German Soccer Club Player Dead at 22

Luca Meixner, a soccer player for the German club SSV Reutlingen 05, has tragically died at the age of 22. 

SSV Reutlingen announced his death after learning over the weekend that he passed away suddenly on Dec. 27. A cause of death hasn't been revealed. 

"The entire SSV family is deeply shocked and stunned," the statement read. "His teammates, all committees and employees mourn with Luca's relatives and our thoughts are with his family, friends and companions. We ask that you respect the privacy of Luca's family during this difficult time."

Meixner played as a midfielder for the club since 2021 and extended his contract for the club through the 2024–25 season. He was a member of the community for many years as he "went through all of the club's youth teams" and was known for his "dynamism and aggressiveness" on the field when scoring goals, according to a team statement obtained by People. He most recently played on Dec. 7 against TSG Balingen.

"I am very happy to be playing for SSV Reutlingen for another year, which has been my home for over 10 years," he said in a statement after his contract extension. "Even as a youth, I learned in this club how important the right values ​​are for success. I hope that we can build on these values ​​again in the coming season and, with a lot of solidarity, hard work and the necessary team spirit, we can compete at the top."

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SSV Reutlingen will kick off this year's competition on March 1 against Sonnenhof Großaspach.