German Soccer Fans Mourn Death of National Goal Keeper

PASSAU, Germany, Nov. 11, 2009 — -- The soccer world is reeling in shock over the suicide of Germany's national goalkeeper, Robert Enke, 32, who took his life last night by jumping in front of a train.

Enke's wife Teresa told reporters at a press conference in Hannover today that her husband was suffering from depression for many years but keeping it secret, afraid that the public would find out.

Teresa Enke, dressed in black and struggling to hold back tears, said: "It is crazy because now it is coming out anyway."

"We had hoped to be able to overcome this with our love", she told reporters less than 24 hours after the tragic event.

"I've tried to tell him we had our love, we had a perspective in life, we had our daughter, I tried to be there for him and we have tried to overcome years of depression through psychiatric therapy, but it probably was too much to hope for."

Enke said she had put all her hopes in the therapy. Three years ago, the couple struggled to overcome the worst time in their life when they lost their 2-year-old daughter Lara because of a heart ailment.

"I kept telling him that he needed not worry what people thought of his depression, but he refused to take further therapeutic treatment and he always made sure that nobody found out how he was really feeling," she continued. "He was afraid he would lose everything, his sports, his life, his friends if anybody found out."

The doctor, who had been treating Enke since 2003, was with Teresa at the press conference.

He told reporters, "I've been treating him during a turbulent time in his professional career, when he had several unsuccessful transfers to clubs in Spain and Turkey. He suffered from depression and fear of failure," said Valentin Markser.

He added that the player refused to be treated on the day he took his life, saying he felt well.

The doctor also said that Enke has left behind a note in which he apologized to his wife and his family.

He explained in it that he could no longer take it and he was overcome by severe depression, making it impossible to carry on with life.

Fighting to Hide Depression

He also wrote that he was afraid that his illness would become public knowledge and that authorities might take away his 8-month-old daughter Leila, whom the couple had adopted only in May this year, if people thought he was "a manic."

"We are shocked and speechless, and we are absolutely helpless at this moment in time as we mourn the death of friend and team mate," said German Soccer Federation manager Oliver Bierhoff at today's press conference in Bonn.

Oliver Bierhoff broke into tears when he continued, "We all thought we were very close to Robert, but we probably were not close enough to look behind the surface."

Michael Ballack, National team captain, who has known Enke since they were teenagers, issued a statement in which he expressed his "shock and dismay over the death of his friend."

Hundreds of soccer fans showed up at the soccer stadium in Hannover late last night after they heard the news to express their sympathy, leaving flowers and lighting candles.

Tonight, there will be a memorial service in Hannover at which several thousand of his fans are expected.

Barcelona, where Enke played before he returned to Germany in 2004, held a minute's silence before dedicating their King's Cup victory over Cultural Leonesa to Enke on Tuesday, while Tenerife said their players would wear black armbands in their La Liga match over the weekend.

The German soccer federation has cancelled the game versus Chile scheduled for the coming Saturday, saying that the players and friends of Enke needed time to come to terms with the tragic news.

The German soccer league said there would be a minute's silence on the next match day with all players wearing black armbands.