Emergency during international match: Ex-professional Szalai after collapse: “I’m fine”

The redeeming news came from Adam Szalai himself. A few hours after his collapse, the former Bundesliga professional contacted social networks and not only brought relief to his family. “Thanks for all the messages, I’m fine,” was the message sent shortly before midnight on his Instagram channel. It had a red heart on it.

The assistant coach of the Hungarian national soccer team was released from the hospital that night, spent the rest of the night in the team hotel and is traveling back home with the team today, a spokesman told the state TV station M4. Initial reports in the Hungarian media that Szalai had to be resuscitated were not confirmed, as the daily newspaper “Magyar Nemzet” reported.

The 36-year-old collapsed on the sidelines in the early stages of the Nations League game in Amsterdam against the Netherlands (0:4) on Saturday evening. The game at the Johan Cruijff Arena was resumed after just over twelve minutes after the emergency. Former Leipzig player Dominik Szoboszlai burst into tears. The images initially gave rise to fears of the worse.

Nagelsmann has a special connection

“I wouldn’t wish what we felt there on anyone,” said the Liverpool midfielder. Afterwards, the team only fought for Szalai: “We talked about whether we could continue. Everyone said, let’s continue for him!” The Hungarian association announced during the first half that Szalai was in a stable condition and had been taken to a hospital in Amsterdam.

The Hungarians will be opponents and hosts of the German team next Tuesday. It initially remained unclear whether Szalai would be there again. The incident also caused great sympathy in the German team. “He is a former player of mine with whom I have a very good connection,” said national coach Julian Nagelsmann after the DFB team’s 7-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. “I hope he gets back on his feet now. Then we’ll see that we play a good game and hopefully Adam can be there again.”

Like many others, Szalai’s former teammate Oliver Baumann also sent well wishes. “It shocked me at first, of course. I hope that he’s doing well, that there’s nothing serious,” said the German national goalkeeper, who played with the striker for several years at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. “The greatest asset we have is health.”

Had head surgery in December 2021

Szalai, who played 276 Bundesliga games for Mainz, Hoffenheim, Schalke and Hannover, played for Hungary until two years ago, most recently as captain. His former clubs sent well-wishes via the X portal, among other things.

During his time in Mainz, Szalai had to undergo head surgery shortly before Christmas 2021. The anomaly, which had probably been there for a long time, was only discovered because Szalai had previously hit a guardrail on the way to training. He was in the intensive care unit at the time; during the procedure, according to “Bild”, a piece of titanium was inserted into him, which had to grow together with the bones. It was initially not clear whether Szalai would be able to play again after the operation.

“It feels like life has been given to me again,” Szalai said afterwards. Hungarian media are now speculating that Szalai may have had an epileptic seizure in connection with the procedure and had problems breathing as a result.

In the summer of 2023, Szalai ended his active playing career. It was only in October, in the first leg against the Netherlands, that he worked as an assistant coach for the national team for the first time.