Germany keeper Enke dead

Quote :

Germany and Hannover 96 goalkeeper Robert Enke has died after being hit by a train and German police have confirmed that first indications point to suicide.

The 32-year-old died close to his home in Neustadt-Eilvese, Hannover, near a railway level crossing. "First indications point to suicide," a media officer for the Niedersachsen police said.

"At 1825 (1725GMT) he was run over by a regional express train running between Hamburg and Bremen," said police spokesman Stefan Wittke. "The train was travelling at the speed of 160-kph."

The player's friend and consultant Joerg Neblung told reporters: "I can confirm this is a case of suicide. He took his own life just before six (pm). There will be a press conference tomorrow with more details."

Enke won eight international caps and was in the running to play at the World Cup in South Africa next year. However, he missed Germany's last three qualifiers with a stomach virus and having just returned to action after almost two months out was omitted from the latest squad.

His national team colleagues learned of the tragic news of his death after training in Bonn on Tuesday and Germany's general manager Oliver Bierhoff said: "We are all shocked. We are lost for words."

The president of the German Football Association (DFB) Dr Theo Zwanziger added that he and the rest of the football community in Germany "are deeply distressed and in mourning".

"All our sympathy goes to the wife of Robert Enke and his family," he added.

It is not yet clear whether Germany's friendly against Chile on Saturday will still go ahead. Die Mannschaft are due face the Ivory Coast the following Wednesday.

Hannover president Martin Kind said: "This is a tragedy."

Enke, born in Jena in the former East Germany, also played club football for Borussia Moenchengladbach and Benfica and had a brief spell at Barcelona before stints with Fenerbahce and Tenerife.

Enke's daughter Lara died in 2006 of a rare heart condition when she was just two. He leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and an eight-month-old daughter the coupled had adopted.

Source: Soccernet

RIP Enke.

Sad to see he is the victim of depression. Makes me wonder of the pressure these players, managers and even referees have in football. For them, a match is just a day at work. Just like us working in office. Difference is, when we screw up in our work like arriving late, did not finish task in time, lost an important document required by boss, there is no sea of 40k people booing you + millions more through papers and internet.

As mentioned in the news, he might be in depression due to the lost of his 2 yr old daughter which i believe INM had a heart disease. I think that made him depressed and im sure of other issues as well.

RIP R. Enke.

Sad to hear that the death is related to suicide.

RIP Enke.

RIP Enke.

RIP Mr. Enke. The German national football team has lost a wonderfully talented goalkeeper in you.

Enke was actually the number 1 going to the WC ahead of Adler.

RIP Robert Enke

Fans pay tribute to the no 1. keeper

RIP Robert Enke....even his former club tenerife also paid tribute to him althought he spent 1 season on-loan... shows that tenerife never forget him...

RIP robert enke
i heard he had been ill recently with a mystery illness