عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Bayern’s Kompany Ready to Catch Some Z’s After Bundesliga Title Win 

Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany attends a press conference prior to the UEFA Champions League Second Leg football match Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen on March 10, 2025. (AFP)
Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany attends a press conference prior to the UEFA Champions League Second Leg football match Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen on March 10, 2025. (AFP)
TT
20
TT

Bayern’s Kompany Ready to Catch Some Z’s After Bundesliga Title Win 

Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany attends a press conference prior to the UEFA Champions League Second Leg football match Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen on March 10, 2025. (AFP)
Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany attends a press conference prior to the UEFA Champions League Second Leg football match Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen on March 10, 2025. (AFP)

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany wants nothing more than a good night's sleep after his team won the Bundesliga title last week with two matches left to play.

The Belgian, in his first season at the club, said the constant preoccupation with the next match during the season did not really allow him to really enjoy the simple pleasures.

"Sleep, really sleep," Kompany said in a club interview when asked what he was most looking forward to after the title win.

"You constantly have the pressure of the next game. You achieve something but then you have to start building for the next achievement."

It was by no means an easy domestic season for Bayern and Kompany, with the club facing stiff competition from last year's champions Bayer Leverkusen, who also eliminated the Bavarians in the German Cup.

Bayern were also eliminated by Italy's Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals.

"Sometimes you have these moments with the family during the year, but then your head is somewhere else," Kompany said.

"Now in the next few weeks I will leave some of that behind. But you can only do that after winning."

Most Viewed

 
Sports

Gattuso Named New Italy Coach after Spalletti Sacking

Marseille's head coach Gennaro Gattuso walks during a warm up before the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Metz at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (AP)
Marseille's head coach Gennaro Gattuso walks during a warm up before the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Metz at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (AP)
TT
20
TT

Gattuso Named New Italy Coach after Spalletti Sacking

Marseille's head coach Gennaro Gattuso walks during a warm up before the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Metz at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (AP)
Marseille's head coach Gennaro Gattuso walks during a warm up before the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Metz at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (AP)

Gennaro Gattuso was named Italy's new coach on Sunday and will be tasked with helping the Azzurri qualify for the 2026 World Cup after replacing Luciano Spalletti.

The 47-year-old was part of the 2006 World Cup-winning side and won 73 caps for the national team as a player.

The Italian football federation (FIGC) said Gattuso would be presented to the media on Thursday.

"Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football," said FIGC president Gabriele Gravina.

"The blue shirt is like a second skin for him. His motivation, his professionalism and his experience will be essential.

"(He is) aware of the importance of the objective we want to achieve. I thank him for the total dedication with which he has accepted this challenge."

Four-time champions Italy have failed to qualify for the past two World Cups and started their bid to reach next year's tournament in North America with a 3-0 loss to Norway last week.

Gattuso is an experienced coach and was last in charge of Croatian club Hajduk Split, helping them qualify for next season's UEFA Conference League.

His other former clubs include AC Milan, for whom he made 468 appearances as a player, Napoli, Valencia and Marseille.

Italy are next in action in Group I of qualifying with games against Estonia and Israel in September.

Spalletti was sacked after the Norway defeat, and Monday's win over Moldova was his last match in charge.

Italy missed out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia after losing a play-off to Sweden and then also failed to qualify for the 2022 finals in Qatar, suffering a shock exit from the play-offs at the hands of North Macedonia.

Gattuso has had a mixed coaching career since retiring as a player in 2013.

His only major trophy as a head coach was the 2019/20 Italian Cup with Napoli.

He lasted only 22 and 24 matches in charge of Valencia and Marseille respectively, while an announced deal with Fiorentina was rescinded just two weeks before his contract was due to begin in 2021.

According to Italian media, former Italy defenders Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci will join his coaching staff.

Former boss Cesare Prandelli is expected to take over the youth teams.

The FIGC had been turned down by both Claudio Ranieri and Stefano Pioli before appointing Gattuso.