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Robert Enke

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Soccer Player

The Resume

    (August 24, 1977-November 10, 2009)
    Born in Jena, Germany
    Goalkeeper for Carl Zeiss Jena (1995-96), Borussia Mönchengladbach (1996-99), Benfica (1999-2002), Barcelona (2002-03) and Hannover 96 (2004-09)
    Won eight full international caps
    Committed suicide by jumping in front of a speeding train in Neustadt am Rübenberge, Germany, at age 32

Why he might be annoying:

    His career progress was marred by several injuries.
    Barcelona loaned him out twice before trading him.
    In his only game representing Fenerbahçe, he gave up three goals and fans pelted him with lighters and bottles (August 10, 2003).
    He did a photo shoot for PeTA.
    He was diagnosed with depression in 2003 but kept it hidden from everyone except his family (refusing to be hospitalized).
    Ironically, his father was a sports psychologist but could not treat him due to ethical concerns.
    After his death his widow stated, 'We thought we could do everything and we could do it with love but you can't always do it.'
    Due to his suicide, a friendly match between his team and Chile was cancelled.

Why he might not be annoying:

    In 2004, he was voted the best goalkeeper in the (European) league by his fellow players in Kicker magazine.
    In 2006, his 2-year-old daughter died of a rare heart condition.
    He adopted an 8-month-old daughter in 2009.
    He owned eight dogs rescued from animal shelters.
    Though gifted as a goalkeeper, he was consumed by fear of failure.
    He kept his depression a secret because he believed it would ruin his career and his daughter would be taken away from him.
    He was elected captain by his Hannover 96 teammates in 2007 and was widely considered the top contenter to represent Germany as goalkeeper for the 2010 World Cup.
    Many teams observed a minute of silence in his honor and some wore black armbands during matches.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 13.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 51 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying