Vincent Kompany Pays Moving Tribute to Ricky Hatton: “He Touched Everyone’s Life in Manchester”

Manchester United and City have long been divided by colours, trophies, and tribal loyalties, but on hearing the news of Ricky Hatton’s death, the city stood united in grief. Among the most poignant tributes came from former Manchester City captain — and current Bayern Munich manager — Vincent Kompany, who hailed Hatton as a true icon whose impact transcended football, boxing, and even sport itself.

“Ricky Is Hard to Explain”

Speaking to German journalists, Kompany admitted that words could scarcely capture Hatton’s influence. “Ricky is such a difficult thing to explain,” he said. “If you’ve been in Manchester, that’s when you understand how big Ricky was.”

To make his point clearer for those outside the city, Kompany drew a comparison to Germany’s own footballing icon. “For the German journalists, he’s like Thomas Müller for Munich, but from another sport,” Kompany explained. “I can’t remember a single major event for Manchester City where he hasn’t been present or at the centre of it.”

Kompany’s words underscored the unique position Hatton held. Though a world champion boxer, he was as much a part of Manchester’s cultural fabric as he was of its sporting history.

A Rare Figure in Manchester

Perhaps most striking was Kompany’s reflection on how Hatton managed to earn respect across both sides of the city’s bitter football divide. “He was respected on both sides as well, which is not easy in this part of the world,” he said.

Hatton’s deep ties to Manchester City were well-known. He was a lifelong supporter, seen regularly at the Etihad, even carrying the club’s flag into the ring before some of his biggest fights. Yet United fans also admired him — for his grit, his humour, his working-class authenticity, and his ability to represent Manchester to the wider world.

It is that universal respect, Kompany suggested, that makes Hatton’s passing particularly hard to bear. “Obviously it was devastating news. I can’t think there isn’t a single Mancunian that did not spend the whole day talking about it, calling the family, just because he had an impact on everyone’s life.”

A Fighter and a Friend of the City

Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton was one of Britain’s most successful and best-loved boxers. His relentless style in the ring, combined with his humility outside it, endeared him to fans across the country and beyond. At his peak, Hatton drew tens of thousands of travelling supporters to Las Vegas, where his fights turned into festivals of Mancunian pride.

But for Hatton, home was always Manchester. He remained rooted in Hyde, his hometown, and never lost touch with his local roots. Whether celebrating victories or coping with personal struggles, Hatton was always one of the people.

For Kompany, this connection between boxer and city was unbreakable. “He had an impact on everyone’s life,” the Belgian reflected. “It’s sad and my thoughts are with the family, with the loved ones. I hope out of this that a lot of people will remember the great things he did for the town.”

A City in Mourning

Hatton’s passing has sparked an outpouring of tributes from across the sporting world. Former opponents, fellow fighters, footballers, and ordinary fans alike have taken to social media to share memories and express their sorrow. Many of the messages echo Kompany’s sentiment: that Hatton was more than a boxer — he was Manchester’s adopted son, a man who gave a voice and a sense of pride to its people.

In pubs, gyms, and on the streets of Hyde and beyond, stories are being told once again of Hatton’s humour, his generosity, and his refusal to forget where he came from. For many, the memories of watching him walk to the ring draped in City colours, “Blue Moon” echoing around packed arenas, remain as vivid as ever.

Kompany’s Own Place in Manchester

That Kompany, now far from Manchester in his role with Bayern Munich, should speak so movingly is testament to how Hatton bridged divides. The Belgian defender himself is revered as one of City’s greatest ever captains, a leader who delivered four Premier League titles and lifted the club from perennial underachievers to English football’s dominant force.

His recognition of Hatton’s role, and his decision to place the boxer alongside football icons like Müller, reflects just how integral Hatton was to the city’s identity. Both men, in their own ways, embody what Manchester holds dear: resilience, loyalty, humour, and heart.

Remembering the Hitman

As Manchester mourns, Kompany’s tribute may serve as a guiding reminder of what Hatton represented. He was not perfect, and his struggles with mental health and addiction were well-documented. Yet in a way, those battles only deepened the public’s affection for him.

For Mancunians, Ricky Hatton was never just a fighter in the ring — he was a neighbour, a mate, someone who could be found laughing in the pub or standing on the terraces. His triumphs were theirs, and so too were his struggles.

In the words of Kompany: “I hope people will remember the great things he did for the town.”

It seems certain they will.