Bayern Munich’s new head coach, Vincent Kompany, has been discharged from the hospital after a sudden collapse at the club’s training ground, the club confirmed on Wednesday. The 40‑year‑old former Manchester City defender was rushed to the hospital last Friday after feeling ill while watching the reserve side train. Doctors diagnosed him with meningeal irritation – an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord – and he has since been released and is reportedly “doing well.”
Bayern’s board member for sports, Max Eberl, told German broadcaster ARD that Kompany’s discharge was “the biggest and best news for all of us.” He added that the coach would now rest and take medication while the club’s medical team monitored his recovery. No exact timetable has been set for Kompany’s return, but the club said it would be a matter of weeks, not days, before he could resume duties in the dugout.
In Kompany’s absence, English assistant coach Aaron Danks has taken charge of the first team. Danks guided Bayern to a 3‑1 victory over Freiburg on Sunday, a result that gave the club a boost as it prepares to face title rivals Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Kompany had been dealing with a virus in the days leading up to his collapse and missed several training sessions. He missed a pre‑match press conference before Bayern’s Champions League game against Arsenal last Tuesday but was on the touchline for the match on Wednesday.
Eberl, speaking before the German Cup tie against Magdeburg, expressed confidence that Kompany would return to the touchline “operating at 100% very soon.” Bayern’s management has not yet announced a replacement for Kompany on a permanent basis, but the club remains focused on maintaining its competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions while the coach recuperates.