About 40,000 people attended a memorial service in the Hannover football stadium today for German goalkeeper Robert Enke.

The Hannover 96 goalie committed suicide on Tuesday. Robert Enke's coffin was placed on the centre spot, in one of Germany's largest public commemorations in decades. Many German football celebrities attended the commemoration, as well as the entire national team.

Enke's wife said after his suicide that he had been depressed for years but wanted to hide it from the outside world. The 32-year-old goalkeeper was buried in his hometown of Neustadt near Hannover after the service.

Photo: German goalkeeper Robert Enke (ANP)