Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, five days after collapsing at the German team’s training facility, club officials announced.
The 40-year-old Belgian tactician took ill on Friday while observing a practice session for Bayern’s reserve squad at the club’s Säbener Strasse headquarters, according to sporting CEO Max Eberl. Medical personnel rushed Kompany for treatment, and team executives confirmed he has now returned home to begin his rehabilitation.
“He was discharged from the hospital today. That’s the biggest and best news for all of us,” Eberl said on German broadcaster ARD prior to Bayern’s cup match on Wednesday.
Diagnosis and Preceding Illness
Eberl clarified that physicians diagnosed Kompany with meningeal irritation, which medical reference platform ebm.one describes as inflammation of the protective membranes encasing the brain and spinal cord without the full clinical traits of meningitis, GOAL reported.
“They have found what it is: It’s meningeal irritation that caused this incident on Friday,” Eberl said, as reported by GOAL. “I am very, very sure that he will soon be back on the sidelines at 100 percent.”
Before his collapse, Kompany had publicly acknowledged struggling with his physical health. Following a 2-2 Champions League draw against Arsenal, the manager told the German newspaper Bild that he had contracted a severe virus and pushed through his symptoms against his body’s signals. Kompany had also been coping with a hip injury that restricted his movement, often keeping him confined to the dugout bench during recent matches against RB Leipzig and Arsenal.
Interim Leadership and No Rushed Timetable
Assistant coaches Aaron Danks and Rene Maric have stepped in to direct the senior squad while Kompany recovers. The interim staff oversaw a 3-1 league victory over Freiburg on Sunday and guided Bayern to a 6-1 rout of second-tier Magdeburg in the German Cup on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.
Speaking after Wednesday’s cup triumph, Danks noted that the coaching staff has not established a firm deadline for when Kompany will return to work.
“It’s obviously a really positive step in his road to recovery,” Danks said, as reported by the AP. “He gets to settle back at home now, be closer to his family, be closer to his home comforts but it’s still really important that he takes his rest and he recovers.”
Danks added that club doctors will supervise Kompany’s progress closely and determine when it is appropriate for him to resume his duties, stating that Kompany’s overall health remains the organization’s highest priority.
The team celebrated another milestone Wednesday before kickoff, as players formed a guard of honor for forward Harry Kane after he collected the Ballon d’Or on Monday, USA TODAY reported.
What Happens Next
It remains unclear how long Kompany will be sidelined as he rests and takes prescribed medication. Eberl emphasized that Bayern intends to evaluate his condition day by day to avoid unnecessary pressure.
In the meantime, Danks and Maric face a demanding schedule. Bayern hosts rival Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in Der Klassiker, with both teams locked at 17 points at the summit of the Bundesliga standings. Just three days later, the German giants travel to Spain for a crucial Champions League showdown against Atletico Madrid.
