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Kompany's Recovery Will Take Weeks After Collapse
Confirmed
In Short: Eberl confirmed that the coaching staff is not considering any changes and will continue to support Kompany's spirit throughout the recovery process.
Bayern Munich's head coach Vincent Kompany will need weeks to recover after collapsing at the club's training ground on Friday, according to the club's director of sport Max Eberl.
Kompany, 40, remains in a stable condition in the hospital, with examinations continuing to determine the exact nature of his condition.
Eberl emphasized that Kompany needs to be protected from himself, suggesting that the recovery period will not be measured in days but weeks.
The former Manchester City and Belgium defender had been battling an illness over the past few weeks, which led to his collapse during training.
Eberl questioned whether the club should have put the brakes on Kompany earlier, given his recent health issues.
Despite Kompany's absence, Bayern Munich remains joint top of the Bundesliga after four wins from their opening six games.
Kompany's assistant Aaron Danks has spoken with the Bayern boss in hospital and will take over as the interim coach for Sunday's Bundesliga match against Freiburg.
Eberl stated that the best way to help Kompany recover would be for the team to play well and secure a positive result in his absence.
The club's second team's game was postponed on Friday after Kompany's collapse, but Eberl said they did not consider postponing Sunday's match.
Eberl added that all football operations will continue as a team effort to keep the club moving forward.
Kompany had led Bayern Munich to the 2022-23 Championship title and was unable to keep Burnley in the Premier League before taking over at Bayern in May 2024.
The club's priority is to ensure Kompany's full recovery, with no immediate plans for a return to coaching.
What this adds
The extent of Kompany's illness and the specific cause of his collapse have not yet been fully determined.
What's confirmed
- Bayern Munich are joint top of the Bundesliga after four wins from their opening six games as Vincent Kompany attempts to lead them to a third consecutive title Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany needs "protecting from himself" and will take weeks to recover after collapsing at the club's training ground on Friday, said the club's director of sport Max Eberl.
- "We need to firstly figure out what it is and then we'll discuss calmly what the recovery time is to be. We won't be talking about days, but weeks. We need to all be clear on that."
- "All the football operations are in our hands and we'll work together as a team to keep the club moving forward."
What's still developing
- "Vinnie will be given that time [now], and we'll continue to try, even more than before, to protect him from himself." Kompany spent 11 years at Manchester City as a player, winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups, before going into management with Burnley.
- "The fact is, we protect our coach wherever we can," he said.
- He left to take over at Bayern in May 2024 and has led them to successive Bundesliga titles.
- Thankfully, Eberl confirmed Kompany is stable and communicating, but the sporting director expects this to be the start of a lengthy recovery process that may keep Kompany out of action for the foreseeable future.
- "Vinnie will be given all the time he needs. We're not starting to put together any timeframes," said Eberl.
- “That would probably be one of the best things we could do to help him recover.” Danks confirmed Germany captain Joshua Kimmich, who has been on bereavement leave since Tuesday, would also miss Sunday’s game.
- “I caught a pretty nasty virus last week, and of course, I didn’t listen to my body, and then at some point, my body just said, ‘Enough is enough!'” The defending champions sit on top of the Bundesliga table before Sunday’s game, one point above Freiburg.
- Kompany returned to the dugout for Wednesday’s home clash against Arsenal despite missing the pre-match news conference due to the virus.
- Speaking after the Arsenal game, Kompany said his body reacted after he tried to push through the illness.
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