Vincent Kompany and Manchester City have announced that the club captain will leave the club in the summer with his contract expiring.
There is no doubt that Vincent Kompany will go down as a club legend at Manchester City. He signed for around £7.5 million in 2008 and from there the Belgian has gone on to win four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups.
Kompany has captained the club to easily their most successful period in history and on Saturday was part of the team that won an unprecedented domestic treble when they beat Watford 6-0 in the FA Cup final.
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The Belgian's future at the Etihad Stadium was unknown, with his contract coming to an end in the summer, and now he' announced that he'll be leaving. In a Facebook post Kompany wrote:
"Dear all,
Community Shield Winners!
Back 2 back League Cup Winners!
Back 2 back Champions of England!
FA Cup Winners!
We've just seen the close of an incredible season.
My 11th as a Blue.
And I cannot believe I'm writing this but ... also my last as a Blue.
Countless of times have I imagined this day, after all, the end has felt nearby for so many years.
It still doesn't feel real.
Man City has given me everything.
I've tried to give back as much as I possibly could.
How often does someone get the chance to end such an important chapter, representing a club with such great history and tradition, in such a great fashion?
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The time has come for me to go now.
As overwhelming as it is, I feel nothing but gratefulness.
I am grateful to all those who supported me on a special journey, at a very special club.
I remember the first day, as clear as I see the last.
I remember the boundless kindness I received from the people of Manchester.
I will never forget how all Man City supporters remained loyal to me in good times and especially bad times. Against the odds you have always backed me and inspired me to never give up."
Kompany didn't say where his future would take him but did end the 'open letter' by saying there would be a part two shortly explaining what was next.
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In a club statement chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said, "There have been many important contributors to Manchester City's renaissance, but arguably none are more important than Vincent Kompany.
"He defines the essence of the club. For a decade he has been the lifeblood, the soul, and beating heart of a supremely talented squad.
"A booming voice in the dressing room yet a quiet and measured ambassador off it, Vincent can be as proud of himself as we are of him.
"I am not sure he expected to lift the Premier League trophy on four occasions during his captaincy but he will be remembered and revered whenever this period of unprecedented City success is spoken about by future generations."
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For every success City have had, for all the great players that have been in the team, and the excellent managers, it's not too much to say that without Kompany they wouldn't have had much of that success.
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