Nedum Onuoha introduced Vincent Kompany to his future wife, sat through the years of courtship and a growing family, and was not given a single seat at the wedding, Footynaija.com reports.
Onuoha, who was born in Nigeria but committed to England at senior level, came through the Manchester City academy and was already an established presence in the squad when Kompany arrived in 2008. The two defenders formed a natural bond at the heart of City’s backline in what was a partnership that extended beyond football.
However, the story of how Kompany met his wife, Carla Higgs, did not begin in Manchester but in Hamburg. Onuoha had heard of the Belgian centre-back while he was still at the German club and travelled to watch him play.
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Kompany, who currently serves as manager at German outfit Bayern Munich, lined up at number ten that day, impressed, and the two spent some days together before Kompany eventually made his move to City.
When Kompany settled in Manchester, Onuoha wasted no time. He introduced Kompany to a friend of his in the city named Carla Higgs, a lifelong Manchester City fan. The introduction worked rather well. Kompany and Carla married in 2011 and went on to build a family together.
The matchmaker, however, received no formal acknowledgement of his contribution on the day it mattered most.
‘He took everything from me’
Speaking on the topic with characteristic dry humour, Onuoha talked about how he feels about the arrangement.
“I introduced him to his wife. We’ve been friends for years. Married, kids! Did I get invited to the wedding? No, I didn’t. He took everything from me,” he said.
Onuoha’s own City career ran parallel to Kompany’s rise. He was a composed, technically gifted defender who came through the academy and captained the club at various points, before moving on loan to Sunderland in 2010 and eventually leaving permanently for Queens Park Rangers.
Kompany, of course, went on to become one of the most decorated players in the club’s history, lifting four Premier League titles and serving as captain for a successful era in City’s existence.
