Bonn, Germany - Germany coach Joachim Loew Wednesday hailed Robert Enke as an "outstanding player" and "extraordinary person" whose death was "an enormous loss.""I am completely shocked, completely empty," Loew said in Bonn where the Germany squad had been preparing for a friendly international against Chile on Saturday.
Germany have now called off the match in Cologne to mourn the death of the 32-year-old keeper who was hit by a train on Tuesday evening.
Enke, who had been suffering from acute depression, left a note apologizing to his family and doctors for misleading them over his suicidal feelings.
"My entire sympathy goes to his wife and his family," Loew said.
"Robert was not only an outstanding player but also a great person. We have had wonderful discussions. He could listen (to others) and always treated other people with enormous respect.
"Fairness was was always important part of his life. His death is an enormous loss. We will miss him, as a first-class sportsman and an extraordinary person.
"It is absolutely right to call off the match against Chile. Nobody feels ready just to go back to daily routine. We have lost a friend. It's a moment in which football has to pause for thought. We are grieving deeply for Robert Enke."
DFB president Theo Zwanziger thanked the Chilean football for agreeing to Germany's wish not to play the game.
The decision had followed talks with the players who had made it clear they needed time to mourn for their friend and team-mate, Zwanziger said.
Following a funeral service the players are due to gather again in Dusseldorf to prepare for a friendly international against Ivory Coast in Gelsenkirchen next Wednesday.
