Vincent Kompany tipped to bring glory days back to crisis club Anderlecht by their defender James Lawrence

VINCENT KOMPANY has been tipped to bring the glory days back to Anderlecht.

Belgium’s most successful club suffered a horror season and failed to qualify for Europe for the first time in 56 years after a sixth-placed finish in the Jupiler Pro League.

That prompted the shock appointment of Manchester City legend Kompany as player-manager on May 19, less than 24 hours after he lifted the FA Cup.

But Anderlecht defender James Lawrence believes the 33-year-old rookie boss can lead his boyhood club – with 34 Belgian league titles to their name – back to the top.

The Wales ace told SunSport: “We hope so. For the club it has been a disastrous season, one of the worst seasons in the club’s history.

“But the news has given everyone a buzz. He’s a club legend and he’s done so much in football.

“We know he loves the club and we saw him when he visited the training ground for a day a few months back but we didn’t think anything of it.

“We hope it will be an injection of someone new and who was at Anderlecht during the glory days.

The news has given everyone a buzz. He’s a club legend and he’s done so much in football.

James Lawrence on Vincent Kompany

“Vincent was the captain of Manchester City and a true leader, he’s got heart and passion and that’s important. He will bring that to the team and it’s a massive boost for us.”

Kompany’s decision to swap Pep Guardiola‘s domestic treble-winners for a return to his homeland left Anderlecht’s players initially stunned – and confused.

But there is genuine excitement among the under-performing squad, who found out about the appointment to replace Fred Rutten just hours before their 2-1 loss at Gent.

Lawrence added: “We were all at the team hotel preparing for the game. It was a big discussion point for the team.

“We were a bit confused. We weren’t sure whether he will be a player-manager or a manager so there were a few questions about it.

“I’m expecting him to be with us on the pitch and also leading the sessions at the training ground. With his status, everyone is very excited.”

IN GOOD KOMPANY

Kompany plans to continue playing with City academy coach Simon Davies also making the move to Brussels.

Now Lawrence may have to fight for a place in the side alongside his new boss, named in Belgium’s squad for their summer Euro 2020 qualifiers.

But the 26-year-old, who has been with Ryan Giggs in Lagos, Portugal for a six-day training camp with Wales as they prepare for an away double-header against Croatia and Hungary next month, aims to learn from Kompany’s vast experience.

Lawrence said: “He’s a hero to all centre-backs so for him to come in, be our manager and impart his wisdom on the team is really exciting.

“He knows all about defending and how to be a centre-back. I’m really excited to see what he will bring and what kind of manager he will be.

“Will he bring Pep’s tactics or will he have methods of his own? I’m really curious.

“You never know how many games he will play. I see it as a new manager coming in and trying to prove myself to him and cement my place in the starting line-up rather than thinking it’s someone coming in to take your place and be worried about it.

“I’m looking forward to working with him as an individual with one-on-one advice. Hopefully he will bring something new to my game.”