Kompany given hero’s welcome on Anderlecht return.. but Man City legend loses first game as player-manager

VINCENT KOMPANY got a hero’s welcome on his Anderlecht return — but went on to lose his first competitive game as player-boss.

Fans unveiled a huge banner in honour of the Manchester City legend reading: “He left as a prince, he returned as a king”.

Anderlecht went ahead early on against KV Oostende through new signing Michel Vlap.

The Dutchman thought he had doubled his tally only for VAR to rule out his second.

But Kompany’s royal reception — at the club who gave him his pro debut back in 2003 — blew their lead in minutes and lost 2-1.

Kompany, 33, started himself at centre-back but could not stop the visitors’ late winner.

A powerful header from the former City skipper himself at a set piece near the end of the game saw Anderlecht come close to an equaliser but the danger was cleared by the Oostende defence.

He brought on former City team-mate Samir Nasri from the bench on 60 minutes but the Frenchman made little impact in his first appearance in Belgian football.

Kompany called time on his 11-year City career to return to Anderlecht this summer.

The defender has signed a three-year deal as player-manager in an attempt to restore Belgium's most successful club to their former glory.