Robert Enke suicide note found
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TRAGEDY IN GERMANY
Police confirm death of Germany keeper Enke
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Robert Enke: Germany keeper has died
Germany and Hanover 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.
Hanover 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.
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it's sad.. i was reading the news this morning and was kinda shocked...
maybe he cannot come to terms with the death of his daughter
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was really shock to see this news.
i thought it was a joke, since i first read it at goal.com.imo, he is one of the best goalkeeper in germany currently, alongside adler. this is a great loss to germany football as a whole. and his family.
real shocking.
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RIP -
Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke dies after being struck by a train
Tragedy: Hannover 96 and German national team goalkeeper Robert Enke
German football is in shock after it was confirmed that national team goalkeeper Robert Enke was killed in an incident at a railway level crossing on Tuesday evening.
The 32-year-old was struck by a regional train travelling between Norddeich and Hanover at a railway crossing in Neustadt am Rubenberge and died at the scene, police have confirmed.
'First indications point to suicide,' a media officer for the Lower Saxony police said before adding Enke's body was found at a train crossing in Neustadt am Ruebenberge near Hanover.
'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.'
Sad story: Enke pictured in May 2006 with his daughter Lara, who tragically died a few months later at the age of two
Enke leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and an eight-month-old daughter who the couple had adopted in May. The Enkes lost their own daughter Lara in 2006 when she died of a rare heart condition at the age of just two.
On the field, Enke's career had taken him from his local side Jena into the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach before spells abroad with Benfica, Barcelona, Fenerbahce and Tenerife.
He returned to the Bundesliga, joining Hannover in 2004 and earning his first cap for Germany on March 28, 2007 after impressing year after year for his club.
He went on to make eight appearances for Germany and was regarded as the favourite to be their number one at the World Cup in South Africa next summer, but a mysterious bacterial infection forced him out of their World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in September.
He only recently recovered from the illness and made his return for Hannover in their Bundesliga win over Cologne on October 31.
However, he was omitted from the Germany squad for their upcoming friendly matches against Chile on Saturday and the Ivory Coast next Wednesday.
Germany coach Joachim Low nevertheless insisted that Enke was one of the favourites to be his number one in South Africa, saying that the decision to leave him out of his squad was "not a decision against, but rather a decision for Robert".
His national team colleagues learned the tragic news after training in Bonn
today.'We are all shocked,' said Germany's general manager Oliver Bierhoff. 'We are lost for words.'
Grief: Hannover 96 supporters mourn the death of Enke at the railway station in the northern German village of Eilvese
The president of the German Football Association (DFB) Dr Theo Zwanziger added that he and the rest of the football community in Germany 'are stunned and in mourning.
'All our sympathy goes to the wife of Robert Enke and his family,' he added
on the DFB's website.Enke's death may force a postponement of Saturday's game against Chile. Fans were flocking to Hannover's Niedersachsen Stadion on Tuesday night where they were laying flowers and lighting candles at the gates in memory of their captain who had dedicated himself to the club since joining in 2004.
A press conference has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, when more light will be shed on the death of one of Germany's most respected and talented footballers.
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ENKE SUICIDE NOTE FOUND
Germany keeper's tragic loss of life stuns a nation
ENKE: Tragic loss of lifeREPORTS in Germany claim a suicide note from Robert Enke has been found as the country remains stunned by the international goalkeeper's death.
The Hannover No1 was killed by a train on Tuesday and his agent has indicated that it was a deliberate act from the 32-year-old, rather than a shocking accident.
Germany have cancelled Wednesday's training session and all planned interviews ahead of Saturday's friendly with Chile, which has now been postponed, as the players struggle to come to terms with the sad news.
Enke played eight times for his country and was tipped to keep goal in next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
German legend Franz Beckenbauer led the tributes, saying: "I am infinitely sad. When you receive news like this all other problems pale into insignificance."
The former Barcelona keeper is survived by his wife Teresa and adopted eight-month-old daughter. The couple suffered a terrible tragedy three years ago when their daughter Laura died of a heart condition aged only two.
Enke had been ill and missed the World Cup clash with Azerbaijan due to a bacterial infection in September but he returned to play for Hannover against Cologne on October 31.
Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, an international colleague of Enke's, summed up the mood of the squad.
"I am stunned," he admitted. "Words fail me."
A press conference on Wednesday afternoon involving Teresa and the player's psychologist Dr Valentin Markser confirmed Enke had been battling depression after first being treated for the illness in 2003.
"He could hide the extent [of the problem] well," said Markser. "He shied away from making it public until the very end and kept it as an additional problem."
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a loving dad who misses her daughter too much and too much a emotional pressure for him to handle.
sad sad
RIP.