November 11th, 2009
Robert Enke: Gone Too Soon
We’re sure you’ve heard the terrible news by now: Robert Enke, the German National Team goalkeeper and Hannover captain has committed suicide. He was 32.
His wife Teresa spoke at a press conference today, saying that Robert had been suffering from depression for some time and hid it from the public for fear of how it would affect his family and career.
Teresa and Robert’s daughter Lara died of a heart condition in 2006, when she was two. They also have another daughter, Leila.
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Franz Beckenbauer, German footballing legend: “When you hear something like this, all other problems become very small. I feel unending sadness.”
Germany coach, Joachim Loew: “No one feels in the position to simply go about their normal day in this situation. We have lost a friend. That is a moment in which you have to stop, even in football. We are mourning Robert Enke deeply.”
German NT captain, Michael Ballack, who has known Robert since he was 13: “I’m stunned. I don’t know what to say…”
Former teammate Nuno Gomes: “I remember how he was just a young kid when he came here but, from day one, he made a great effort to learn our language and did it very quickly. He was a young kid with a huge desire to reach his goals and learn, a man with a capital M.”
Hamburg captain David Jarolim: “I can hardly breathe. This is a real tragedy: first his daughter and then this.”
Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona (Enke’s former club: “I knew him personally and he was a very well educated, correct guy. Barcelona is in mourning.”
Jorg Schmadtke, Hannover Director of Sport: “We are deeply affected. Our sympathy goes out to his family. We have lost an exceptional sportsman and person who has left behind a huge void in Hannover and German football.”
So, so sad. Our thoughts are with Robert’s family and teammates during this terrible time.
If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, get help through a support network like The Samaritans. Don’t go through it alone.
My thoughts and condolences go out to the loved ones and close friends of Robert Enke. Just reading about what he went through with depression up to the suicide made me feel very sad.
As someone who is suffering from (and trying to cope with) mental illness, I can understand how difficult it is to try and hide it from others and make it seem like you're okay when you're clearly not. It's something that I've done in the past and regretted.
It’s awful, I couldn’t believe it when I read the news. My deepest condolences to his wife and daughter, RIP Robert.
Oh my lord, what a tragic end. RIP Robert.
Just so sad. My heart goes out to his wife and daughter.
thats absolutely horrifying…
((( im also a hannover fan so this is twice as hard… we lost our beloved captain. I heard that we are not gonna give the number 1 shirt to anyone anymore for his honour… and thats the right thing to do 
im so shocked i never realized he was depressed or anything since he hide it so well… poor teresa… sucks that robert cant play in the wm now
im gonna need so much time to fully recover…
Such a sad and shocking tragedy….my condolences to his family
There are no words to describe how big of a tragedy that is. He was a great person and role model on and off the pitch and will be dearly missed. Goodbye Robert, Germany will never forget you! I hope you are in a better place now!
Sooo completely sad. R.I.P Enke. My thoughts are with his wife, family, friends and teammates.
Ohhhh, that's terrible!
My prayers are with the Enke family and his friends and teammates… Such an amazing player and a beautiful man..
RIP Rob Enke.
<3
So very sad. My deepest sympathies to all who knew and loved him. If you’ve ever lost someone to suicide, then you know the questions never go away. I hope they all find some measure of peace.
so sad, i feel sorry for his wife and other daughter. life must be hard, to say the least…
Shocking news… My sincerest sympathies to his family, friends and fans.
Losing your child must be the moment of ultimate despair. So sad Robert couldn't hold on anymore. My thoughts are with Teresa and their baby girl.
Depression is accompanied a horrible feeling of guilt; so many people still think it's something you should be able to just snap out of. But psychological problems have to be the hardest to deal with. I hope this tragic death reminds us all how serious depression is, so we can accept it for what it is and seek or offer help to those who need it.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and teammates. Such a terrible tragedy!
Rest in peace, Robert.
I think he was the last of the classic goalkeepers – the ones with instinct rather than learned ability. He will be forever missed.
R.I.P to Robert Enke!
RIP Robert Enke. Ruhe in Frieden.
