Manchester City great Vincent Kompany has left his post as Anderlecht head coach amid reports linking him with the vacant manager's position at Burnley.
Kompany returned to Anderlecht – whose academy he was a graduate of – in 2019 in a player-manager capacity as the club looked to rebuild, though he soon switched focus to playing duties.
A year later, in August 2020, he was appointed as the club's head coach after bringing his playing days to a close.
Anderlecht could only finish as high as fourth in the 2020-21 Belgian Pro League season, before ending the 2021-22 campaign third.
Although Kompany signed a four-year deal in 2020, he leaves the club having failed to win Anderlecht a first league title since 2016-17, with Club Brugge winning four out of a possible five.
Anderlecht insisted Kompany's departure was a "mutual" decision.
A statement read: "The club and the coach have analysed the past season and discussed the plans for the future. The two parties have decided to part ways in mutual consent. This decision was taken with a lot of mutual respect and gratitude for everything that has been achieved together.
"The club wishes Vincent Kompany all the best in his further career as a coach. He was, is and will remain an icon of the club and will always find a home at Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht."
Kompany added: "Today only one feeling prevails: I am proud that I was able to start this new chapter at the club of my heart.
"I have now been a player and a coach of RSC Anderlecht, but above all I remain a loyal fan."
Widespread reports earlier on Wednesday suggested Kompany has already secured his next job, with a move back to English football seemingly on the cards.
Burnley brought Sean Dyche's 10-year tenure to an end in April as they looked to stave off relegation from the Premier League.
Caretaker manager Mike Jackson initially inspired an improvement, but it was not enough as they ultimately dropped back to the second tier for the first time since 2015-16.
Chicago Fire v LA Galaxy: Joveljic eyeing top spot as visitors target nine-point week
Dejan Joveljic has his eyes on the Western Conference summit as LA Galaxy bid to make it a nine-point week on Saturday, when they face the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.
The Galaxy have won back-to-back games against Houston Dynamo (2-1) and FC Dallas (3-1) and sit second in the West, just two points behind Real Salt Lake.
Greg Vanney's team have now lost just one of their last nine matches (four wins, four draws), but Joveljic wants even more, starting in Chicago.
"We would like to win four or five games in a row," the forward said. "But first, we have to win three and then we will see. We are in second place, so it's good, but it could be better.
"In the playoffs, I would like to start with the first game at home. So, that means we have to be in the top four teams but, of course, our top goal is to be first."
Chicago, meanwhile, are winless in nine MLS matches (four draws, five defeats) following their 1-1 draw with Orlando City on Wednesday.
Only the New England Revolution, with seven points, sit below them in the Eastern Conference standings. However, boss Frank Klopas has seen signs of improvement.
"I think in these last two games, we've changed how we wanted to play. We haven't got the wins, but I feel we're improving as a team," he said.
"There's a big belief in the group, but there's also frustration, for sure. There are a lot of emotions because of where we are.
"We have to keep going. It's great that we're playing on Saturday again, it's going to be a great crowd, and we have to come out with the same attitude against Galaxy."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chicago Fire – Hugo Cuypers
Cuypers scored the Fire's goal in their draw with Orlando on Wednesday.
The Belgian forward has now either scored (four) or assisted (one) five of Chicago's last nine MLS goals.
LA Galaxy – Riqui Puig
While Gabriel Pec assisted Joveljic for Galaxy's first goal on Wednesday, Puig scored the third (Joveljic netted the second from the penalty spot).
At least one of Pec or Puig have been involved in 12 of the Galaxy's last 13 non-penalty goals in MLS, including the last nine in a row.
MATCH PREDICTION – LA GALAXY
Galaxy are unbeaten in six straight MLS matches (two wins, four draws), including winning their last two in a row.
This is LA's 18th two-match winning streak since the start of the 2021 season, but Galaxy have not won three straight matches in all competitions since a four-match streak between August and September 2020.
Galaxy have a great chance to achieve that feat this week, though, with Chicago winless in nine league games. They have gone 10 or more consecutive matches without a victory in a single regular season three times before, most recently between April and May 2022.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chicago Fire – 32.9%
LA Galaxy – 41.5%
Draw – 25.6%
Mexico 1-0 Bolivia: Experimental El Tri boost Copa America preparations with narrow win
A youthful Mexico stepped up their Copa America preparations with a narrow 1-0 victory over Bolivia in Chicago.
Efrain Alvarez's second-half strike proved enough for El Tri, who fielded eight debutants at Soldier Field.
Two of those debutants went close early on; Ricardo Monreal heading against the bar and Ettson Ayon testing Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe, while Ramiro Vaca fired over for the visitors later in the half.
However, the hosts did find the breakthrough within two minutes of the restart, as Monreal squared for Alvarez to control and finish.
El Tri, who will face Ecuador, Jamaica and Venezuela in Group B at the Copa America, will play Uruguay and Brazil before the tournament begins on June 20.
Data Debrief: Mexico maintain Bolivia dominance
Mexico are now unbeaten in each of their last 10 meetings with Bolivia, winning nine and conceding just two goals during that span.
A 3-1 reverse at the 1997 Copa America represents El Tri's only defeat in this fixture.
Real Salt Lake v Austin FC: Mastroeni says fortune favours the brave
Pablo Mastroeni believes Real Salt Lake's mindset has been the key to their long unbeaten run, which they will look to extend to 13 matches when they host Austin FC on Saturday.
RSL made it 12 MLS games without defeat in dramatic circumstances on Wednesday, as Andres Gomez scored nine minutes into stoppage time in a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders.
Salt Lake remained two points clear of LA Galaxy at the top of the Western Conference with what was their third straight comeback, following a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rapids and a 3-3 draw at FC Dallas – who had led by three goals.
"I think one of the things we pride ourselves on is being a team that shows a strong mindset," Mastroeni said this week.
"You can use it in all aspects of life, it's five per cent what happens to you and 95 per cent how you react.
"Unfortunately, in the last few games, we've found ourselves on the wrong side of the scoreline, and it's really easy to put your head down when things aren't going your way.
"There's this belief within the group that, regardless of what's happening, we're going to stay in it, we're going to keep our heads and not quit. Fortune favours the brave."
Austin are seven points behind RSL in fifth, though their momentum has stalled in recent weeks.
Since recording back-to-back wins over Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City, Josh Wolff's team have played out a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes and been beaten 2-0 by the Portland Timbers.
To make matters worse, that latter match saw forward Sebastian Driussi suffer an injury that is expected to keep him out for several weeks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Salt Lake – Andres Gomez
Gomez has contributed to at least one goal in five straight league matches, becoming the second Real Salt Lake player to do so this year after Cristian Arango (six).
This is the first time since 2016 (Joao Plata and Yura Movsisyan) that multiple RSL players have had a run of five or more games with a goal contribution in the same season.
Austin FC – Gyasi Zardes
Zardes' importance could be heightened after Driussi suffered a muscle injury during Austin's midweek loss.
He is yet to score in 16 MLS appearances this season, though only three have been starts.
MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN
The visiting side won both meetings between Real Salt Lake and Austin last season, including a 2-1 win for the Verde at America First Field in March.
The six regular-season meetings between the sides have been split evenly, with each team winning three times.
However, RSL are favourites here, having gone unbeaten in 12 straight league games to equal the second-longest streak in their history.
Since the start of 2019, the Sounders are the only MLS team to record a longer run, going 13 unbeaten to start the 2021 campaign.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Real Salt Lake – 60.3%
Austin FC – 18.9%
Draw – 20.8%
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