How did Belgian transform Burnley Premier League return the first attempt? Burnley’s promotion from the Championship has long been a matter of when rather than if.
When Vincent Kompany joined the team in the summer of 2017, the club was struggling financially and lacking confidence after being kicked out of the Premier League.
But the former captain of Manchester City has made the Clarets the most dominant team in the second division.
BBC Sport examines how they accomplished it in light of their victory over Middlesbrough, which propelled them back into the spotlight.
Burnley under Kompany underwent a transition
The 36-year-old Kompany spent two years as the manager of the Belgian team Anderlecht before returning to English football. He left by mutual consent at the conclusion of the previous season.
Given that he spent his whole career in England playing for City in the Premier League, some people were surprised by his appearance at Turf Moor. Yet, the appointment proved that Burnley was serious.
How did Belgian transform Burnley Premier League return the first attempt?
The team had to repay a “substantial amount” of a £65 million loan from the American financing business MSD Holdings at the same time as they were demoted to the second division after a disastrous season that saw them relegated from the top flight.
The sales of several senior players, including the transfers of defender Nathan Collins to Wolves, goalkeeper Nick Pope of England to Newcastle, and winger Dwight McNeill to Everton, contributed to that. Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, two longtime defenders, both left on free transfers to join Brentford and Everton, respectively.
Several players from Belgium entered the game, notably the Anderlecht midfielder Josh Cullen and the Charleroi winger Anass Zaroury.
Burnley also used the loan market to get Chelsea fullback Ian Maatsen and Southampton attacker Nathan Tella, while Kompany used his connections at Manchester City to sign goalkeeper Ari Muric and defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
But, it says a lot about Kompany’s leadership style that their financial difficulties have been entirely disguised.
Even if Kompany took some time to gain traction, what should have been again another forgettable campaign has turned out to be quite the opposite.
After defeating Huddersfield in the first game of the year, Burnley went on to draw three and lose one of their following four games, including a tense Turf Moor match against Lancashire rivals Blackpool where they let a 3-1 lead go.
After completely transforming the team under the previous manager, Sean Dyche, into his own vision, Kompany’s team grew stronger and has only been defeated once more in the league thus far this season.
Former Burnley winger Glen Little, who is a member of the BBC Lancashire commentary team, said of the team this season: “They have been amazing.”
“So many changes have been made from the Dyche squad of the previous year, especially with Kompany’s introduction of more than 20 players from a variety of nations they had never before done business with.
“Some of them have almost immediately made an effect, while smart loan additions like Southampton’s top scorer Tella have also been helpful.
“With the adjustments that Kompany has made and the style of play that he has implemented, the club has truly undergone a transformation. Now, observers are praising how enjoyable it is to watch Burnley play.
