Burnley manager Jackie Bachteler reveals continuing recovery from sepsis

Burnley women's manager Jackie Bachteler has revealed that she feared she would die during a sepsis emergency after joining the club, and is still dealing with its effects following her return to coaching. In an interview with BBC Sport, Bachteler described intensive-care treatment, having to learn to walk again and a recovery that remains incomplete despite resuming work in July.

Bachteler moved from San Diego to join Burnley's coaching staff in December 2025. A few weeks later, she initially put feeling unwell down to a cold, jet lag and a demanding schedule. That changed when she became dizzy and struggled to breathe at the training ground. The men's team doctor assessed her, and she was taken to hospital after her blood pressure fell and her oxygen levels were found to be low.

She told the BBC that hospital staff initially considered sending her home after treating her lungs, but she asked for further checks because she still felt something was wrong. Her condition worsened, with confusion, severe dizziness and difficulty walking. Blood tests were followed by urgent treatment with fluids, antibiotics and oxygen. She spent a couple of days in intensive care, while her family could not travel from the United States and her wife was delayed in Finland by a snowstorm.

The illness forced Bachteler to pause her coaching career before Burnley brought her back as women's manager in July. She said she continues to experience post-sepsis syndrome, including extreme tiredness and dizzy spells, and is receiving respiratory therapy. She also described difficulties with memory and mental fog, alongside trembling when exhausted. During a recent pre-season friendly, dizziness led her to seek somewhere cool after giving instructions to her team.

Bachteler credited Burnley's doctors with saving her life and praised the wider support that has helped her return. The club connected her with a respiratory specialist, players sent encouraging messages, and members of her coaching staff have taken on delegated responsibilities. She also acknowledged the emotional strain on her family as they saw how much her health and mobility had changed.

The manager said the experience had altered her perspective on football, making defeats feel less consequential. Speaking for World Sepsis Day, she said she hoped sharing her experience through the sport would help others recognise symptoms and feel less isolated during recovery.