of Course, the message went to the heart of problems of Sami Khedira without a trace past him. Daniel Engelbrecht has played in the November 2012 59 minutes in the Second League for VfL Bochum, he then moved to third-division club Stuttgarter Kickers. 20. July 2013 changed his life. Engelbrecht collapsed after a cardiac arrest on the pitch and had to be resuscitated. Diagnosis: inflammation of the heart muscle and chronic disorders of heart rhythm. There are four operations followed, him a Defibrillator in the chest. He is still the only professional footballer in Germany, who has played with such. Today, the Co-coach of the U19 VfL Bochum.
you have certainly experienced a few days ago, relatively fast heart problems of Sami Khedira. Can you describe what went through your head?
I have not hoped in the first place, that it is as dramatic as it was with me. And fortunately, it was not so. I think he has a couple of dropouts and irregularities that have taken place in its fabric. And by the desertification, which is seemingly successful, it will hopefully be all back in order. I can understand that with him in the Moment he had heart palpitations, probably a bit of panic wide. But it all went well. If he had now had an inflammation of the heart muscle, which are then life-threatening scars would be left on the fabric would be, it is of course worse.
you Had to also think of your own story, as you have heard?
Yes, of course. For me this was again a confirmation of the fact that I’ve been doing the last years, the attention to the fact that the Doctors check thoroughly the heart, or the athletes are expected to take a bit more responsibility, and your heart examined. It is, no matter at what level, that footballers have heart problems, especially if you move a cold or the flu and still train.
What exactly was the trigger for cardiac arrest?
A protracted inflammation of the heart muscle. I’m broken in the game unconscious.
you Know how the 20. In July 2013, the day of your first Cardiac arrest, have experienced?
Before that, I felt great, I was in the Form of my life. The heart rhythm disturbances just came out of nowhere. I’ve noticed, as I was dizzy, black eyes, I had no control over my body. I have nothing more heard, nothing seen. You have to think of this as if you blow-dry the hair. The hair can be so beautiful and so new and high-quality appearance, as he wants to – when you pull the plug, the hair dryer. Then it’s over. So it is with us humans also. You can look fit, you can be as healthy as you want to – if the heart is not involved, it’s as if someone pulls the plug. Then it breaks down easily and has no strength.
It was followed by four operations, a Defibrillator was used. That was all needed for everyday life or just to be able to re-performance sports make?
I could also live without a Defibrillator, but I really wanted to play football again, and he was the absolute requirement.
How is life with a Defibrillator? You will notice it in everyday life? Your body reacts with it differently, if you make an effort?
no, the Defibrillator changed nothing. He is simply there, when the heart gets out of beat, so I’m shocked and he picks me up, so to speak, back to life. This is the only reason why he is there.
And how does it feel to be such a shock?
This is the worst feeling I’ve ever had. It feels as if it burns on the inside, as when you die. I had it only three times – once in the hospital, once in the game, and once in Training.
In November 2014, they returned as the first professional footballer in Germany with Defibrillator back to the square and were also League player of the month third. Have you thought at the time that it is over with heart problems?
no, I’ve always felt that there is something. So I never completed.
How often have you thought about in nearly a year and a half break between July 2013 and November 2014, to end your career?
In time the thought has to stop, even played a role. For me there was only one way. And was to play again.
in the summer of 2017 to Red-and-White eat, changed, and collapsed on the training field again. Now you have decided on the advice of the physician, to the power of sport to rest. Why this time?
It was now a huge risk, after all, I already had my sixth surgery in the past. I thought to myself that I should be shorter. The doctor told me that I should let it go but finally, because I’m otherwise under the earth. The last OP was so successful that I can say, it works again. I noticed no difference.
Why so much risk? The love for football was greater than the reason to listen to the body?
I think I would do it again, because the love for football is so great. But I have it maxed to the Extreme. Ultimately, has not won the reason, but the will to live.
you will Find in General that the topic of heart problems in soccer-Germany is given too little attention?
Definitely. I know how the sport-medical investigations are on-going, had tens of them. The need to intensively take place, because the heart needs to be examined in more detail.
you can See in concrete terms, the clubs have a duty?
Not only, also the players themselves. Especially in the case of Clubs in the lower regions, where money is scarce, players must take responsibility and be checked by a doctor. This is different than torn ligaments. At the heart of it is a matter of life and death.
Is the pressure to operate to high? So high that health problems or long-term be taken damage?
Meanwhile, it is so, that in one of the Junior centres of excellence, the training is better, players offspring, because the power increases density. The consequence of this is that the players can easier be replaced if someone is out of shape. Therefore, some think that they need to provide what, if you are sick, because otherwise they would be replaced. And since it looks like a such a disease.
In her current Position as Co-coach of the U19 VfL Bochum: If you see a protege, the drags, in spite of illness, for Training, what do you say to him? You are mad because you know how dangerous that is?
in any case. One or the other doesn’t dare to say it to me when he has a cold, because he knows how I react to it. I do which then, of course, an announcement and a question of whether you want sometime to run around like me. If someone had tore a ligament, or pain in the feet trained, then I say: Come on, bite down on the teeth and make! But when it comes to heart, am I already extremely sensitive.
In March 2018 you wanted to do actually, just take a break until the end of the year, but are now coaches. Have you finished with the play football?
More about
Juventus Turin Sami Khedira because of heart problems
in surgery as of right now: Yes. Therefore, I focus first on it. I’m sad that I had to give up the football career early, but also to be happy, now Trainer.
