Overview
- Speaking on the TOMorrow‑Business podcast, the 41‑year‑old former defender called the failed attempt a key turning point that restored his trust in life.
- He links his deepest crisis to the rapid collapse of his construction firm during Germany’s 2022 real‑estate downturn.
- According to his account reported by SPORT1, the critical episode occurred in 2023 and marked the start of substantial personal change.
- He describes growing up in a violent, alcohol‑affected home, viewing football as an anchor and his Bayern breakthrough as driven more by fear than inner peace.
- He says depression also accompanied his playing career, with his sister’s death in 2014 shaping him deeply; his clubs included Bayern, Hertha, Köln and Levante before retiring in 2016.