Vincent Kompany is back at Bayern Munich’s training ground for the first time since he collapsed last month, and the former Man City captain turned up with his arm in a sling.
The 40-year-old was taken ill on 23 October while watching Bayern’s second team train, and was later diagnosed with meningeal irritation, an inflammation of the protective membrane around the brain and spinal cord. He had already been discharged from hospital a few days later, and now he is back at work.
Bayern confirmed it in a short statement on Tuesday afternoon: “Vincent Kompany is on the road to recovery and has been back at the training ground since the start of the week.”
What was Kompany doing at Säbener Straße?
Not coaching, not yet. German reports had him working in his office at Säbener Straße this week, and he also attended medical appointments at the training centre. There was no first-team session for him to take anyway, with most of the squad away on international duty.
The sling explains part of the picture. Kompany reportedly dislocated his shoulder when he collapsed, and Bayern have said he will do his rehabilitation on the injured shoulder at the training ground.
Photos of him back in his office appeared on Tuesday, and for City fans who watched him captain the club for so long, it is the most reassuring image of the international break so far.
When will Kompany be back on the Bayern bench?
The answer from the top of the club is: straight after the break. Honorary president Uli Hoeneß was asked about it on Bavarian television on Sunday and put a time frame on it.
Hoeneß said: “In two, three weeks. So after the international break he will be sitting on the bench again.”
He also gave his view on why it happened in the first place. “He works twelve hours a day, six days a week. That was simply too much,” Hoeneß said.
That would put Kompany in line for Bayern’s first game back, against Cologne at the Allianz Arena on Friday 20 November. Sporting director Max Eberl has been giving regular updates, but Bayern themselves have not named a date for his return to the touchline.
How have Bayern coped without him?
Very well. Assistant Aaron Danks has been in charge for the five games Kompany has missed and has won four and drawn one, a run that includes a 2-0 Champions League win over Atletico and a 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund in the top-of-the-table clash. Bayern go into the break top of the Bundesliga on goal difference from Dortmund.
Danks had already hinted last week that the break would be the moment to decide. “I had a few really good phone conversations with him in the last few days. He seems very positive and appears to be on the way to a full recovery,” he said. “We haven’t set a date, but the international break gives a good opportunity to reflect on everything and assess when he will come back.”
Why City fans should be relieved
Kompany’s collapse frightened plenty of City fans, and for good reason. Meningeal irritation is not a phrase anyone wants to hear about a 40-year-old, and the first week of updates was all about his health rather than football.
This is the first time since then that the news has felt normal: an office, a sling, physio for a sore shoulder and a club president talking about the bench. Hoeneß’s comment about twelve-hour days is worth remembering too. Kompany was always all-in as a player, and it sounds like he has taken the same approach to management.
It has been a week for old City favourites reminding everyone they are still going, with David Silva scoring a penalty on his comeback at 40. Kompany’s comeback is a quieter one, but it is the one that matters more. If Hoeneß is right, he will be back in the dugout against Cologne, and nobody at City will begrudge Bayern that.
