Christian Eriksen is preparing to take another step towards football after his latest frightening heart scare, with Wolfsburg confirming that the Danish midfielder will continue his rehabilitation back home in Denmark.
The former Manchester United and Tottenham star collapsed during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine on June 7, almost five years after the cardiac arrest that shocked the football world at Euro 2020. Television footage showed Eriksen clutching his chest before falling to the pitch away from the ball, prompting immediate concern from players, staff and supporters.
This time, Eriksen’s implantable cardioverter defibrillator, known as an ICD, did exactly what it was designed to do. The device, which was fitted in 2021, intervened and delivered a shock to restore his heart rhythm. Medical staff quickly treated him on the pitch before he was able to walk to the ambulance that took him to Odense University Hospital.
The following day, Eriksen reassured fans with a message from hospital. He said the situation was different from what happened in 2021 and insisted that he was feeling good. He also thanked the medical team, his teammates and the doctors who have helped care for his heart over the years.
Since then, there has been uncertainty over what comes next for his playing career. Eriksen, now under contract with Wolfsburg until next summer, did not join the club at the start of pre-season. On Thursday, the German side released an update confirming that he will soon begin an individual rehabilitation programme in Denmark after discussions with managing director Dieter Hecking.
Christian Eriksen is set to continue his rehabilitation from his collapse back home in Denmark
Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s friendly with Ukraine last month (pictured earlier in the game)
Wolfsburg added that they remain in regular contact with Eriksen and his treating physicians, while wishing him the best for the next stage of his recovery. The club are due to begin their league campaign on August 8 at home to Kaiserslautern, but there is no firm timeline for Eriksen’s return to competitive action.
The decision to continue rehabilitation comes amid stark warnings from some medical experts. Danish heart specialist Henning Molgaard told Bold that most elite athletes choose to retire after having an ICD fitted and said competing at the highest level with such a device remains highly unusual. He also warned that another collapse could happen at some point, though nobody can predict when.
Those comments have made Eriksen’s situation even more emotionally charged. His first collapse in 2021 remains one of the most distressing moments in modern football history, and his return to the sport afterwards became an extraordinary story of resilience. He rebuilt his career, returned to international football and later played for Brentford, Manchester United and Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg provided an official update on Eriksen’s condition on their official X account
For Eriksen himself, the message after the latest incident has been calm and focused. He said his recovery had already started and that his immediate priorities were spending time with his family, taking a break and playing football with his children.
Whether he eventually returns to professional football remains a deeply sensitive question that will depend on medical guidance, his own condition and the decisions made with those closest to him. What is clear is that Eriksen remains determined, supported and grateful as he begins the next stage of recovery.
For now, the football world waits, hoping first and foremost that Eriksen stays healthy. Any return to the pitch would be another remarkable chapter in his career, but after another terrifying scare, his wellbeing is the only result that truly matters.
