‘He reminded me of Guardiola’: Jeremy Doku on Vincent Kompany’s coaching style

Jeremy Doku has offered a fascinating insight into Vincent Kompany’s coaching philosophy, likening his former boss to Pep Guardiola and explaining why his rise at Bayern Munich comes as no surprise.

Doku, now a key winger at Manchester City under Guardiola, worked closely with Kompany during the Belgian’s first managerial role at Anderlecht. The 22-year-old’s comments shed light on the tactical DNA Kompany inherited from his time at City.

The Anderlecht Connection

When Vincent Kompany returned to Anderlecht as player-manager in 2019, he brought with him a vision shaped by years under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Jeremy Doku, then a teenage prospect, was one of the first to experience that approach first-hand.

Doku recalls that even in training, Kompany demanded a high-pressing, possession-based style that felt strikingly familiar. “When he was my coach, he reminded me a lot of Pep Guardiola,” Doku said. The young winger was immediately struck by the attention to detail and the emphasis on positional play—hallmarks of the Guardiola school.

Despite being a rookie manager, Kompany’s methods were sophisticated. He would stop sessions to correct movements, insisting on patterns of play that mirrored City’s. For Doku, it was an early lesson in elite-level coaching.

The Guardiola Influence

It’s no secret that Kompany absorbed Guardiola’s philosophy during his trophy-laden spell at Manchester City. The central defender was a key lieutenant on the pitch, but he also took mental notes. When he stepped into management, those lessons became the foundation of his own approach.

Doku, now thriving under Guardiola himself, sees the parallels clearly. “I’m not surprised he’s been so successful at Bayern Munich,” Doku added. “The way he thinks about football, the way he prepares—it’s very similar to what I see here at City.”

Kompany’s Bayern side have adopted that same intensity in possession and aggression without the ball. The results have been impressive, with Bayern dominating the Bundesliga and looking dangerous in the Champions League knockout stages.

What This Means for Bayern

For Bayern Munich, landing a manager who channels Guardiola’s philosophy while adding his own leadership qualities is a huge plus. Kompany’s ability to develop young players—something Doku experienced first-hand—also bodes well for a club with a rich history of nurturing talent.

Doku’s endorsement carries weight. He’s not just a former player; he’s one who went on to work with Guardiola directly. His belief that Kompany is cut from the same cloth suggests that Bayern have found a manager who can sustain their modern identity. With a squad full of technical players, Kompany’s Guardiola-lite approach might just be the perfect fit.