Germany shocked by Enke suicide

THE widow of Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke revealed the depths of the depression which drove the 32-year-old to suicide.

The Hannover stopper was struck by a regional train travelling between Norddeich and Hanover at a railway crossing in Neustadt am Rubenberge Tuesday evening and died at the scene.

Germany’s friendly with Chile in Cologne on Saturday has now been called off, while hundreds of football fans have gathered outside Hannover’s AWD-Arena to sign a book of condolence for Enke, and to leave flowers and scarves and light candles in his memory.

Enke’s widow Teresa and his psychologist Dr Valentin Markser appeared at a press conference at the AWD-Arena yesterday to explain the background to his tragic death.

Enke was first treated for depression and performance anxiety in 2003, during his time at Barcelona, for whom he made only one Primera Division appearance. His widow revealed he feared their adopted daughter Leila would be taken away if the illness became public. The couple adopted the eight-month-old in May. They lost their biological daughter Lara in 2006 when she died of a rare heart condition at the age of just two.

Teresa Enke said: “I tried to be there for him, said that football is not everything. There are many beautiful things in life. It is not hopeless.

“We had Lara, we have Leila. I always wanted to help him to get through it. He didn’t want it to come out because of fear. He was scared of losing Leila.”

She added: “It is the fear of what people will think when you have a child and the father suffers from depression.

“I always said to him that that is not a problem.

“Robert cared for Leila with love – until the end.”

She continued: “When he was acutely depressed, then that was a tough time.

“That is clear because he thought there was no hope of a recovery on the horizon for him.

“After Lara’s death everything drew us closer together, we thought that we would achieve everything. I tried to tell him that there is always a solution.

“I drove to training with him. I wanted to help him to get through it.

“He didn’t want to accept help any more.”

Markser revealed Enke had sought help for the last time at the start of October, but had opted not to continue with treatment, claiming he was feeling better.

Police confirmed Enke left behind a suicide note and Markser revealed in it the keeper apologised for his deception, which he felt was necessary for him to carry out his plan to commit suicide.

Germany coach Joachim Low claimed there was no other option but to call off Saturday’s match with Chile.

A tearful Oliver Bierhoff, the team manager, said: “The team want to say goodbye to Robert.

“It could have been a goodbye game, but there is a clear feeling that it would come too early.”

Hannover’s director of sport, Jorg Schmadtke, had the unenviable task of informing Enke’s team-mates of the tragedy.