Robert Enke the goalkeeper of Hannover holds his daughter Lara after a Bundesliga match

Supporters hold a vigil for Robert Enke in front of a soccer stadium in Hanover

Candles are seen in front of a soccer stadium in Hanover, 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.(AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach)

Robert Enke the goalkeeper of Hannover holds his daughter Lara after a Bundesliga match

Hundreds of supporters mourn in front of a soccer stadium in Hanover, northern Germany, early Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009.

German football was in shock today after it was confirmed that national team goalkeeper Robert Enke was killed in an incident at a railway level crossing.

The 32-year-old was struck by a regional train travelling between Norddeich and Hanover at a railway crossing in Neustadt am Rubenberge and died at the scene, police have confirmed.

Enke leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and an eight-month-old daughter who the couple had adopted in May.

The Enkes lost their own daughter Lara in 2006 when she died of a rare heart condition at the age of just two.

On the field, Enke's career had taken him from his local side Jena into the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach before spells abroad with Benfica, Barcelona, Fenerbahce and Tenerife.

He returned to the Bundesliga, joining Hannover in 2004 and earning his first cap for Germany on March 28, 2007 after impressing year after year for his club.

He went on to make eight appearances for Germany and was regarded as the favourite to be their number one at the World Cup in South Africa next summer, but a mysterious bacterial infection forced him out of their World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in September.

He only recently recovered from the illness and made his return for Hannover in their Bundesliga win over Cologne on October 31.

However, he was omitted from the Germany squad for their upcoming friendly matches against Chile on Saturday and the Ivory Coast next Wednesday.

Germany coach Joachim Low nevertheless insisted that Enke was one of the favourites to be his number one in South Africa, saying that the decision to leave him out of his squad was "not a decision against, but rather a decision for Robert".

His national team colleagues learned the tragic news after training in Bonn today.

"We are all shocked," said Germany's general manager Oliver Bierhoff. "We are lost for words."

The president of the German Football Association (DFB) Dr Theo Zwanziger added that he and the rest of the football community in Germany "are stunned and in mourning."

"All our sympathy goes to the wife of Robert Enke and his family," he added on the DFB's website.

Enke's death may force a postponement of Saturday's game against Chile.

Fans were flocking to Hannover's Niedersachsen Stadion tonight where they were laying flowers and lighting candles at the gates in memory of their captain who had dedicated himself to the club since joining in 2004.

A press conference has been scheduled today at 12:30 when more light will be shed on the death of one of Germany's most respected and talented footballers.

ROBERT ENKE FACTFILE

1977: Born on August 24 in Jena in central Germany.

1985: Signs for the junior team of local club SV Jena.

1986: Moves to city rivals FC Carl Zeiss Jena.

1995-96: Makes his professional debut for Carl Zeiss Jena against Hannover.

1996: Joins Borussia Monchengladbach.

1997: Makes Germany Under-21 debut.

1998: Makes his Bundesliga debut in a 3-0 win over Schalke on August 15.

1999: Moves to Portugal to sign for Benfica - managed by German Jupp Heynckes - and is promptly named as captain.

July: Is named in Germany's squad for the Confederations Cup, but does not feature in the tournament.

2002: Moves to Barcelona on a free transfer, but makes just four first-team appearances - only one of them in the league - in three seasons.

2003: Moves on loan to Turkish side Fenerbahce, but terminates his year-long deal after a single appearance in which he is pelted with missiles by the club's fans.

2004: January: Begins a more successful loan spell with Tenerife, then in Spain's Segunda Division.

July: Returns to the Bundesliga with Hannover on an initial two-year deal.

2006: September 17: Enke's daughter Lara dies at the age of two from a heart defect.

December 25: Signs a new contract to the end of the 2009-10 season.

2007: March 27: Makes his international debut in a 1-0 defeat to Denmark.

July 23: Is elected as club captain by his Hannover team-mates.

2008: October 8: Breaks a bone in his left hand in training with the national team, ruling him out for two months.

2008-09: Named as the Bundesliga's goalkeeper of the season.

2009: September: Suffers a bacterial infection, ruling him out for six games.

November 10: Police in Germany confirm Enke has died, aged 32, in an accident at a level crossing.

Belfast Telegraph