Bayern boss Vincent Kompany has reflected on his first and only appearance at Celtic Park as a player with Anderlecht in 2003.
Having broken into the Anderlecht team the same season, a 17- year-old Kompany would start at Paradise in November 2003, with Celtic winning the game 3-1 thanks to goals from Henrik Larsson, Liam Miller, and Chris Sutton.
Thirteen years later, Kompany would be sidelined with a groin injury when Manchester City faced Celtic at Paradise in 2016, meaning he missed the 3-3 draw.
For the Belgian, it’s arguably one of the biggest games of his managerial career tomorrow night in his first season at Bayern Munich. Having previously managed Burnley, it will be a game where, if he loses, his managerial pedigree will be questioned.
With the former Manchester City defender revealing just how tough he found his Celtic Park debut in 2003 as a young defender.
He said: (Kicker), “That was one of the loudest away games I’ve ever had in my career.”
For Kompany, a return to Celtic Park as Bayern boss in the knockout playoffs will be a game where he knows exactly the sort of attacking threat the Hoops bring.
With Celtic unbeaten at home this season in Europe and across all competitions, Brendan Rodgers has brought the Hoops back to their former European glories, with Paradise once again considered a fortress.
The Belgian will likely have studied every one of Celtic’s Champions League games against German opposition this season, with the defeat against Dortmund in Germany being the Hoops’ worst performance and the win against RB Leipzig at Celtic Park their best.
He has therefore likely seen what Celtic can do when they’re at their best at Paradise under the lights.
