Bundesliga
Ex-Bundesliga striker Szalai making recovery
Former Bundesliga striker Ádám Szalai is in a stable condition in hospital after the 36-year-old collapsed during Hungary's UEFA Nations League encounter against the Netherlands on Saturday.
The ex-Mainz, Hoffenheim, and Schalke striker - who has been part of Hungary coach Marco Rossi's staff since October - fell ill on the bench in the seventh minute of his country's latest international game. After receiving treatment on the sidelines at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, he was transferred to hospital in Amsterdam.
Posting on X about the incident, the Hungarian Football Federation said, “(Ádám's) condition is stable and he is conscious. A few minutes ago he was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Amsterdam for examination." Szalai also took to social media after midnight to allay any fears surrounding his condition, saying, “Thanks for the many messages, I’m fine.”
Szalai played under current Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann at Hoffenheim - the striker scoring 25 goals in 113 appearances for the Sinsheimers between 2014 and 2019 - and the tactician was asked to comment on the incident late on Saturday. “Unfortunately, I just got the information about Ádám Szalai. First of all, I hope he's doing well," Nagelsmann said after overseeing Germany's 7-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Freiburg. "He is a former player of mine with whom I have a very good relationship."
Along with winning 86 international caps for Hungary, Szalai enjoyed a lengthy and successful career in the Bundesliga, scoring 54 goals in 276 German top-flight games.
He made his debut in the division for Mainz in a game against Bayer Leverkusen in January 2010. The Budapest native was once a youth player at Stuttgart and along with his time at Hoffenheim, Mainz and Schalke, also featured for Hannover.
bundesliga.com would like to wish Ádám a speedy recovery.