Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany will need weeks to recover after collapsing at the club’s training ground, with the German champions’ Director of Sport, Max Eberl, saying the coach must be protected from overworking himself.
Key Highlights
- Vincent Kompany’s recovery will take weeks, not days, says Bayern Director of Sport Max Eberl.
- The 40-year-old remains stable in hospital as tests continue to determine the cause of his collapse.
- He collapsed on Friday while watching Bayern’s second team train, after earlier battling a virus.
- Bayern considered seeking a postponement of Sunday’s Freiburg game but will play.
- Assistant Aaron Danks says the coaching staff will run football operations in his absence.
The 40-year-old former Manchester City and Belgium defender remains in a stable condition in hospital, where medical examinations are continuing to determine the cause of his collapse.
Kompany was taken to hospital on Friday after falling ill while watching Bayern’s second team train.
He had previously been unwell with a virus and missed Tuesday’s pre-match news conference ahead of the club’s UEFA Champions League encounter with Arsenal.
Although he returned to the touchline for Wednesday’s match, Eberl admitted that the club might have needed to intervene earlier to prevent him from pushing himself beyond his limits.
Eberl: ‘Vinnie Will Be Given All The Time He Needs’
“Vinnie will be given all the time he needs. We’re not starting to put together any timeframes,” Eberl said.
He added that the club would first establish the nature of Kompany’s condition before determining the duration of his recovery, stressing that the process would take weeks rather than days.
According to Eberl, Bayern had considered requesting a postponement of Sunday’s Bundesliga fixture against Freiburg, but concluded that playing and securing a positive result could provide a welcome boost for the manager.
Eberl explained that while the club respects its coach’s willingness to work, it must do more to protect him, particularly when he ignores signs that his body needs rest.
“If you don’t listen to the subtle signals your body sends, eventually it will scream out in pain,” he said.
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Danks Takes Charge Of Football Operations
Kompany’s assistant, Aaron Danks, disclosed that he had spoken with the manager in hospital, but deliberately avoided discussing football matters.
Danks said the conversation focused on checking Kompany’s health and ensuring that he was doing well, adding that the coaching staff had taken responsibility for the club’s football operations during his absence.
“All the football operations are in our hands and we’ll work together as a team to keep the club moving forward,” Danks said.
Kompany’s Career At A Glance
Kompany joined Bayern in May 2024 after managing Burnley in England. Although he could not prevent Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League after guiding the club to the Championship title in the 2022-23 season, he has since led Bayern to consecutive Bundesliga titles.
Before moving into management, Kompany spent 11 years at Manchester City, winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups.
Bayern, who are seeking a third consecutive Bundesliga title, have made a strong start to the current campaign and remain joint-top of the league after winning four of their opening six matches.
The club has yet to provide a definitive timeline for Kompany’s return, with his recovery dependent on the outcome of the ongoing medical examinations.
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