Mark Hughes’ move to Barcelona, which set a new British transfer record, was just weeks away from happening when Vincent Kompany was born in Brussels on 10 April 1986.
Our captain arrived at the Club back in August 2008 from German side Hamburg and has been a rock at the back ever since he first pulled on the famous sky blue.
Starting his career at Anderlecht in his native Belgium, the 29-year old featured for Paars-wit up until the summer of 2006 when he completed a move to Hamburg.
Vincent’s spell in Germany lasted two years before he made the switch to the Etihad, becoming the third signing of that summer following Jo and Tal Ben Haim to the blue side of Manchester.
Since his arrival, Kompany has made just under 300 appearances in all competitions and picked up two Premier League titles, two League Cup trophies, an FA Cup trophy and the Community Shield.
Our skipper wasn’t alive when Pixar Animation Studios opened in California in February 1986 but he was alive when Edinburgh hosted the 1986 Commonwealth Games between 24 July and 2 August.
So – depending on your age – what do you remember about life in the UK in 1986?
We run the rule over City, English football and popular culture on and around the day he was born…
League Champions
The First Division title was won by Liverpool for the 16th time in their history, with rivals Everton finished the season in the runners-up spot.
Completing the top four were West Ham United and Manchester United, who finished third and fourth respectively.
Three teams were relegated from the top flight of English football and they were Ipswich Town, Birmingham City and West Brom.
Replacing them for the 1986/87 season were Norwich City, Charlton Athletic and Wimbledon with the first of those three being crowned Second Division champions with 84 points from 42 games.
In terms of domestic cups, Liverpool beat the blue half of Merseyside 3-1 in the final to complete the double while Oxford United marked their First Division debut season with a 3-0 victory against QPR to seal the League Cup trophy.
Famous birthdays
Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago, formerly of Real Madrid, shares his birthday with Vincent while legendary full back Roberto Carlos was born on 10 April 1973.
In the entertainment world, actor Steven Seagal (1952), comedian Ed Byrne (1972) and singers Liz McClarnon (1981) and Sophie Ellis-Bextor (1979) all share their birth date with the skipper.
Top 5 songs in the UK in the week
Living Doll – Cliff Richard and the Young Ones
A Different Corner – George Michael
Wonderful World – Sam Cooke
Touch Me (I Want Your Body) – Samantha Fox
Rock Me Adadeus – Falco
Number 1 Box Office film of year
Top Gun
The UK in 1986
1986 was a successful year for television in the United Kingdom with shows debuting and one setting a new audience record.
Game show Catchphrase, hosted by Roy Walker, debuted on ITV on 12 January while Casualty was shown on BBC One for the first time on 6 September.
On Christmas Day 1986, Eastenders set a new record for the highest audience for a British TV drama as the popular show attracted over 30million viewrs as Den Watts served divorce papers on wife Angie.
Elsewhere around the UK, plans to construct the Channel Tunnel were announced in late January while GCSE’s replaced O levels in September of 1986. On 7 October, The Independent published its first ever edition in London.
England reached the 1986 World Cup in Mexico before being eliminated at the quarter final stage at the hands of Argentina.
Diego Maradona opened the scoring with the famous ‘Hand of God’ goal before doubling Argentina’s lead with a magnificent individual effort. Gary Lineker reduced the deficit but the Three Lions couldn’t find an equaliser and Argentina progressed with a 2-1 win.
UK transfer record
Ray Wilkins - £1,500,000 (Manchester United to AC Milan)
World transfer record in year
Diego Maradona - £5,000,000 (Barcelona to Napoli)
Prices in year
Dozen Eggs: 72p
First class stamp: 17p
1kg sugar: 47p
Anniversary
Despite being with the Club for nearly eight years, Vincent has yet to play for City on his birthday. However, he’s come close on numerous occasions, with games being played either side of the 10 April.
In his first season, City lost to his former side Hamburg in the UEFA Cup on 9 April 2009 while in other years, games have been played on 11 April.
In 2010, Kompany featured in the 5-1 win against Birmingham City and then again two years later when he played in City’s 4-0 victory against West Brom.
City
Billy McNeil’s side were preparing for a trip to Norfolk with our Captain was born, with an away game against Ipswich Town on the 12 April 1986.
The game at Portman Road finished 0-0 to make it ten games without a win for City, and that run would continue for the remainder of the season.
The Blues would finish the season in 15th place, just four points above the Tractor Boys, who were relegated to the Second Division.
