Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen is set to continue his rehabilitation in his home country following his collapse during an international friendly last month, his club Wolfsburg have confirmed.
The 34-year-old, who previously played for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, clutched his chest and fell to the ground during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine on 7 June, nearly five years after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
Eriksen’s implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), fitted in 2021 after his cardiac arrest, reportedly delivered a shock that restored his heart rhythm during the latest incident.
A day after receiving hospital treatment, the midfielder reassured supporters that the episode was “different to 2021” and said he was “feeling good”. However, uncertainty has remained over his future in professional football.
On Thursday, Wolfsburg announced that Eriksen would not join the German club for the start of pre-season preparations and would instead begin an individual rehabilitation programme in Denmark.
In a statement, the club said: “Christian Eriksen will soon begin an individual rehabilitation programme.
“After a conversation with VfL managing director Dieter Hecking, it was decided that the 34-year-old will complete this in his home country of Denmark.
“VfL is in regular contact with Christian as well as the treating physicians. For the course of his rehabilitation, we continue to wish Christian all the best.”
Eriksen’s determination to continue his recovery with the aim of returning to football comes despite warnings from several leading medical experts.
Danish heart specialist Henning Molgaard told local outlet Bold that he would advise against the midfielder resuming his playing career.
“Most elite athletes choose to retire after having an ICD implanted. We saw this with Stale Solbakken,” Molgaard said.
“As cardiologists, we are not lawmakers, but our clear recommendation, also in light of European and American studies, is that competing in elite sports with an ICD is highly unusual.
“We know he will collapse again at some point. But we simply cannot say with certainty whether the ICD device will be needed to restart his heart in three months, or in three, four, five, or ten years. However, it is going to happen again.
