Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has been taken to hospital after collapsing while watching a training session involving the club’s reserve team on Friday, October 23, prompting the German champions to place his coaching staff in charge of training and match preparations until further notice.
The 40-year-old Belgian was undergoing medical examinations and would remain under medical care, Bayern Munich confirmed in an official statement. The club did not disclose a definitive diagnosis or specify when he might return to his coaching duties.
Kompany had been watching the FC Bayern reserve side train when he collapsed and required medical attention. The incident occurred after he had recently been dealing with a viral infection that had affected his availability for training and media duties earlier in the week.
The club said Kompany was receiving the necessary medical attention and that his health remained its primary concern. Bayern’s board member for sport, Max Eberl, said the club would give the manager the support and time he needed to recover.
“Vincent Kompany’s health is our top priority,” Eberl said, adding that the coaching team would take over his responsibilities in the meantime.
The incident comes after a difficult week for the Bayern manager, who had been recovering from a viral illness. Despite the health setback, Kompany was on the touchline for Bayern’s UEFA Champions League encounter against Arsenal on Wednesday, when the sides played out a 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena. He had also missed some training sessions and a pre-match press conference because of his illness.
Bayern are scheduled to face SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday, October 25. With Kompany temporarily unavailable, his coaching staff will oversee preparations and match-related operations. The club has not confirmed whether he will be fit to return for that fixture.
Kompany joined Bayern Munich in 2024 after managing Burnley in England. His appointment followed a successful playing career as a defender, during which he captained Manchester City and won multiple Premier League titles.
Since taking charge in Munich, he has led Bayern through a rebuilding period as the club seeks to maintain its domestic dominance and compete for European honours. His absence, even temporarily, comes at a busy point in the season, with domestic and continental fixtures placing demands on the squad.
Bayern have not provided further details about the cause of Friday’s collapse. While some reports have described his condition as stable, the club’s official statement has focused on his ongoing medical examinations and care.
The club and its supporters will now await further updates as Kompany receives treatment. For the moment, Bayern’s priority is his recovery, with the coaching staff assuming responsibility for the team until further notice.