Intense workload forces top coach Kompany to pause, while lower‑level coaches also struggle

Vincent Kompany this week had to abruptly cease his duties at Bayern Munich after he collapsed during a training session; the Belgian coach later said that at one point he was lying trembling in his bed, a sign of the enormous workload he is experiencing.

Kompany's sudden interruption

After collapsing on the training field, Kompany temporarily set aside his duties at Bayern Munich, a decision he himself described as abrupt. He described the aftermath as a moment when he was lying trembling in his bed, which underscored the physical toll of the role.

Pastoor's personal tragedy

Alex Pastoor led Almere City to a promising season in the Eredivisie, when within a short period both his mother‑in‑law and his dog died. The personal losses forced him to reassess his priorities, after which assistant Anoush Dastgir sent him home in a kind yet firm manner.

Pastoor stated that head coaches are not always aware of the impact of personal setbacks on their work, and emphasized that the shining example expected of a coach can sometimes break under pressure.

Pastoor regularly discusses these themes in his podcast Met Open Vizier, where he analyses the mental pressure together with fellow coaches.

The latest update of the article is 30 October 2026, 13:35, indicating that the information is recent.

General pressure on coaches

The Belgian coach is not the only one struggling; numerous coaches experience the impact, workload and stresses of their profession. Examples include Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace in 2024, Marco van Basten at AZ in 2014, Ralf Rangnick at Schalke 04 in 2011, Ronald Koeman in 2020 and Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool, all of whom spoke openly about exhaustion.

Edwin Goedhart, national team doctor of the KNVB, points out that coaches often appear to age faster and can develop both physical and mental ailments, including black‑outs. He explains that clubs and the KNVB offer optional medical examinations in Zeist to monitor coaches' health.