Robert Enke: The man who changed the world of football

Robert Enke (1977-2009) was an exceptional athlete who touched people’s hearts even off the field. Born on August 24, 1977 in Jena, he grew up in a sports-loving family. His father was a psychotherapist and a 400-meter hurdler, and his mother was a handball player. His coaches recognized the extraordinary talent between the posts early on.

His career took the modest keeper from Carl Zeiss Jena to other European countries via Borussia Mönchengladbach. At Benfica Lisbon he became a crowd favorite under coaching legend Jupp Heynckes (79). “What people give him credit for is the fact that he learned the Portuguese language very quickly. He was easy to get along with his friendly manner and his good character,”

A move to FC Barcelona was a turning point for Enke: the ambitious goalkeeper never found his place under Louis van Gaal (73), and the first depressions became noticeable. It was only after short stints in Tenerife and Istanbul that Enke finally arrived in sport. At Hannover 96 he became the undisputed number one between the posts and developed into one of the best Bundesliga goalkeepers at Lower Saxony, where he also became team captain.

However, Enke and his wife Teresa (48) faced tough tests in their private lives. In 2006 they lost their two-year-old daughter Lara, who was born with a serious heart defect. “Our daughter was in the hospital for almost a year, including six months in the intensive care unit. That changes your perspective. I have learned to set other priorities,” Enke once told NDR.

Unlike many colleagues, the keeper refrained from making big gestures and loud words. “I will never publicly say that he or she is worse than me, or otherwise try to destroy a colleague in order to become number one. I know what respect is,” he once explained.

In terms of sport, however, Enke was at the peak of his career during this phase. With eight international matches under his belt, he was considered a promising candidate for number one in the German goal at the 2010 World Cup after the resignations of German goalkeeper legends Oliver Kahn (55) and Jens Lehmann (54) – even ahead of the then shooting star Manuel New (38). But behind the facade of the successful athlete was a person who struggled with severe depression. On November 10, 2009, Robert Enke took his own life at the age of just 32.

His story still has an impact today. The Robert Enke Foundation, run by his widow Teresa, is committed to raising awareness about depression. A street at the Hannover 96 stadium now bears his name.

World champion Per Mertesacker (40), once his teammate at Hannover 96, summed it up: “Robert has had a positive influence on my life like no other colleague.” His widow Teresa added: “I am still touched by the influence Robbi was able to have on people. A special gift without him ever being aware of it.”

Robert Enke’s death shook society awake and sparked an important debate about how to deal with mental illness. His legacy lives on – in the work of his foundation and in the hearts of the people who will never forget him.

The telephone counseling service offers help with depression on the free number: 0800/111 0 111