Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has been taken to hospital after collapsing while watching the club’s reserve team train on Friday.
The 40-year-old had been suffering from a virus and missed Bayern’s pre-match news conference on Tuesday before their Champions League meeting with Arsenal. However, the former Manchester City and Belgium defender was on the touchline for Wednesday’s match.
Reports in Germany say Kompany is in a stable condition. Bayern said he received medical attention after collapsing during the session and would remain in hospital for further examinations.
“Vincent Kompany required medical attention after collapsing during an FC Bayern reserve team training session on Friday,” the Bundesliga club said.
“The first-team head coach was watching the second string’s session.
“Kompany is undergoing thorough examinations in hospital and will remain under medical care.
“His coaching staff will oversee training and match activities until further notice.”
Bayern are due to play Freiburg in the German top flight on Sunday.
“Vincent Kompany’s health is our top priority. We at FC Bayern will do everything we can to ensure his speedy recovery,” sporting director Max Eberl said.
“Vinnie is receiving all the necessary medical care and support, and all the time he needs.
“His coaching team, in whom we have complete confidence, will take over his duties. All of us at FC Bayern wish Vinnie a speedy recovery.”
Aaron Danks, one of Kompany’s assistants, led Bayern’s pre-match news conference before the Arsenal fixture.
German football journalist Taufig Khalil told BBC Radio 5 Live that Kompany had been “suffering with the virus for about a week”.
He said the illness had first become apparent during Bayern’s match against Leipzig last Saturday.
“The thing started last weekend on Saturday against Leipzig, and that’s the first time we saw Vincent Kompany [when] he didn’t look very well,” Khalil said.
“He didn’t do the press conference after, and Max Eberl told us that he’s suffering with a virus.
“Everybody was really surprised that Vincent Kompany was standing there with his black jacket in the pouring rain of Munich on Wednesday night against Arsenal. Everybody expected Aaron Danks to be there.
“The problem was that maybe you couldn’t bench Vincent Kompany, the game was too important for him.”
Khalil added that a helicopter landed at Bayern’s training ground during the incident, but Kompany was taken to hospital by medical car rather than by air.
“Bayern Munich just told us that he’s in stable conditions. There was a helicopter involved in the whole thing, which landed on the training ground at Bayern Munich, but he was not brought into the hospital by helicopter. They brought him with a medical car and he will be now there.”
Kompany left Burnley to become Bayern manager in May 2024, succeeding current England manager Thomas Tuchel. He had guided Burnley to the Championship title in 2022-23, although the club were relegated from the Premier League under him the following season.
He has led Bayern to the German top-flight title in the past two seasons and took them to the 2025-26 Champions League semi-finals, where they were beaten by eventual winners Paris St-Germain.
Kompany spent 11 years as a player at Manchester City, winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups.
“Everyone at Manchester City is wishing a speedy recovery to our former captain and club legend, Vincent Kompany,” City said. “Get well soon, Vinny.”
Burnley said: “Everyone here at Burnley FC sends our best wishes to Vincent and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
