Bayern coach Kompany stays in hospital, return not expected before late November

Collapse at training and hospital stay

Vincent Kompany, 40, collapsed on Friday, 23 October, at the edge of training for Bayern's second team. Die Welt reports he hit the ground before convulsions followed, and a club doctor reached him first, followed by a rescue helicopter and an ambulance. The Bayern coach was then taken to hospital, where he has a single room in an area not open to the public. Club officials including Herbert Hainer, Uli Hoeneß and Max Eberl visited him over the weekend. Die Welt says he followed his side's 3-1 Bundesliga match against SC Freiburg from his hospital room and showed no visible signs of worry.

What doctors are examining

Bild, as reported by Focus and 7sur7, says doctors are concentrating on a possible problem of brain origin. The same report says Kompany suffered convulsions after he collapsed. Focus adds that a stroke and a heart attack were quickly ruled out during the first examinations. Bayern has not released any diagnosis, and Focus reports that medical examinations are continuing. Die Welt describes a neurological illness that has affected the coach for several months and can cause absences and epileptic seizures, but the club has not confirmed that account.

Return timing and the assistant coach's update

Focus, citing Bild, reports that Bayern internally rule out Kompany's return for the games against Dortmund, the Champions League match at Atletico Madrid and the match against Mainz on 7 November. An international break follows, and Kompany could return once it ends, a timing Focus's headline places in late November. On Tuesday, 27 October, assistant coach Aaron Danks, who is standing in on the touchline, gave an update at the press conference before the cup tie. He said he had visited Kompany on Monday, 26 October.

“I briefly visited Vincent yesterday, he is in good spirits. It looks like it gets better every day.”

Danks said the conversation was friendly and avoided football and tactics, and that Kompany asked how the players were doing. He added that the coach is calm and taking all the time he needs to recover.

“He is very calm and is taking all the time he needs to recover.”

Cup tie without key players

Bayern face 1. FC Magdeburg, a second-division side, in the second round of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, 28 October, with kick-off at 20.45. Joshua Kimmich will miss the match because he is with his family after the sudden death of his father. Jamal Musiala is out with a thigh injury. Die Welt also reports that Manuel Neuer (tendon irritation in the foot) and Aleksandar Pavlović (calf problems) were unavailable for the Freiburg match. Internally, the club is reportedly invoking a motto of defiance, roughly meaning all the more now, dedicated to those who cannot play. Danks is expected to lead the team from the touchline in Kompany's place.