Vincent Kompany became a legend at Manchester City during his playing career, and a return to the Etihad Stadium could soon be on the cards.

Manchester City are quietly preparing for one of the biggest moments in their modern history, a moment many fans hoped would never come. Inside Premier League circles, inside boardrooms, and inside the Etihad itself, there is a growing belief that Pep Guardiola’s incredible journey at Manchester City is slowly reaching its final chapter. After close to a decade of dominance, innovation, trophies, and emotional highs, the Spaniard is widely expected to step away at the end of the season. Nothing has been officially announced, nothing has been confirmed publicly, but the signs are there, and City are not waiting to be caught unprepared.

Sources have revealed that Manchester City have already begun laying the groundwork for life after Guardiola. Quiet conversations have taken place, feelers have been sent out, and names have been discussed at the highest level of the club. This is not panic. This is not disrespect. This is planning. When you are a club built on long-term vision, you prepare early, especially when the man you are replacing is arguably the greatest manager in your history.

At the very top of City’s list, above all other candidates, sits a familiar and deeply emotional name. Vincent Kompany.

For many at Manchester City, Kompany is not just a former player. He is not just a legend. He represents leadership, identity, resilience, and belief. He was the captain who stood tall during the club’s rise from contenders to champions. He was the defender who scored the goal that broke barriers and sealed titles. He was the voice in the dressing room, the calm in the storm, and the standard everyone else followed.

Now, years after leaving the pitch, Kompany has emerged as Manchester City’s number one target to replace Pep Guardiola.

This is not a sentimental choice driven only by nostalgia. City’s hierarchy, led by chairman Khaldoon Mubarak, see Kompany as a manager who understands the club’s DNA from the inside out. He knows what Manchester City stand for. He knows the pressure. He knows the expectations. And most importantly, he has already proven himself at the highest level of European football.

The belief that Guardiola could leave has been growing for months. The 55-year-old has given everything to the project. He has transformed City into a machine of precision football, dominating England and conquering Europe. He has redefined how football is played, how players are developed, and how teams are built. But Guardiola has always been a manager who values cycles. He rarely stays beyond the point where he feels he has given everything. At Barcelona, at Bayern Munich, and now at City, the pattern has been the same.

Internally, there is a sense that Guardiola may feel this cycle is complete. The hunger is still there, but the toll of constant pressure, scrutiny, and expectation is immense. City understand this. They respect it. And they are preparing accordingly.

Preliminary talks have already been held with several potential successors. Enzo Maresca is one of the names that surfaced. Maresca, who worked under Guardiola at City and learned closely from him, was recently sacked by Chelsea. Before his dismissal, he reportedly informed Chelsea that he had spoken to representatives of Manchester City and Juventus. That revelation alone shows how active City’s planning has been behind the scenes.

Another name attracting serious interest is Xabi Alonso. The former midfield maestro has impressed greatly since stepping into management, and his recent departure from Real Madrid has only increased speculation about his next move. Alonso is admired for his intelligence, calm authority, and tactical clarity. He is seen as a manager with a modern mindset and elite pedigree.

Yet, despite the appeal of Maresca and Alonso, it is Kompany who stands above them all in City’s thinking.

The challenge, however, is enormous. Kompany is currently the manager of Bayern Munich, one of the biggest clubs in world football. Convincing Bayern to let him go, and convincing Kompany himself to walk away from such a powerful position, will not be easy. Some insiders believe it may be almost impossible.

But Manchester City believe they have one key advantage. Kompany’s emotional connection to the club.

Kompany is not just linked to City by history. He is tied by loyalty, pride, and unfinished emotional business. He captained the club through its most important years, lifting multiple Premier League titles and setting standards that still define the squad today. The Etihad was his home. The fans were his people. The club’s rise was his story too.

That emotional pull is something no other club can offer.

Pep Guardiola himself often speaks about Kompany with immense respect. During his time at City, Guardiola leaned heavily on Kompany’s leadership, intelligence, and professionalism. In many ways, Kompany was an extension of Guardiola on the pitch. He understood the game deeply, commanded respect naturally, and communicated ideas clearly.

