Kampl talks about his brother's death after leaving RB

Kevin Kampl has spoken in detail for the first time about the sudden death of his older brother Seki. The former Bundesliga professional terminated his contract with RB Leipzig at the beginning of the year due to the private stroke of fate and announced the end of his career. "The last two and a half months have been the worst of my life so far," the 35-year-old said in an interview with Bild.

Kampl: "Everything falls away under your feet"

The period of suffering began on 22 October, when his family were unable to reach Seki and Kampl traveled directly to his home in Solingen. Once there, "I had the terrible news on my cell phone. I went to the hospital, where 100 old friends were standing outside, and was able to say goodbye to Seki," Kampl reported. "It was a heart attack. You see your brother lying there, with whom you were celebrating your birthday arm in arm in Mallorca just a week before. Everything just falls out from under your feet."

When Kampl, who was born and raised in Solingen, was back in Leipzig for the first time in mid-November, he realized that he wanted to end his career. "I was sitting in the kitchen with my wife and we both looked at each other and said: "We have to go home." What's the point here now if you're needed much more somewhere else?"

Kampl's father needs care after several strokes

Especially with his father, who is not in good health. "He was in intensive care shortly before my brother died because he had lost a third of his blood. He had already had several strokes and much more. He's currently losing a lot of blood again. But he no longer wants to go to hospital," Kampl explained. "My mom is now looking after him, which Seki always did before. It's also a difficult situation for her. She has aged ten years in the past few months."

Every day he is at his brother's grave, said Kampl. "My brother, he was everything to me. My dad, my best friend, my mentor who showed me the way. We did everything together for the last ten years." Kampl's brother was 51 years old.

Kampl on his career: "I got the best out of it for myself"

Kampl, who played 270 games in the Bundesliga for Leipzig, Leverkusen and Dortmund, now wants to let his 18 years in professional soccer sink in alongside spending time with his family. Last weekend, the two-time DFB Cup winner was bid farewell in Leipzig. The former Slovenian international (28 appearances) said of his career: "I got the best out of it for me."