German shock at death of national team footballer

November 10, 9:54 PMSeattle Soccer ExaminerDavid Falk

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Candles are lit in front of a photo of goalkeeper Robert Enke at a soccer stadium in Hannover, northern Germany, early Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. Robert Enke, the Hannover 96 and Germany's national team goalkeeper, killed himself by apparently intentionally getting hit by a train on Tuesday. He was 32. Hundreds of supporters mourned in front the stadium in Hannover. (AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach)

We are reading more and more news reports as information makes the internet about the death of German national team and Hannover 96 club goalkeeper Robert Enke. Miami Soccer Examiner Juan Arango looks at the sad story here.

Wednesday Updates:

Football365.com: Football should be proud of its grief

RTE: Germany calls off friendly match with Chile

Daily Mail: Enke's widow says he fought severe depression

AP: Suicide note left

Enke was a 32-year old star in the German Bundesliga who had reportedly never recovered emotionally from the death of his young daughter due to a heart condition in 2006. News organizations around the globe are calling Enke's death a suicide after he jumped off of a train bridge into the path of an oncoming train. Enke's club, Hannover 96, have added a solemn entry page to their website as they begin to deal with the tragedy.

Roger Boyes reports from Berlin: "I don't know why and how this happened," said Martin Kind, chairman of Hannover 96. "All I can say for sure is that it had nothing to do with football." Fellow players said that they believed that Enke may have been suffering from depression. Since former top national player, Sebastian Deisler, revealed his struggle with mental illness, depression in the sport has been debated. "He was unstable," said Mr Kind, "But he kept it under wraps." Three years ago, Enke's two-year-old daughter Lara died from a defective heart valve. With his wife, the professional player had recently adopted a baby daughter. "We are all stunned, struck dumb," said Oliver Bierhoff, the manager of the national team, after telephoning members of the squad last night to break the sad news. Enke is believed to have jumped from the bridge at Neustadt am Rubenberge near Hannover at 6.30pm yesterday.

Enke lent his celebrity to this German poster for animal causes.

Video from CCTV.

Reuteres released a profile of the player: BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany and Hannover 96 goalkeeper Robert Enke died on Tuesday after being hit by a train in an apparent suicide. Here are some facts on Enke:

* Enke was born on August 24, 1977 in Jena, former East Germany. He started his youth career at Jena Pharm before moving on to Carl Zeiss Jena.

* The keeper joined Borussia Moenchengladbach in 1996 before moving on to Benfica Lisbon in the first of several largely unsuccessful stints abroad that also included Barcelona, Fenerbahce and Tenerife.

* He returned to the Bundesliga in 2004, signing for Hannover 96.

Fan tributes such as the one below are overwhelming YouTube.

Candles are lit at the site where goalkeeper Robert Enke committed suicide in Neustadt am Ruebenberge near Hanover, northern Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Enke, the Hannover and Germany goalkeeper, killed himself by apparently intentionally getting hit by a train on Tuesday. He was 32. "It was suicide," Enke's agent Joerg Neblung said. "I don't want to talk about the possible reasons today." Police said Enke died after being hit by a train at a level crossing northwest of Hannover, not far from his home. Enke's car was found near the scene, unlocked, with his wallet on the seat. (AP Photo/Focke Strangmann)

Hundreds of supporters mourn in front of a soccer stadium in Hanover, northern Germany, early Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. Robert Enke, the Hanover 96 and Germany's national team goalkeeper, killed himself by apparently intentionally getting hit by a train on Tuesday. He was 32. (AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach)

A rose sits on a shirt of German Bundesliga soccer club Hannover 96 at the site where goalkeeper Robert Enke committed suicide in Neustadt am Ruebenberge near Hannover, northern Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Focke Strangmann)