Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany is in stable condition after collapsing on Friday, with assistant Aaron Danks stepping in to lead the team.
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany remained hospitalized in stable condition on Saturday after collapsing on the training pitch on Friday, Al Jazeera reported. The 40-year-old manager is receiving treatment for a virus and is expected to miss an extended period while medical staff run tests.
What happened on the pitch
Kompany collapsed while watching Bayern’s second team train on Friday, according to BBC News. The club postponed the second team’s fixture later that day, though officials decided against asking to reschedule Sunday’s senior league match.
Bayern Director of Sport Max Eberl told reporters at a Saturday news conference that medical examinations are continuing to establish the full nature of the problem. Eberl made clear that the club won’t rush the former Belgium and Manchester City captain back to the dugout, explaining that setting a recovery timetable must wait until tests conclude. “We won’t be talking about days but weeks. We need to all be clear on that,” Eberl said.
Illness before the collapse
Kompany had already been dealing with illness earlier in the week. He caught a virus that forced him to miss Tuesday’s pre-match news conference ahead of a Champions League game against Arsenal. Even so, he returned to the touchline to manage the team for Wednesday’s home match against the London club.
After the Arsenal match, Kompany acknowledged that he had tried to push through the illness and said his body gave out when he failed to rest. Eberl addressed that choice on Saturday, questioning whether the club should have stepped in sooner to stop him. Eberl said Bayern works to protect its manager, but added that individuals also carry responsibility to know when to pause. He described Kompany as a hard worker who tends to ignore physical warning signs until they worsen, adding that the club will ensure he gets the necessary time to rest.
Aaron Danks takes charge
English assistant coach Aaron Danks will guide Bayern from the sidelines for Sunday’s Bundesliga away match against Freiburg. Danks handled Saturday’s pre-match media duties and said he spoke briefly with Kompany on Friday. He explained that the call was strictly personal to check on Kompany’s wellbeing, without discussing any tactical plans.
“All the football operations are in our hands, and we’ll work together as a team to keep the club moving forward,” Danks said.
Bayern will also play without Germany captain Joshua Kimmich on Sunday. Kimmich has been away from the squad on bereavement leave since Tuesday. Eberl said the team wants to secure a win at Freiburg because a strong performance on the pitch would be the best way to help Kompany recover.
What comes next for Bayern
Bayern sits atop the Bundesliga standings heading into Sunday’s game, holding a one-point lead over Freiburg. The defending champions have won successive league titles under Kompany, who took charge in May 2024 after coaching Burnley to the 2022-23 English Championship title. As a player, Kompany spent 11 seasons at Manchester City, winning four Premier League trophies, two FA Cups and four League Cups.
Following the trip to Freiburg, Bayern travels to Spain for its next European fixture, facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on November 3.
