Tributes have been paid to a young footballer who died suddenly at the age of 22.
German side SSV Reutlingen confirmed talented player Luca Meixner had passed away after he was found dead in his bed.
He died on December 28, just days after Christmas.
Police have yet to confirm a cause of death.
A statement from the club read: “Last weekend we received the terrible news that our player Luca Meixner died unexpectedly on Friday, December 27th at the age of 22.
“The entire SSV family is deeply saddened and stunned. His teammates, all committees and employees mourn with Luca’s bereaved family and our thoughts are with his family, friends and companions. We ask that the privacy of Luca’s family be respected during this difficult time.”
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Midfielder Meixner joined Reutlingen as a youngster, making his first team debut in 2021. He went on to make 100 appearances for the club, scoring on six occasions, the Mirror reports.
He most recently appeared in their 1-1 draw with TSG Balingen at the start of December, the last match played before the international break.
Tributes for the young player have been left outside the club’s home stadium. Fans left a banner reading “Ruhe in Friden”, translating to “rest in peace”. A picture alongside a scarf and candle were also displayed.
Reutlingen are currently tenth in the fifth tier of German football, with their next match scheduled for early March. They previously competed as high as the second tier, but were relegated in 2003 and have not been as successful since.
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