ontd_football | in remembrance.

ROBERT ENKE
(24 August 1977 – 10 November 2009)

Though many of you may not know about or watch the bundesliga, though many of you may not support the German national team, and though he was not fangirled, and though he was not someone we have tags for, for those who had the opportunity to watch him in action Robert Enke was immense. But all of you know the type of player he was. Robert Enke was the player that gave everything for the team.

He was a formidable goalkeeper, a dedicated captain, a worthy representative of his club and country, a loyal team member, a great tutor to young players (Per Mertesacker evolved to Mannschaft-class with Enke at his back), a dedicated social campaigner (against disease and cruelty against animals) and a true gentleman in any way one could possible imagine.

If one looks at the community of German goalkeepers as a whole, Enke stood out. Among all those egomaniac bastards, there was one who wouldn't throw temper tantrums into cameras, insult his contenders, hit opponent defenders, accuse ball-boys of losing his teams matches, take helicopters to training, screw around behind the back of his wife.

It is only unfortunate that he will finally be recognized by all of us within our community in the tragedy of his death.

Rest in Peace.

"We are all shocked. We can't find the words." -- Oliver Bierhoff, national team manager.

Goalkeeper of the Year: 2009

Robert Enke (Hannover)

"It may at first glance seem a little odd that the goalkeeper from the club with the worst defensive record in the Bundesliga has been chosen in the Bundesliga Team of the Season. It is true that Robert Enke has conceded close to 50 goals this season, but that doesn’t do justice to him.

He has pulled off numerous miraculous saves and has been the difference on many occasions between Hannover taking points from a game or not. He is justifying Joachim Loew’s faith in him as a potential German national team number one."

"It hurts so much I can barely breathe. A true tragedy, I cannot believe this has happened. First his little daughter dies and now this. My sympathies go out to his family and the community of Hannover 96." --David Jarolim, captain of Hamburger SV

"I am devestated. I was on the Asia trip of the Mannschaft with him and came to know him as a grand person who would always look out for the new players" -- Tobias Weis, Hoffenheim

"I have no words, I am completely shocked. If you hear this kind of news, all other problems become ridiculously small." -- Franz Beckenbauer

"This news gave me goosebumps. I have no words"

-- Mario Basler

"A grand catastrophy, an ultimate tragedy. I cannot believe this happened"-- Patrick Owomoyela

"You must not let the grief defeat you."

--Robert Enke, January 7th, 2007 -- on the death of his daughter.

As more quotations and reactions come out this post will be accordingly updated.

ETA: Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and appreciation; simulatenously this or any tribute could do no justice to a man's life. Nevertheless, I will direct you to Hannover's webpage who have managed a far more fitting tribute than I. More pictures of the vigil are available here.