On November 10, 2009, Robert Enke took his own life. After the death of the Hannover 96 national goalkeeper, there were loud calls for changes in the football business. But not much remains, says his former teammate Mario Eggimann.
Mario Eggimann remembers November 10, 2009 as if it were yesterday. “I was sitting in the car. Standing in front of my house and making a phone call. I was holding my cell phone in my hand and saw a WhatsApp fly in from my wife. And it simply said: ‘Robert is dead.’ From that moment on, I have to say, I don’t know much for the next hour,” the 42-year-old looks back.
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 he still raves about his teammate’s abilities today: “Robert Enke was an incredibly good goalkeeper – the best goalkeeper I’ve ever played with.” The former defender also speaks of the support that the keeper provided for his teammates: “He simply radiated something that gave them security.”
Theresa Enke: “We thought it could be done with love”
Of all people, the goalkeeper of a Bundesliga soccer team, who had also become the starting goalkeeper of the German national team at the time, found no security himself. And the fatal thing: “Robbi thought it couldn’t be made public,” his wife Theresa explained some time ago.
Depression: Help for those affected
- Telephone counseling: anonymous, free advice around the clock, Tel. (0800) 111 0 111 or (0800) 111 0 222
- Children’s and youth hotline “Number against grief”: free advice, tel. 116 111. Parent telephone: (0800) 111 0 550
- Information telephone of the German Depression Aid: Tel. (0800) 33 44 533. The German Depression Aid offers a self-test and an overview of regional offers.
- Medical on-call service provided by health insurance companies: 116 117.
- Outpatient clinic in the psychiatric department of a local clinic – in any case if you have suicidal thoughts.
She was one of the very few who knew that Germany’s number one was doing badly. Depression was a taboo topic back then. At the much-noticed press conference after her husband’s death, she said through tears: “We thought it would be possible with love. But you can’t always do it.”
DFB President Zwanziger called for a rethink by everyone
In the days and weeks that followed, there was an overflow of reports about Enke, who had thrown himself in front of a moving train. The 32-year-old had hidden the fact that he suffered from depression. He hadn’t given any outward signs. There was great sympathy after the suicide. Especially in Hanover, where a funeral service took place in the Lower Saxony Stadium. But the event was also broadcast nationwide on television.
One of the speakers at the time was Theo Zwanziger. And the DFB President found words that were both moving and forceful. “Moderation! Balance! Values - such as fair play and respect – are required. In all areas of the football system. With the officials, with the DFB, with the associations, with the clubs, with me – but also with you, dear fans,” it resounded stadium, and there was approval everywhere.
Eggimann learned to take care of himself and others
For Eggimann, the death of his teammate was a moment to listen deeply to himself. “When you’re in that structure, you already feel: ‘Oh, it’s hard.’ There are bad days. But normally you never look closely at what’s really happening,” explains the former Swiss international. “When you grow up in this structure, you always think that what happens there is normal.”
“Robert gave me an awareness of how I am feeling. But also of looking at others and supporting them.”
— Mario Eggimann
The 1.89 meter model athlete admitted 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 time, Eggimann became a regular player for Hannover 96 again – and played the majority of the competitive games the following year. However, the ex-professional attaches great importance to the fact that he himself was not depressed: “I wasn’t feeling well, Robert was seriously ill.”
Further training in trauma and Talk therapy
The event and its processing left a great impression on Eggimann. He received further training in the area of trauma therapy from his therapist, and he is now also very familiar with talk therapy. In addition to studying sports management, which he completed after retiring from his career in 2015, his CV also includes training in gestalt therapy. He incorporates all of this into his work as a player agent – in which he repeatedly has to deal with the psychological problems of his clients. Thanks to his training and further education, he was also able to provide professional support in cases involving depression.
His appeal is simple: talk! Ideally, when the athletes are doing well. Then it becomes easier to open up when thoughts become increasingly dark. People you trust are important: “Tell me how you’re feeling. Listen to what they say about it. And then, once you’ve opened up, you can decide whether it helps to just talk to someone about it, or whether you Maybe you also need someone you can tell something to.”
Robert Enke Foundation does valuable work
Theresa Enke does valuable educational work with the Robert Enke Foundation, which was founded in January 2010, for which she was awarded the Lower Saxony Order of Merit this year. From her point of view, it is a big step forward that mental health is now being discussed openly. And she noted with benevolence that in recent years professional footballers have repeatedly found the courage to talk about the problems. Most recently this was Niklas Schmidt from Werder Bremen. “I think the death, or this tragic event, triggered a lot in people’s minds,” Theresa Enke is convinced.
She also welcomes the fact that the large clubs have now almost universally created opportunities for players to speak to team psychologists. “A lot is being done there. Even if the topic still needs to be promoted in the lower classes. But it’s pretty good now,” emphasized the 47-year-old. “The coaches also take care of the athletes. And it’s no longer a taboo topic like it was in Robbi’s time. Like: ‘Now pull yourself together.’ That only happens sporadically, I would say, but it’s not a big deal anymore.”
Eggimann: “The clubs are trying a lot, but…”
But as a consultant and ex-professional, Eggimann looks at the topic from a different perspective. “It’s a performance society. The professional wants to play on 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 in the club.
Because even if those responsible react with understanding and give the player time to regenerate, the starting place could be gone after his psychological recovery. After all, there is always at least one competitor in the squad who is waiting for his chance. “Attempts are already being made to deal with this issue. I think the clubs are really trying a lot. But I don’t see the fact that people are now saying that this has changed the whole business.”
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Sports current | 11/10/2023 | 1:17 p.m