I hope this helps serve as a call to treat depression as the illness it is rather than a social stigma, and helps more people go get treated.
I agree with you Rusty.
RIP Robert.
If feel so sorry for Teresa and their 8-month old adopted daughter. I hope for them they will be able to continue their lives someday.
Condolences to all the people who have known him, may he have find peace with his daughter Lara somewhere.
This is just devastating, but I hope it can bring more people to talk about these issues, as we're doing in this post. Enke kept his depression hidden probably because of the social stigma, maybe he could have been helped in time if it hadn't been this way.
Rest in Peace, Enke.
devastated…
echoing what one of the others here has said, thank you for the last line, kickette… not enough people take this illness seriously… it breaks my heart to think what he must have been going through…
football lost a good player and a good guy…
i hope his soul finds peace…
my thoughts are with his family and loved ones…
rest in peace robert…
I've seen him play for the German national team as a stand in for Lehmann and seen him play at Hannover a bit and I'd just like to send out my condolences to his wife, kid, family and friends at this truly tragic time. The story touched my heart deeply…. RIP Rob, we'll miss you here in NY…. <3
Rest in peace, Robert.
So, so tragic. Love to his wife and baby.
omg ;(
I still can’t believe it
Rest In Peace Robert (*)
RIP
I hope he´s with his little girl Lara now.
My thoughts are with his wife, family and friends.
RIP, Robert Enke… =’[
Thank you for that last note, Kickette. It can’t be emphasized enough–to seek help if you are depressed. Depression is an illness and help is there. I’m so sorry to hear the pain he was in! My heart goes out to his family, too.
How sad, my heart goes out to his wife and daughter. I hope he’s found some peace in heaven with little Lara. RIP Robert.
That is just so awful.. such a tragedy.
My thoughts are with his wife and family.
RIP Robert
This makes me so sad. I never saw him play but knew of him from his Peta promotions. He and his wife had eight dogs they rescued from the streets. He was a good man. I am very sorry for his wife and all the others he leaves behind. :*(
http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-robertEnke.asp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifoYhkwGlCs
Very tragic news. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and teammates. Rest in Peace, Robert.
Very sad to read this.
My condolences to his family, friends and teammates. I cant imagine living through this kind of situation.
But I echo what many have said in this thread.
No one should ever be embarassed about seeking help for any health related issues, mental or otherwise.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem and not the answer.
I was just zapping through the TV channels, wenn I read at Euronews beneath some trailer: breaking-news: -German nationalteam-goalkeeper Robert Enke dead-
I was thinking it was some sort of fake news first. But then I zapped to a german channel and they wrote in their Txt: Robert Enke died after train accident. I was stunned and really sad. I never was a fan of the german nationalteam, but I watch Bundesliga every weekend with my dad.
RIP Robert Enke
Devastating news. My love to his wife and daughter. First to lose a daughter, and then a husband. I cannot even imagine. RIP Robert.
The stigma associated with mental illnesses makes me so sad. People make it sound like it's your fault. Mental illnesses are just like having any other somatic disease. So I thank you Kickette for posting that last note. Don't be ashamed, and get help.
What a tragedy. My thoughts are with everyone who knew him but especially with his wife and daughter.
Like many of the other ladies have already said, depression is nothing to be ashamed about. Get help, it won't get better by itself.
OMG, how horrible. And his poor wife…first she loses a child, and now her husband. I don't think I can imagine anything worse.
I feel so sad.. I had to cry when I saw his wife at the the press conference. Even Oliver Bierhoff cried!
How must she feel right now?
I wish her all the best to get through these hard times!
I'm very, very sorry. This kind of tragedies just shouldn't happen. My thoughts are with his family too. RIP.
RIP ROBERT
i'm so sad, i cant belive it
my thoughts are with his wife.
she lost is daughter now his husband, how hard must it be?!
our national team (germany) will be the champions in 2010 for robert!
Really, really sad. RIP Robert.
Such tragic news may he rest in peace and be reunited with his daughter ;-(
Terrible news. Condolences to his family, his teammates and his fans.