“One last time to Schalke”

It turned out to be that one great highlight which Raimund Montenbruck had been looking forward to: to be once more in Schalke to see a game of his club. And there he was, live among 55.000 spectators, at the Europe-League game against Krasnodar.

Karin Höller had before, in autumn last year, reported in the “Westfälische Nachrichten” (local newspaper) on his anticipation to this special event. Under the title “His Last Great Game” she had impressively written about his love for this club and about his plans and wishes for this visit: to put on his blue-white favourite shirt with the number 11 of Ebbe Sand, to sit in the VIP-Lounge at a nice meal and enjoy the game and perhaps have the chance to approach the player Benedikt Höwedes. Schalke had always been his “elixir of life” and he had been true to his club for twenty years.

The visit was made possible by the foundation “Schalke Helps”, which provided at short notice tickets for the sold-out game against Krasnodar. And it was made possible by Johannes-Hospice where he had moved to a fortnight ago. Last wishes rank high in our house, and so, beside his father, two colleagues of our hospice accompanied him.

3:0 was the score Raimund Montenbruck had prophecied as result of the event. The team won 2:0 and reached thus the next round. “No evening for a soccer gourmet, but Schalke was very effective”, a commentator wrote in the internet. Most certainly, Raimund Montenbruck saw this quite differently.

He stayed with his companions until the very end, even after all people had left the stadium. The lights had already gone out and the advertisement along the sidelines was being pulled down. He took one last breath – this last happiness to be in the stadium and this deep pain of farewell.