Manchester: Defending Premier League champions Manchester City announced they will unveil statues of club legends David Silva and Vincent Kompany in front of the Etihad Stadium ahead of their encounter against Arsenal next weekend. The gesture is to honour the all-time club greats.
A former captain, Kompany served the club for 11 years before he became the player-manager at RSC Anderlecht of the Belgian First Division A where he started his professional playing career. A year later, he announced his retirement from professional football and was presented as Anderlecht’s first team manager.
Kompany, in 2011-12, led City to their first league title in 44 years. Silva left the club last year and returned home to join Real Sociedad. The 35-year-old, who had over 400 appearances for City and more than 60 goals, won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups and five League Cups.
“The decision to honour the three players was based on their unparalleled contribution to the club’s transformation over their combined 31 years at the club,” City said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero, who left City this year after becoming the club’s all-time highest scorer, will have his statue in front of the Etihad next year. The Argentine spent most of his career with the Citizens and scored a whopping 184 goals — the most Premier League goals by a player for a single club. He moved to La Liga and joined Barcelona.
