Vincent Kompany is back at Bayern Munich’s training ground for the first time since his collapse on 23 October. Bayern said in a statement, as reported by BBC Sport, that the head coach “is on the road to recovery and has been back at the training ground since the start of the week.”

What happened

Kompany, 40, fell ill on Friday 23 October while watching Bayern’s second team train, and was taken to hospital. The club said at the time that he needed medical attention and that his coaching staff would run training and matches until further notice. The cause was later identified as meningeal irritation, an inflammation of the protective membrane around the brain and spinal cord.

He had been fighting a virus in the days before. He missed the pre-match news conference before the Champions League game against Arsenal, then took his place on the touchline for the 2-2 draw on Wednesday 21 October. Sporting director Max Eberl later asked whether Bayern “should have put the brakes on him earlier”.

Eberl said Kompany would be given “all the time he needs” and said the club would “protect him from himself”. He was discharged on Wednesday 28 October, with Eberl telling ARD: “That is the biggest and best news for all of us.” Eberl added that he was “very confident” Kompany would be back on the touchline “operating at 100%” soon.

How Bayern have coped without him

Assistant Aaron Danks has been in charge throughout, and the results have held up. Bayern won 3-1 at Freiburg two days after the collapse, beat Magdeburg 6-1 in the DFB Pokal second round on 28 October and drew 2-2 with Borussia Dortmund at home on 31 October.

The Bundesliga table shows the effect. Bayern are top on 21 points from nine games, unbeaten with six wins and three draws, a goal difference of +20. Dortmund are level on 21 points but sit on +9. Kompany’s side are chasing a third straight league title, and they reached the Champions League semi-finals last season before losing to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.

What his return means

Being back at the training base is not the same as being back in charge. No training session was held this week because most of the squad is away on international duty and the club has not said when he will work with the squad. Bayern haven’t given a date for a return to the dugout, and the club’s line on 24 October that his return would be a matter of “weeks, not days” remains the only guide it has offered.

The cautious approach looks right. Eberl called Kompany a hard worker who needs protecting, and with Danks delivering results there’s no pressure to rush him. For a recent look at how Bayern were managing his absence, see our earlier piece on Kompany’s recovery, and for another recent Bayern health story, Musiala and Hoeness’s comments.

What happens next

The Bundesliga returns after the international break with Bayern against Cologne on Friday 20 November at 19:30 UK time. They then travel to Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday 25 November, kick-off 20:00 UK time, and visit Hamburg on Saturday 28 November at 14:30. Whether Kompany is on the bench for any of them hasn’t been announced.

FAQ

What happened to Vincent Kompany?

He collapsed on 23 October while watching Bayern’s second team train. The club said the cause was meningeal irritation, and he was discharged from hospital on 28 October.

Is Kompany back in charge of Bayern?

Not yet. He has returned to the training ground, but assistant Aaron Danks has led the team and no date has been given for Kompany’s return to the touchline.

When does Bayern play next?

Bayern host Cologne in the Bundesliga on Friday 20 November at 19:30 UK time, then play at Lille in the Champions League on 25 November.