With Vincent Kompany’s side recently promoted to the Premier League, here is everything you need to know about Burnley FC heading into the 2023-24 Premier League season.
What do you get when you mix the inspirational Belgian who captained Manchester City to four Premier League titles and a student at the Pep Guardiola school of football and a Burnley side desperate for fresh ideas following relegation?
One of the most exciting teams in recent Championship history.
Under Kompany’s tutelage, Burnley strayed heavily from the pragmatic DNA imprinted during Sean Dyche’s reign to become a thrilling, attacking side who blew the English second division away. They put the ball in the back of the net 87 times last season on their march to 101 points.
With Kompany adamant he doesn’t want to put a ceiling on the height Burnley can reach following promotion, here’s everything you need to know about the Premier League’s familiar new boys.
The lowdown on Burnley
Prior to relegation in the 2021-22 campaign, Burnley had spent six consecutive seasons in the topflight, with their only other Premier League season occurring in 2014-15.
Nicknamed The Clarets, the club was founded in 1882 by members of a local rugby union team desiring a shift to the beautiful game. 140 years on and they’ve re-joined the Premier League after a single season absence.
The Manager
VINCENT KOMPANY
Even the most casual Premier League fan will know Kompany as the defensive lynchpin who anchored Manchester City’s defence throughout the 2010s. At 37, he is one of the youngest managers in the top division, but his youth doesn’t not indicate a deficit of experience.
In two years at Belgian behemoth Anderlecht, Kompany guided the club to consecutive third place finishes, runners-up in the Belgian Cup, and the play-off rounds in the Conference League.
His brief managerial career has seen him emulate the possession-heavy football which brought him success. The Clarets’ performances last season perfectly exemplify this modus operandi.
The potential he’s exhibited in his brief managerial career led Burnley’s chairman, Alan Pace, to draw comparisons between having Kompany as manager and “dating the most beautiful girl in town and knowing there’s probably no chance she’ll ever marry you.”
His experience, as player and manager, will be necessary, as Burnley look to emulate last season’s promoted trio – Bournemouth, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest – and avoid relegation the season after promotion.
Style of play
Having grown synonymous with pragmatic football throughout the Dyche era, Kompany discarded the Burnley playbook within weeks of taking over. Instead, he opted to ingrain free-flowing, modern football into the side’s DNA.
Inverted fullbacks, 4-2-3-1, and exciting football have become staples of Kompany’s Clarets. They led the Championship in possession (64%) and goals, while ranking third in shot creating actions (1,091).
On the other side of the ball, Burnley pressed intensely, only allowing opponents 10 passes before they won the ball back or committed a similar defensive action.
Notable players
Jordan Beyer, Josh Brownhill, Manuel Benson
Germany under-21 international, Jordan Beyer, recently made his loan from Borussia Monchengladbach permanent. In 30 games last season, the versatile defender was involved in 14 of Burnley’s 21 clean sheets, winning over 65% of his duels and making over two tackles and two clearances per game.
Josh Brownhill started 41 games, scoring seven goals and laying another eight on for teammates. A member of Burnley’s recently relegated side, the central midfielder’s previous Premier League experience will be invaluable in ensuring the 2021-22 failings aren’t replicated.
Only Nathan Tella, who’s loan from Southampton is yet to become permanent, scored more than Belgian winger Manuel Benson’s 11 last season. The right winger was Burnley’s second most efficient dribbler last season, but will need to improve his creativity if his side is any chance of maintaining its Premier League status.
Home ground
TURF MOOR
Fans will be familiar with the cosy and intimidating Turf Moor. The 22,000-seated has serviced the club since 1883, making it the second-longest consecutively used football ground in England.
