Football / Soccer / Calcio / Futebol / Fußball

Robert Enke took his own life on November 10, 2009. Following the death of the Hannover 96 national goalkeeper, there were loud calls for change in the soccer business. But his former teammate Mario Eggimann believes that not much has remained.
Mario Eggimann remembers November 10, 2009 as if it were yesterday. "I was sitting in the car. I was standing in front of my house and was still on the phone. I was holding my cell phone in my hand and saw a WhatsApp come in from my wife. And it just said: 'Robert is dead'. From that moment on, I have to say, I didn't remember much for the next hour," the 42-year-old recalls.

Robert Enke - the tragedy of a goalkeeper

Robert Enke was an outstanding goalkeeper and a special person. His top sporting performances were offset by private strokes of fate and a serious illness.
Like many, the news of Enke's death caught Eggimann off guard. A year and a half earlier, the Swiss had moved from Karlsruher SC to Hannover 96 - and still raves about the skills of his teammate today: "Robert Enke was an incredibly good goalkeeper - the best goalkeeper I ever played with." The former defender also talks about the support that the keeper was for his teammates: "He simply radiated something that gave you a sense of security."

Theresa Enke: "We thought we could do it with love"

The goalkeeper of a Bundesliga soccer team, who had also become the regular goalkeeper for the German national team at the time, was unable to find security himself. And the fatal thing: "Robbi thought you couldn't bring it out in public," explained his wife Theresa some time ago.
She was one of the very few people who knew that Germany's number one was in a bad way. Depression was a taboo subject at the time. At the much-publicized press conference following her husband's death, she said tearfully: "We thought that with love it would be possible. But you don't always manage it."

DFB President Zwanziger called for a rethink from everyone

In the days and weeks that followed, the news about Enke, who had thrown himself in front of a moving train, came thick and fast. The 32-year-old had concealed the fact that he was suffering from depression. Outwardly, he had not let anything show. There was great sympathy after the suicide. Especially in Hanover, where a memorial service was held at the Niedersachsenstadion. Also nationwide, the event was broadcast on television.

Eggimann learned to look after himself and others

For Eggimann, the death of his teammate was a moment to listen deeply to himself. "When you're in this structure, you already feel: 'Oh, it's hard. There are bad days. But normally you never look too closely at what's really happening," explains the former Swiss international. "When you grow up in this structure, you always think that what's happening is normal."
The 1.89-metre model athlete admitted to himself that he wasn't feeling well - and sought professional help, which he found from a trauma therapist. The work quickly bore fruit. Within a short space of time, Eggimann became a regular player for Hannover 96 again - and played the majority of competitive matches the following year. However, the ex-professional emphasizes that he himself was not depressed: "I wasn't well, Robert was seriously ill."

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Further training in trauma and talk therapy

The event and the way he came to terms with it left a big impression on Eggimann. He underwent further training in trauma therapy with his therapist and is now also well versed in talk therapy. In addition to a degree in sports management, which he completed after his career ended in 2015, his CV now also includes training in Gestalt therapy. He incorporates all of this into his work as a player consultant - in which he repeatedly has to deal with his clients' mental health problems. Thanks to his training and further education, he has also been able to provide professional support in cases involving depression.
His appeal is simple: talk! Preferably at times when the athletes are doing well. Then it's easier to open up when thoughts become increasingly gloomy. Confidants are important here: "Tell them how you're feeling. Listen to what they have to say. And then, once you have opened up, you can decide whether simply talking to someone about it will help or whether you need someone else to talk to."

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Robert Enke Foundation does valuable work

Theresa Enke does valuable educational work with the Robert Enke Foundation, which was founded in January 2010 and for which she was awarded the Lower Saxony Order of Merit this year. From her point of view, it is a great step forward that people are now talking openly about mental health. And she has noted with approval that professional footballers have repeatedly found the courage to talk about their problems in recent years. The most recent was Niklas Schmidt from Werder Bremen. "I think the death, or this tragic event, has triggered a lot in people's minds," Theresa Enke is convinced.
She also welcomes the fact that the big clubs have now created almost nationwide opportunities for players to speak to team psychologists. "A lot is being done. Even if the topic still needs to be pushed in the lower divisions, of course. But it's already pretty good," emphasized the 47-year-old. "The coaches are also taking care of the athletes. And it's no longer a taboo subject like it was in Robbi's day. Like: 'Now pull yourself together'. I'd say that only happens occasionally, but not much anymore."

Eggimann: "The clubs try a lot, but..."

But as a consultant and ex-professional, Eggimann looks at the issue from a different angle. "This is a meritocracy. Professionals want to play at the weekend. That's why he thinks twice about what he explains to the psychologist," says Eggimann. "Of course, he has to assume that this could also be communicated internally." That's why everyone has to ask themselves whether it could even harm them to open up within the club.
Because even if those responsible react with understanding and give the player time to recover, his regular place could be gone after his mental recovery. After all, there is always at least one competitor in the squad waiting for his chance. "They are also trying to deal with this issue. I think the clubs are really trying a lot. But I don't think it's fair to say that this has changed the whole business."