Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany faces weeks in hospital

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany is in hospital and will be out for several weeks, the club announced on Saturday.

Sports director Max Eberl confirmed that Kompany's condition is stable. He stated that medical tests are ongoing to identify the specific virus affecting the 40-year-old. Eberl noted that no fixed return date exists because the team must first understand the illness. He described the absence as a matter of weeks rather than days. The club will not set recovery timelines until the diagnosis is clear.

Assistant coach Aaron Danks will lead the team for Sunday's Bundesliga match at Freiburg. Danks spoke to Kompany on Friday and focused on the manager's health rather than tactics. He told the former Belgium captain that there would be no football talk. Danks said the coaching staff would work as a unit to keep the club moving forward. He also confirmed that Germany captain Joshua Kimmich, who has been on bereavement leave since Tuesday, will sit out the upcoming game.

Kompany returned to the dugout for Wednesday's home match against Arsenal despite feeling unwell. He missed the pre-match press conference due to the virus. After the game, he admitted he ignored early warning signs. He said his body eventually forced him to stop. Bayern's second team match on Friday was postponed following the collapse. Eberl said the club did not seek to postpone the Freiburg fixture. He believed a strong performance and a win would be the best way to help Kompany recover.

Bayern Munich enters Sunday's match as the defending champions and league leaders. They hold a one-point advantage over Freiburg. The team will next play in the Champions League on November 3. That match is scheduled for Madrid against Atletico.