German Goalkeeper Robert Enke Killed After Being Hit By Train in Apparent Suicide

Robert Enke, the Hannover and Germany goalkeeper, has died after being hit by a train close to a level crossing near his Hannover house. He was 32 and was regarded as the favorite to be Germany's No. 1 keeper at next year's World Cup in South Africa.

A statement from German police released following the incident read,"The victim is apparently national team goalkeeper Robert Enke from Hannover 96. The first police indications are that it was a suicide."

Jörg Neblung, Enke's agent and close friend said it was definitely suicide. Jörg said, "I can confirm that it was suicide," Robert took his own life shortly before six o'clock. A press conference in Hanover on Wednesday will reveal more details."

Hannover's president, Martin Kind, said the goalkeeper had been "unstable" recently but it had not been publicly noticed. "You expect many things, but not something like that. I do not know how and why it happened, but I do not think that it had anything to do with football. This is a tragedy," King added.

His doctor, Valentin Markser, revealed Enke had an acute fear of failure and had been treated for depression since 2003 following a difficult transfer to Barcelona and subsequent loan to Turkish side Fenerbahce.

The Cologne-based doctor said Enke had visited him six weeks ago, suffering from a deep bout of depression — around the same time he lost his place in the Germany team through illness.

The crossing was not far from Enke's Hannover house and his car was near the scene, unlocked, with his wallet on the seat. The two train drivers reported seeing a man on the tracks and applied the brakes while traveling at about 100 mph but could not stop in time, the police reported.

Enke's death has left those closest to him both personally and professionally in total shock. Hundreds of fans lit candles and placed bouquets of  flowers outside the Hannover stadium in memory of their captain who had been with the club since 2004. "We are all shocked. We can't find the words," national team manager Oliver Bierhoff said from Bonn, where the national team assembled. Theo Zwanziger, German Soccer Federation president voiced a similar sentiment. "We are speechless." said Zwanzigar.