It is no surprise, then, that many inside the club see Kompany as a natural successor.

Guardiola’s legacy at City is overwhelming. His record speaks louder than any words ever could. He turned City into serial winners. He brought Champions League glory. He built a style of play that dominated opponents not just physically, but mentally. Under Guardiola, City became the benchmark for excellence in England and Europe.

Replacing someone like that is not just about tactics. It is about presence, authority, and belief. City want a manager who can walk into the dressing room and command instant respect. Kompany can do that without saying a word.

His managerial journey so far has been fascinating. He began his coaching career at Anderlecht, learning the realities of management early. He then took on the Burnley job, where he impressed with his philosophy and bravery. In his first season, he led Burnley to promotion to the Premier League, earning praise across England for his attacking approach and commitment to developing players.

Despite Burnley’s immediate relegation, Kompany’s reputation did not suffer. Instead, it grew. Bayern Munich saw something special in him. They saw a leader, a thinker, and a modern coach who could guide the club into a new era.

Winning the Bundesliga is always the minimum expectation at Bayern. The pressure is relentless. Every match is scrutinized. Every decision is debated. Yet Kompany rose to the challenge, delivering the league title in his first season in charge. That achievement alone placed him in elite company.

Statistically, his record compares impressively with Guardiola’s own time at Bayern. Guardiola ended his Bayern spell with a win percentage just over 80 percent. Kompany currently sits slightly below that, around 75 percent. For a manager still early in his career, operating under intense pressure, those numbers are remarkable.

Manchester City are watching closely. They are not just looking at results. They are studying how Kompany handles pressure, how he manages star players, how he communicates, and how he adapts tactically. Everything matters.

There is also a belief that Kompany understands City’s structure better than any external candidate. He knows the club’s hierarchy. He knows how Khaldoon Mubarak operates. He knows the importance of long-term planning, youth development, and playing philosophy. This alignment is crucial.

At the same time, City are aware of the risks. Appointing a former club legend can be dangerous if not handled correctly. Sentiment alone cannot carry a club at this level. But City believe Kompany has already proven that he is more than just a name.

While managerial planning dominates the headlines, there have also been significant player-related stories surrounding Guardiola’s final months. One such story involves Oscar Bobb. Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson revealed that Bobb “burned bridges” with Guardiola before completing his move to Fulham during the January transfer window.

City received £27 million for the Norwegian winger, a player who had struggled to maintain momentum after several serious injuries. According to Borson, there was a breakdown in the relationship between Bobb and Guardiola. Guardiola, known for his strict standards and intolerance for unresolved issues, rarely allows such situations to linger.

Bobb had been at City since early in his youth career. His move to Fulham marked his first professional transfer, closing a chapter that many once believed would end with long-term success at the Etihad. The situation highlighted Guardiola’s uncompromising nature and his belief in discipline and commitment above all else.

These internal dynamics further fuel the sense that change is coming. Guardiola is not a manager who clings on for comfort. When relationships strain, when cycles end, he moves on.

For City fans, the idea of Guardiola leaving is painful. He is not just a coach. He is an era. But there is also excitement in the idea of Kompany returning, this time in a suit rather than a captain’s armband.

The vision of Kompany walking out at the Etihad as manager, hearing the roar of the crowd, and leading a new generation of players is powerful. It feels like continuity rather than disruption. It feels like City protecting their identity while embracing evolution.

Still, nothing is guaranteed. Bayern Munich will fight to keep Kompany. Other elite clubs are watching him closely. The timing must be right. Guardiola’s decision must be final. And Kompany himself must feel ready to take on the biggest job of his life.

For now, Manchester City wait, plan, and prepare. Behind closed doors, conversations continue. Scenarios are mapped out. Futures are debated.

One thing is clear. If Pep Guardiola does leave Manchester City at the end of the season, the club want a successor who understands not just how to win, but what it means to be Manchester City. In Vincent Kompany, they see a man who embodies that idea completely.

The next chapter is coming. Whether Kompany is the one to write it remains to be seen. But in the corridors of power at the Etihad, his name is spoken louder than any other.