The Belgian coach arrived on Tuesday morning, just over two weeks after the incident that required hospital treatment. His return came earlier than many had expected, following suggestions from Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness that the manager would not be back on the touchline until after the international break.
According to tz, Kompany was back in his office shortly after 10am, working at his computer and observing the club’s rehabilitation work on the training pitches. He also spoke with sporting director Christoph Freund during his return to the club.
The 40-year-old collapsed on October 23 while watching a training session involving Bayern’s second team. He was taken to hospital, where doctors diagnosed irritation of the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. He was subsequently discharged and continued his recovery at home.
Kompany’s absence had left assistant coach Aaron Danks in charge of the first team for five matches. The coaching staff maintained the team’s momentum during that period, with Danks overseeing four victories and a draw.
Bayern Munich had not set a definitive date for Kompany’s return, although Hoeness had offered an indication of the expected timetable when discussing the manager’s recovery on Sunday.
“In two or three weeks,” Hoeness said when asked when Kompany might be back. He added that the Belgian should be on the touchline again after the international break.
Bayern’s first match following the break is against 1. FC Köln on November 20, making that fixture a possible target for Kompany’s return to the dugout. However, his appearance at Säbener Strasse on Tuesday does not in itself confirm that he will be ready to resume matchday duties by then.
Assistant coach Danks had already provided an encouraging update on the manager’s condition, explaining that they had spoken regularly during his absence.
“I had a few really good telephone conversations with him in recent days. He seems very positive and appears to be on the way to a full recovery,” Danks said.
The return to work is nevertheless an encouraging development for Bayern, who have been without their head coach since the incident. Kompany was able to watch injured players undertaking rehabilitation, including Luis Díaz, as he began reconnecting with the club’s daily routine.
The priority remains his full recovery rather than an accelerated return to the touchline. Bayern will continue to assess his condition before deciding when he can resume coaching, but his presence at the training ground represents a significant step forward.