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To make the transition from talented youth prospect to a top-level professional, a player will need plenty of qualities, not least talent, dedication and luck.
What also helps is having elite influences to help guide and shape your young career.
For Jeremy Doku, the journey from Anderlecht’s academy to the Manchester City first team has been made possible by two of the key figures in City’s recent history in Vincent Kompany and Pep Guardiola.
Doku on working with Vincent Kompany
Doku’s professional career began at Anderlecht, with Kompany’s arrival as a player-manager a key part in his development.
“Vincent Kompany came to Anderlecht, first as a coach and also as a player,” Doku recalls to FourFourTwo. “Playing next to him, him giving me passes… he was a legend for City, so it was a privilege.”
Although Kompany would step down as boss to focus on playing for one more year, he hung up his boots in 2020 to concentrate exclusively on management during Doku’s final few months with the club.
“He taught me a lot,” Doku continues. “When he was my coach, he reminded me a lot of Pep. I’m not surprised he’s been so successful at Bayern Munich.”
Doku made his Belgium debut as an 18-year-old when he was still playing under Kompany. A late substitute appearance against Denmark in the National League was followed by a start against Iceland, in which he scored in a 5-1 win.
For Doku, playing alongside the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku was a dream.
“It was crazy, because you watched them play on TV, then suddenly you were sitting next to them,” he explains.
“I was one of the youngest there, but I always had the mentality that, ‘I’m young, but I want to prove to you guys that I deserve to be here.’
“That’s what I did in training and I think I impressed them. Then, against Iceland, Kevin gave me an assist and I scored a nice goal.
“I fitted in quite well.”
