Vincent Kompany’s collapse on Friday sparked a debate about the high demands of professional soccer. Max Eberl has now issued an urgent warning.
After the Bayern pros’ training session on Friday, Kompany wanted to watch the amateurs’ practice, but began to feel unwell during the session and collapsed. He was then taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he remains under treatment as of today.
According to recent reports, Kompany had reportedly been pushing himself to the limit and working very hard. Even the players had noticed this and were concerned about the coach.
Eberl: “We have to look out for one another”
The coach is now on the road to recovery, as was emphasized in the wake of the match against SC Freiburg (3-1). However, it will still take a few weeks before he is fully fit again.
Max Eberl, FC Bayern’s sporting director, spoke after the game about the high levels of stress that are part of everyday life in professional soccer and urged caution.
“I’ve had my own experiences with this issue. Professional soccer is extreme. It’s extreme, but I don’t want to complain because we chose this path—it’s what we love. We were fortunate enough to become professional soccer players and to work in soccer,” Eberl explained at the outset.
The Bayern boss then issued a warning about excessive strain and a lack of consideration: “The pressure is there—every three days, everyone has to deliver. That’s immense pressure. I’m not here to complain. But we have to look out for one another. And that still means it’s difficult to tell the coach, ‘Hey, let me sit this game out.’”
Even after Bayern’s victory in Freiburg, Eberl emphasized that there is no timeline for Kompany’s return. Tests at the hospital are still ongoing; there is no final diagnosis, even though they’re already on the trail of the cause. The Belgian needs time and rest now—that’s the most important thing.