Robert Enke: His life and events, that led to his tragic ending.

Robert Enke: His life and events, that led to his tragic ending.

The late Robert Enke, a renowned German goalkeeper, tragically took his own life while playing for Hannover 96. What was the motivation behind his actions? What happened to him? Which clubs has he been affiliated with?

Robert Enke, who was commonly referred to as 'the Unforgettable', was born in Germany in the year 1977. The individual commenced his football career at a local club within his vicinity. In 1996, he was recruited by Borussia Monchengladbach. His professional trajectory has been marked by successful stints at Benfica, Barcelona, Fenerbahce, Tenerife, and Hannover 96.

The individual's career appeared to be progressing positively as he had achieved notable professional success, possessed a promising future, and had already gained a call-up to the National Team. He was a strong contender for the position of starting goalkeeper during the 2010 World Cup. However, Enke was experiencing inner turmoil.

Enke's daughter Lara passed away due to cardiac arrest in 2006 at the age of two. During that period, she was close to her father. The goalkeeper experienced significant psychological distress as a result of the event, which had a lasting impact on him. In 2008, Teresa, his spouse, legally adopted a girl named Leila, however, it was not the same.

There were additional concerns other than the loss of his daughter. And throughout his football career, he consistently harboured a fear of failure. Furthermore, he experienced a significant amount of criticism and believed that his lack of playing time at Barcelona was due to his non-Catalan background. He had a limited number of friends within the football community.

The incident occurred on November 10, 2009. Robert Enke resided in Neustadt. The individual in question drove his car onto the train tracks, parked approximately 10 metres away, exited the vehicle, and proceeded to walk approximately 100 metres before intentionally placing themselves onto the tracks and subsequently being struck by a regional train.

The world of football was taken aback. The supporters of Hannover 96 paid a modest tribute to him by attending the stadium. They organised floral arrangements, photographs, and lit candles. Furthermore, Germany participated in a friendly match a few days subsequent to the aforementioned event, which was subsequently suspended due to the players' perceived lack of physical preparedness.

Following the unfortunate incident, the Robert Enke Foundation was established. This project was carried out by Hannover 96 and the widow of the goalkeeper. The Foundation performs two critical functions, namely, providing mental health support to athletes and extending care to children with cardiac ailments.

It is not uncommon for individuals who are considered heroes to experience depression. It is imperative that we prioritise the maintenance of mental health for all individuals. Robert Enke lacked the necessary coping mechanisms, ultimately resulting in a tragic outcome.

Read: The story of Adriano, Italy's top scorer turned Rio gang member.

Read: Sudan famine: The haunting photo that killed Kevin Carter.

Also Read: