15 years after Enke's suicide: memories of a special friend

15 years after Enke's suicide: memories of a special friend

Neustadt am Rübenberge-Eilvese, Deutschland - 15 years ago, Robert Enke's suicide shook the football world and left a deep grief. Marco Villa, Enke's best friend, remembers the bitter -sweet memories of their common path, which was characterized by joy, but also by the dark dark side of the depression. "I miss Robbie," admits Villa, while thinking about the intimate friendship that began in the youth national teams of the DFB. Despite the serious illness that Enke plagued, her connection was strong and open.

insights into friendship

villa was one of the few who knew the real personality of Enkes. "A heart person," he describes Teresa Enke, who received support after the tragic loss of Villa. In an ARD podcast, Villa tells of the carefree moments they shared and how they broke through the "invisible wall" in football. But behind the laugh, Enke's constant examination of his depression, which Villa really understood much later.

The two friends experienced the promotion to the Bundesliga at Borussia Mönchengladbach together. Villa remembers the time when Enke moved to Lisbon and finally to Barcelona, where he fought under coach Louis van Gaal. "Robbie was not doing well," Villa recalls the call for help from Teresa, who shook him deeply. Despite the support he wanted to offer, Villa often felt helpless and overwhelmed.

The tragic descent

Enke's career took a dramatic turn when he moved to Istanbul and became a scapegoat for the fans. "The worst game of my career," Enke described the humiliations he experienced. After a short ray of hope in Tenerife, where he felt happy, the dark thoughts returned. Villa remembers the last conversations he had with Enke, and the uncanny feeling that something was wrong. "I didn't hear the alarm bells at the time," Villa admits as he thinks of the terrible moment when he learned about his friend's death. It still hurts and the memories of the tragedy remain alive.