Kos Karetsas leaves hospital, returns emotionally to Genk

While the 18‑year‑old Greek Kos Karetsas left the hospital in Dortmund last night after a sudden fainting spell during his Champions League debut, he is already preparing for an emotional return to Genk, where he will kick‑off on Sunday against AA Gent.

Health problem and hospital escape

The initial examinations point to dehydration as the cause of the circulatory problems that forced him to leave the pitch. After several hours of intensive care, Karetsas was allowed to leave the hospital in Dortmund.

He had been on the field for only twenty‑three minutes in his first Champions League match for Borussia Dortmund against Villarreal when, after a pass, he suddenly collapsed to the ground. There was no contact with an opponent, and the former Racing Genk player indicated that something was wrong. The medical staff lifted him onto a stretcher and took him off the pitch amid applause from the Signal Iduna Park.

Dortmund initially spoke of ‘circulatory problems’ and sent Karetsas for further examination to the hospital. This led to immediate medical intervention on the pitch. The medical staff attended to him for several minutes on the field before he was transported.

Sporting director Ole Book confirmed that additional investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause. He stated: ‘Given the circumstances, Kos is doing well. There are still further investigations. We really want to get to the bottom of what happened.’ Therefore, Karetsas will not feature on Saturday against Paderborn.

Nevertheless, he is expected at sixteen o’clock on Sunday in the Cegeka Arena for Genk’s match against AA Gent. Genk confirmed that he will kick‑off, an emotional return to the club where he made his big breakthrough.

Karetsas made the move from Genk to Borussia Dortmund last summer and immediately became one of the most notable young players in the Bundesliga. His rapid rise made concerns about his health all the more pronounced for both clubs.

The contrast between his swift hospital discharge and the planned return to Genk underscores both the vulnerability and the resilience of young talents. For now, the focus remains on a full recovery before he can once again contribute fully on the pitch.