Joe Hart has spoken highly of a player who “rose up” and took things by the scruff of the neck during the “storm” that was Manchester City under Roberto Mancini.
The Roberto Mancini era at Manchester City helped pave the way for Pep Guardiola’s current dynasty, but it was not exactly plain sailing.
For instance, BBC Sport reported in 2013 that Mancini was sacked because of his ‘poor communication and relationships with players and executives’.
Joe Hart has now discussed what life was like at Man City during the Mancini era as he spoke of one player who made the most of the chaos.
Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany of Manchester City line up prior to kickoff during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match between Manchester City FC and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on April 26, 2016
Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Vincent Kompany ‘rose up’ at Manchester City during Roberto Mancini era
Hart spoke on the Footballers Unfiltered podcast on FIFPRO alongside St Pauli and Australia ace Jackson Irvine.
The duo spoke about captains and, unsurprisingly, Vincent Kompany was right up there among the best who Hart has played alongside.
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“I had Vincent Kompany with me at Manchester City,” said Hart.
“He came over from Hamburg and I think he was only 20 when he signed for Manchester City.
“And he came in and he’s a very knowledgeable guy, intelligent guy, huge presence. And he was different and he wasn’t afraid to be different.
“He was really, really set on being himself. And during a period where at Manchester City, things got a bit wild. There was a lot of money coming in.
“There was a lot of good players, a lot of brilliant players, a lot of people. We had quite a volatile coach in Mancini who wasn’t afraid to clash with people. And it was all just kind of a bit of a storm.
“And we were doing well, but that was the only thing that was holding us together.
“And then Vincent just kind of rose up, put himself on the line, took the captaincy. But that was a really interesting, really interesting part of my career.”
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Vincent Kompany’s Manchester City career
Kompany joined Man City from Hamburg in 2008, the Citizens reportedly paying just £6million for his services.
He went on to make 360 appearances for City over an 11-year spell, registering 20 goals, 10 assists, becoming captain, and winning a multitude of trophies.
Kompany lifted four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and two Community Shields during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
Mark Hughes, the City manager at the time, recalled when he brought Kompany to the club that year.
“We sat down and talked and if I’m honest, City weren’t as easy to sell to players at that time because nobody knew what was happening behind the scenes or the possible future that lay ahead,” Hughes told the official City website.
“I just felt the club was going places and told Vinnie we needed players like him to get us there and move the club forward.
“I told him the ambition was to be the best team in the Premier League and Vinnie got it very, very quickly and he wanted to be part of that project… the rest is history.”