"Sports was the only thing that made me realize that you're not defined by the color of your skin, but by the color of your shirt. We were in teams with players from all conceivable backgrounds, and yet we had a common goal and stood for values that society would like to see more of."
"My mother worked for Actiris, the employment agency in Brussels, for twenty years. She gathered her children together and explained that statistically, because of our name or skin color, we had to work twice as hard to get a job. We used that hard, double work as a strength, as something that could make us better."
"For me, the core of a society is to give diverse, isolated communities that lack opportunities a sense of connection. Through sports, you meet people from different cultures. I found that very tangible."
Vincent Kompany, Bayern Munich head coach, spoke at the 2026 European Employment & Social Rights forum about how sports shaped his life and perspective on diversity. Growing up in Brussels, one of the world's most multicultural cities, Kompany learned that identity comes from shared values and team membership rather than ethnicity. His mother, working in employment services, taught him that individuals from minority backgrounds must work twice as hard to succeed professionally. Kompany emphasizes that sports creates tangible connections between people from different cultures and backgrounds. He views young people facing similar struggles as versions of himself and advocates for creating opportunities that help diverse communities achieve their dreams while building societal connection.
Read at Bavarian Football Works
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