Vincent Kompany could be the latest former Premier League star to become the boss of an English club.
Mikel Arteta, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney have all entered management in recent years. Kompany did too after exiting Manchester City in 2019.
After enjoying his first year at Anderlecht as a player-coach, he decided to hang up his boots for good in 2020 and focus on management. He has since left the Belgian giants amid reports he could be named as the new Burnley boss following their Premier League relegation.
READ MORE: Man City and Liverpool have debunked trophy myth about great teams
Rooney and Lampard both started their coaching journeys by plying their trade in the Championship. The latter was known for utilising his Chelsea connections at Derby, bringing in the likes of Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori before their big Stamford Bridge breakthroughs.
Kompany may wish to do the same if given the Clarets job. And he has good reason to too. Successes this season have meant that City have lifted a national league title to cup trophy at every age group from Under-16 to Under-23 level.
A number have started breaking through into the first team too, most notably Cole Palmer who follows in the footsteps of Phil Foden. Kompany may wish to look at five other youngsters who could help Burnley back to the top flight.
Liam Delap
The striker has already scored his first City senior goal having netted against Bournemouth in the League Cup last season. Including academy games, Delap netted 30 goals last term and scored eight in 10 Premier League 2 games this time around.
The 19-year-old - son of former Stoke hero Rory - came on as a substitute in City’s 5-0 Champions League win against Sporting Lisbon in February and will be eager for first team action next season.
Luke Mbete
The same applies for Mbete, who featured late on in the goalless second leg against Sporting. The England Under-19 international was frequently named on the bench towards the end of this season after impressive academy performances, and will be yearning for more first team action.
Tommy Doyle
Doyle might be the most likely candidate for a move. The 20-year-old enjoyed a successful second half of the season with Cardiff, who want him back for another year. His campaign at Championship level will be appealing to Kompany after the player notched three goals and assists apiece.
Kayky
The 18-year-old Brazilian is being targeted by the likes of Galatasaray after an eye-catching Premier League 2 season. Kayky scored six times and assisted four more in 12 games, so has demonstrated his capabilities.
Conrad Egan-Riley
The Under-23 captain helped to keep nine Premier League 2 clean sheets this season and is showing promising signs of development. The 19-year-old played right-back in the goalless Champions League tie against Sporting, lasting the full 90 minutes and adding another clean sheet to his tally.
Sign up to our City newsletter so you never miss an update from the Etihad Stadium this season.
