It can be so easy for injuries to derail careers. Who knows what was going through Bayern Munich U-23 right back Vincent Manuba’s mind during the 2024-25 season, but it was probably not happy. Having suffered a meniscus injury at the start of the season that kept him out for over two months, he briefly returned to play and then promptly suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in November of 2024. It was a lost year for the 20-year-old, who missed not only the rest of the season but the first
three months of the season, as well. Finally he made his comeback against TSV Aubstadt in the Regionalliga Bayern on Saturday, October 18, starting and managing to play 45 minutes.
Four days later, he was in the senior matchday squad as Bayern hosted Club Brugge in the Champions League.
In an interview with Bayern’s official website, Manuba went over the struggle to return to fitness and the experience of a lifetime on Wednesday evening. But first, he had to address the fact that he has the same first name (and nickname) as senior team head coach Vincent Kompany:
Interviewer: Hi Vinnie, what do you and your namesake Vincent Kompany have in common?
“A difficult question to start with. I’m someone who always gives my all and puts my all into it. Commitment and determination are also core values that Kompany wants to convey to the team. Besides, I’m a defender, so was he (laughs) .”
You shared a brief moment on the pitch before the game. What did he tell you?
“He asked me when I last played with the first team on a matchday. I told him: 2024 at the training camp at Tegernsee. We both had to laugh – a friendly against Rottach-Egern and a Champions League match in a sold-out Allianz Arena are two completely different things. He then told me to just enjoy this big moment and soak it all in.”
Was this conversation one of your highlights of the day?
“It’s difficult to pick a specific moment. I’m just incredibly grateful that I was able to experience it all – from the nomination to the walk-on into the stadium. I’ve been here many times, as a spectator or ball boy, but experiencing it all from this perspective was indescribable. I’ve never experienced anything comparable and I’ll certainly never forget it. The jersey will definitely have a special place.”
When did you find out about your nomination?
“After the first team training, I wanted to do my runs because I thought I had the next day off and would be training with the amateurs again on Thursday. Then René Marić came to me and said I could skip the runs—if nothing unusual happened, I was 99.9 percent in the matchday squad. I was overjoyed, of course, but I wanted confirmation before I could really get excited. When the confirmation came that evening, it was an incredible feeling.”
How long were you able to keep it to yourself?
“Not that long (laughs) . I told my parents and my brother. They were thrilled, especially because they know exactly what I’ve been through in the last few months. They were there when I first injured my meniscus and later my cruciate ligament. When I recently told them that I was now training regularly with the pros, they congratulated me. But to say I was in the Champions League squad – that was something completely different.”
How do you look back on the time of your injuries today?
“I was training with the pros, everything was going well – and then I tore my cruciate ligament. That hits you hard because you know what lies ahead. The process is long and depends on many factors: How does your body react? How is rehab going? When will you regain confidence in yourself? These questions immediately pop into your head. My family and friends helped me enormously back then, not to sink into that whirlpool, but to stay positive.”
How did the rehab go?
“Fortunately, it was very positive. I had no setbacks and was able to return to the pitch as planned. The most important thing was regaining confidence in my body. Finally being back on the pitch with the guys was a huge step. While I was injured, I watched a lot of games – but watching others do what you miss the most is difficult. That made it all the more wonderful to be part of the team again.”
‘Come back stronger’ is a common saying in cases of serious injuries. Would you agree?
“Definitely. I’ve become more mentally stable and learned to persevere. Rehab is tough training and often painful. You have to do movements you’re not confident about at first – but you do them anyway, and that’s exactly what keeps you going. In the end, you just push through.”
Against Aubstadt, you were in the starting lineup for the first time in 343 days.
“I was incredibly excited about this game because I knew early on that I was finally going to be able to start again. I played in a rather unfamiliar position [on the wing] – the first half wasn’t perfect – but it was important to get some playing time again. In the end, we won the game as a team, not through beautiful football, but through commitment and determination. That’s exactly what sets us apart, and we want to build on that on Saturday against Illertissen.”
Bayern Munich is steamrolling into the week and is scorching hot.
Hotter than hot.
Blazing hot.
However you want to put it, the Bavarians are riding high and playing better than they have at point since 2020. This has truly been a fun ride to watch, but it is far from over. In the midst of all of that, we have a ton of news going on and a lot of it (hell, all of it) is positive at this stage.
Let’s get into all of it here. This is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show:
- After extending the deal of Vincent Kompany, is there a contract extension at Bayern Munich for Manuel Neuer? The process might be starting.
- Nick Woltemade could be looking at a long-term future at…Bayern Munich? Why the timing could actually work out for the Newcastle United star to return to Germany when the time is right.
- A listener Q&A segment
- Wrapping up HBO’s Task.
Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @2012nonexistent, @TommyAdams71 and more.
