Hungary coach breaks silence from hospital after collapsing during Saturday’s Nations League clash against the Netherlands

Hungary coach Adam Szalai — who collapsed during Saturday’s Nations League match against the Netherlands — has delivered a positive update from hospital.

The game in Amsterdam, which resulted in a 4-0 victory for the Dutch, was halted for more than 10 minutes after the medical emergency.

Referee Jesus Gil Manzano called for play to a stop after coach Szalai collapsed, with witnesses suggesting that he also may have suffered a seizure.

A medical tent was erected around Szalai as treatment was given, before the 36-year-old was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Players and staff from both teams looked shaken, especially Liverpool midfielder and Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai, who was seen in tears.

Szalai has since delivered a positive update from hospital to the relief of everyone in world football. 

A medical tent was erected around Szalai after he collapsed near the away team’s dugout

The Hungary coach posted a positive update on Facebook to the relief of world football

Translated from his native language, the former Bundesliga striker posted on Facebook: ‘Thanks for the lots of messages, I’m doing well’.

He signed off his post with a love heart emoji, prompting over 27,000 likes at the time of writing.

After the game was back underway on Saturday, the Hungarian FA issued a statement via social media. 

The statement read: ‘Adam Szalai fell ill in the first minutes of the Netherlands-Hungary match, but his condition is stable and he is conscious.

‘Minutes ago, he was transported by ambulance to an Amsterdam hospital for examination.’

The Netherlands went 1-0 up almost immediately after the restart when former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst converted a penalty.

His celebrations after scoring the goal have been criticised by the Dutch media, with former Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart admitting it made his ‘stomach turn’.

Former striker Szalai, 36, scored 26 goals in 86 senior games for Hungary between 2009 and 2022. 

Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai was seen crying on the pitch at the Johan Cruyff Arena

The match was suspended before getting back underway after Szalai was sent to hospital

Wout Weghorst was criticised for celebrating his penalty moments after the match restarted

He retired from playing in July following a career that saw him represent Basel, Mainz, Hannover, Hoffenheim and Schalke, as well as the reserve teams of Stuttgart and Real Madrid. 

Following his retirement, Szalai has been part of Hungary’s coaching staff since October.

The first game after he was appointed to the role saw Hungary hold the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw in Budapest.

However, Hungary’s hopes of getting another positive result against the Dutch were dealt a big blow just before half-time on Saturday when they conceded a second penalty kick. 

It was converted by Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo to make it 2-0 to the home side.

Denzel Dumfries then ended all hope of a Hungary comeback when he scored the third goal of the game midway through the second half. 

Teun Koopmeiners completed the scoring late on to wrap up a 4-0 win.

Hungary will host group winners Germany on Tuesday, while the Netherlands will travel to Zenica to face Bosnia and Herzegovina.