet and measured ambassador off it” when he left the club.
Kompany was also hailed as a “true gentleman” in 2022 when he went out of his way to meet and greet an elderly Burnley fan who was no longer well enough to go to Turf Moor.
Janet Crowther Hundley, who was shopping in the Clarets store with members of her family, spotted Kompany in another vehicle.
The Burnley Express quoted her as saying: “I said ‘I’m sure that’s Vincent Kompany.’
“He smiled at me so I asked him if he would be kind enough to have a photo with my dad.
“He got out of his car and came over to mine and opened the door and said to my dad ‘Hi, I’m Vincent Kompany.’
“My dad got all emotional and upset but he got out of the car and shook hands with Vincent and told him he had made his day and he wished he was still able to go on the Turf.
“What a true gentleman Vincent Kompany is, he shows it takes nothing to be nice and he made my dad’s day.”