Vincent Kompany hospitalised after collapsing at Bayern training

Vincent Kompany was taken to hospital on Friday after collapsing at Bayern Munich's training ground, the club confirmed, days after he had been nursing a viral infection that briefly put his place on the touchline for a Champions League fixture in doubt.

Kompany, 40, was watching a session involving Bayern's reserve side, FC Bayern Amateurs, at the club's Säbener Straße base when he fell ill, according to Metro Football and Yahoo Sports. The Guardian, citing Reuters, reported that the Belgian felt unwell while coaching his team before being taken to hospital.

A Bayern statement said Kompany "collapsed during training with FC Bayern Amateurs on Friday and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment," adding that "the first-team coach had been watching the reserve squad's session."

The club said Kompany "will undergo a thorough examination and remain under medical care," with his coaching staff taking charge of training and matches "until further notice."

Bayern's sporting director, Max Eberl, said Kompany's health was the club's "top priority" and that "we at FC Bayern will do everything we can to ensure his speedy recovery."

Eberl added that Kompany, referred to as "Vinnie" in the statement, would receive "all the necessary medical care and support, and all the time he needs," and said the coaching staff standing in for him were trusted to take over his duties. He closed by saying "everyone at FC Bayern wishes Vinnie a speedy recovery."

The collapse comes after a difficult week for Kompany, who had been suffering from a viral infection that forced him to miss Bayern's final training session and a press conference on Tuesday. He remained a doubt to take his place in the dugout for Bayern's Champions League meeting with Arsenal the following evening.

He did recover sufficiently to oversee the team from the touchline at the Allianz Arena, where Bayern drew 2-2 with Arsenal. Speaking after that match, Kompany said he was feeling better but described how the illness had caught up with him. "I caught a pretty nasty virus last week. I didn't listen to my body and at some point my body told me: 'Stop now, man!'. That was it," he said. "Now I'm feeling better, otherwise I wouldn't be here."

Kompany, who captained Manchester City to four Premier League titles during his playing career in England, took over at Bayern having built a reputation as one of the Premier League's more progressive young coaches before moving to Germany.

With Kompany now under medical observation in hospital, his coaching staff, including assistant Aaron Danks, have been tasked with running training and match operations in his absence. Bayern have not given a timeframe for his return.

The club has not confirmed when further medical updates will be issued, with Kompany's recovery now the immediate focus before Bayern's next fixtures are addressed.