Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has been discharged from hospital as the club revealed a meningeal irritation was the cause of his collapse at their training ground last week.
The Manchester City legend has been absent from the touchline since taking charge of Bayern’s Champions League draw against Arsenal last week, after collapsing at the training ground five days ago.
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl provided an update on Kompany’s health to German television ahead of their DFB-Pokal tie against Magdeburg.
Eberl revealed Kompany has now been discharged from hospital to continue his recovery at home and that doctors had identified the cause of his collapse.
‘I think that’s the biggest and best news for all of us,’ Eberl told ARD.
‘They have found what it is, it is meningeal irritation that caused this incident last Friday.
Bayern Munich have confirmed meningitis was the cause of Vincent Kompany’s collapse after he was discharged from hospital
‘But he was allowed to go home now and can do his rehab there.
‘For him, rehab means rest and medication. And then I’m very, very sure that he’ll be back on the sidelines at 100 percent very soon.’
If left untreated meningeal irritation can become meningitis.
The meninges are the membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
BILD had reported earlier in the day that doctors had earlier ruled out significant conditions including a heart attack or stroke as being behind his collapse last week.
The German outlet had reported that Kompany suffered a dislocated shoulder when he collapsed while watching Bayern’s Under-23 side and reportedly suffered from seizures.
The 40-year-old was then quickly airlifted to hospital via rescue ambulance.
Early reports suggested that Kompany was recovering from a viral infection that caused problems with old scar tissue in his hip, leaving him in pain and with difficulties climbing stairs.
There had also been some concern over Kompany’s ‘workaholic’ work ethic from club insiders, with some thought to be worried that he was getting too little sleep.
Kompany will continue his recovery at home and is expected to remain off work for weeks
Other concerns included irregular eating habits, and that he has been barely exercising, drinking excessive amounts of coffee, and taking on too much work.
Eberl, however, reiterated that Kompany’s illness had been the cause of his collapse rather than his workload.
‘This is an illness, and that must be kept completely separate,’ Eberl said.
‘This has nothing to do with the pressure we face in the Bundesliga.’
Bayern have reiterated that Kompany will be given the time he needs to recover with his assistant Aaron Danks taking charge of the first team in the meantime.
Danks worked as Kompany’s assistant at Anderlecht before deputising for Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa and Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough.
He then reunited with Kompany at Bayern and is shouldering the responsibility at one of the world’s biggest clubs until the manager is fit to return, which could still be weeks.
Without Kompany at the helm, Danks will oversee fixtures against Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid and Mainz.
But the Bundesliga serial champions have started the season strong and sit at the summit of the domestic top flight.
Shortly after winning the Ballon d’Or, Kompany’s player Harry Kane was optimistic when he stressed that his manager was ‘on the mend’.
Kane said: ‘He actually phoned me, phoned me bright and early at 9am (Monday). I was just out of bed thankfully, so I was able to answer it. But no, he just wanted to wish me all the best, good luck.
‘I asked him how he was doing, he said he feels good, he feels like he’s on the mend. I know he’s the type of character who just wants to be back with the team already.
‘He wants to be out on the training field with us, on the bench with us. But it’s important that he rests, you know? He’s been going through a bit of a tough time with his health recently, and we can hopefully cover it, the staff can cover it.
‘Obviously, he’s not there, but, you know, it will be massive for me to go back to Munich and see him, all the staff, all my team-mates. I’ve spoken about how much this [award] is theirs as well as it is mine. So just to celebrate them a little bit will be special.’
