Stoke City boss Mark Hughes is delighted for Vincent Kompany over his success at Manchester City.
Hughes signed Kompany when City manager.
"The first time I saw him live was in a friendly against Blackburn when I was manager there and we toured Germany. He's a big physical specimen and you think 'he looks the part but can he play?'. Very quickly you see that he can. Looking back it was a no-brainer with the price Hamburg were quoting."
He is not surprised at how the 27-year-old has gone on to become the Blues' captain and chief trophy-lifter.
"He's an absolute winner and drives others on," he told the Manchester Evening News. "I quickly learned he was a leader in the dressing room."
