Vincent Kompany is one of the world's top defenders. He is captain of both English Premier League club Manchester City and the Belgian national team. But at the moment Kompany has got other things on his mind apart from football ...
Vincent Kompany is one of the world's top defenders. He is captain of both English Premier League club Manchester City and the Belgian national team. But at the moment Kompany has got other things on his mind apart from football ...
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... Notably the fragile political situation in Europe after the terror attacks in Paris.
... Notably the fragile political situation in Europe after the terror attacks in Paris.
CNN
Kompany says he did not sleep for three nights after the attacks in the French capital.
Kompany says he did not sleep for three nights after the attacks in the French capital.
CNN
The Manchester City defender grew up in the Brussels district of Uccle, which is not far from the suburb of Molenbeek -- where it emerged the terrorist attacks in Paris were planned.
The Manchester City defender grew up in the Brussels district of Uccle, which is not far from the suburb of Molenbeek -- where it emerged the terrorist attacks in Paris were planned.
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Brussels remains at the center of investigations that an ISIS terrorist cell working in the area carried out the attacks.
Brussels remains at the center of investigations that an ISIS terrorist cell working in the area carried out the attacks.
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Armed police have been stationed on the streets of Brussels with the city on high state of alert.
Armed police have been stationed on the streets of Brussels with the city on high state of alert.
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Kompany's father was a political refugee from Zaire and his mother was a trade union leader.
Kompany's father was a political refugee from Zaire and his mother was a trade union leader.
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Kompany's father Pierre, moved to Belgium from Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, after protesting against the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko.
Kompany's father Pierre, moved to Belgium from Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, after protesting against the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko.
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Kompany's passage to the top of European football hasn't been an easy one. After securing his first overseas move, to German side Hamburg, the commanding central defender suffered what he describes as the pivotal moment in his life.<br />"Within my first year of moving abroad living on my own, my sister got ill -- she got cancer -- and at the same time my mum got cancer and she passed away," he told CNN's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F07%2F01%2Ffootball%2Fvincent-kompany-manchester-city-belgium-football%2F">Human to Hero</a> series in July.
Kompany's passage to the top of European football hasn't been an easy one. After securing his first overseas move, to German side Hamburg, the commanding central defender suffered what he describes as the pivotal moment in his life.
"Within my first year of moving abroad living on my own, my sister got ill -- she got cancer -- and at the same time my mum got cancer and she passed away," he told CNN's Human to Hero series in July.
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Kompany, who is married to Mancunian born Carla Higgs, has three children. He says he would have little problem in bringing them back to Brussels if he was ever to return to the city.
Kompany, who is married to Mancunian born Carla Higgs, has three children. He says he would have little problem in bringing them back to Brussels if he was ever to return to the city.
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Kompany, moved to Manchester City in 2008 from Hamburg, married Carla in 2011.
Kompany, moved to Manchester City in 2008 from Hamburg, married Carla in 2011.
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Kompany has become an international ambassador for the charity SOS Children's Villages.
Kompany has become an international ambassador for the charity SOS Children's Villages.
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The 29-year-old Kompany began his career at storied Belgian team Anderlecht, where he established himself as one of the most promising defenders in Europe having grown up just a few miles away from the club.
The 29-year-old Kompany began his career at storied Belgian team Anderlecht, where he established himself as one of the most promising defenders in Europe having grown up just a few miles away from the club.
YVES BOUCAU-ETIENNE ANSOTTE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Kompany appointed his sister, Christel, as chairwoman of BX Brussels after buying FC Bleid-Molenbeek in 2013. The team is used as a way of bringing people together in the Belgian capital.
Kompany appointed his sister, Christel, as chairwoman of BX Brussels after buying FC Bleid-Molenbeek in 2013. The team is used as a way of bringing people together in the Belgian capital.
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The defender told CNN's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F07%2F01%2Ffootball%2Fvincent-kompany-manchester-city-belgium-football%2F">Human to Hero</a> series in July he would never fall for the trappings of fame on offer for soccer stars. "I always said to my mother, 'The richer I get, the better it is for a lot of people, so don't worry about it.'
The defender told CNN's Human to Hero series in July he would never fall for the trappings of fame on offer for soccer stars. "I always said to my mother, 'The richer I get, the better it is for a lot of people, so don't worry about it.'
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People lit hundreds of candles for the victims of the Paris attacks at the Place de la Republique. Similar tributes were carried out across France and the rest of the world.
People lit hundreds of candles for the victims of the Paris attacks at the Place de la Republique. Similar tributes were carried out across France and the rest of the world.
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Kompany is not the only high-profile to speak out about the Paris attacks. This week <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F11%2F24%2Ffootball%2Fzlatan-ibrahimovic-paris-terror-attacks-psg%2Findex.html">Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic told CNN</a> that he was happy to remain in the French capital despite the November 13 attacks. "It's not like it was before," added Ibrahimovic. "But we still need to go on. We cannot give up here. We go on and we do what we need to do."
Kompany is not the only high-profile to speak out about the Paris attacks. This week Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic told CNN that he was happy to remain in the French capital despite the November 13 attacks. "It's not like it was before," added Ibrahimovic. "But we still need to go on. We cannot give up here. We go on and we do what we need to do."
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English and French football fans united at Wembley Stadium just four days after the attacks on Paris. The friendly game, which England won 2-0, was preceded by a rendition of "La Marseillaise" which was sung by both home and away supporters.
English and French football fans united at Wembley Stadium just four days after the attacks on Paris. The friendly game, which England won 2-0, was preceded by a rendition of "La Marseillaise" which was sung by both home and away supporters.
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Kompany made his international debut for Belgium against France in 2004, aged 17. Ten years later, he led Belgium to their first World Cup for 12 years.
Kompany made his international debut for Belgium against France in 2004, aged 17. Ten years later, he led Belgium to their first World Cup for 12 years.
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Kompany and Belgium exited at the quarterfinal stage after defeat by Argentina at the 2014 World Cup.
Kompany and Belgium exited at the quarterfinal stage after defeat by Argentina at the 2014 World Cup.
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Kompany has twice won the English Premier League with Manchester City and is set to play for Belgium at Euro 2016 in France.
Kompany has twice won the English Premier League with Manchester City and is set to play for Belgium at Euro 2016 in France.
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