Hungary assistant coach Adam Szalai ‘is doing well’ after he collapsed during Saturday’s Nations League match against Netherlands.
The game in Amsterdam was paused for more than 10 minutes after the former striker fell ill early on in the match. The 36-year-old could be seen lying on the ground with staff members and members of the Hungary squad quickly forming a protective barrier around him.
A medical tent was quickly put up around the dugout with Szalai taken to hospital.
The Hungarian Football Federation announced on Saturday night that Szalai was ‘stable and conscious.’
A statement said: ‘We would like to thank all involved in last night’s events for their extreme kindness and professionalism which made us feel that Ádám was treated the best possible way! Thank you very much.’
Szalai himself has since shared a further update on Instagram, writing: ‘Thanks for the lots of messages. I am doing well.’
Hungary players were visibly shaken by the incident and captain with Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai left in tears on the pitch.
His club teammate and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said: ‘It was a shock, of course. You see someone lying down and shaking. Then it’s a bit scary, to be honest.
‘I asked [Szoboszlai] if Szalai had been through this before. That turned out to be the case. Very scary to see, but I hope he is doing well and that he can recover.
‘He had been through it before, Szoboszlai said. It’s horrible, but hopefully he’ll recover well from it. That’s the most important thing.
‘The players of Hungary had to make the decision whether they wanted to continue playing. We were waiting for their decision.
‘I think it shows a lot of strength that they wanted to continue playing. Great respect for that.’
‘Szalai captained the Hungary team before retiring in 2023. He scored 26 goals in 86 international appearances for Hungary and had a lengthy club career in Germany with Mainz, Schalke and Hoffenheim. He was appointed assistant coach earlier this year.
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