Krzysztof Nowak was considered a great talent, was undisputed at VfL Wolfsburg – and died at the age of 29 from an incurable disease.
Krzysztof Nowak was one of the first real personalities at VfL Wolfsburg. He was considered an exceptional talent in his home country and had a very specific career goal in mind with the 2002 World Cup.
Nowak died of an incurable disease at the age of 29, but continues to shape the club despite his tragic and early death. A look at an exceptional footballer who played his way into the hearts of VfL Wolfsburg forever.
As Wolves entered their second year in the Bundesliga in 1998, Krzysztof Nowak joined Germany from Brazil from Athletico Paranaense. The then 22-year-old quickly made his way into the starting XI at VfL Wolfsburg.
Nowak was at home in central midfield and was able to have a positive influence on the Lower Saxony game both on offense and on defence. “He will always play for me,” said coach Wolfgang Wolf once about the Pole and even considered him his “favourite player”, as he revealed.
Nowak was on the pitch 83 times in the Bundesliga, the last time in February 2001. But early on in his career, the 2002 World Cup was probably his greatest career goal. In Poland, Nowak was considered one of the most promising talents of all, which is why it seemed possible for him to take part in the world’s largest football tournament in Japan and South Korea.
Shock diagnosis ALS: Nowak died at the age of 29
But then the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) followed, which is considered an incurable disease. It is a disease of the nervous system that primarily damages motor nerve cells – that is, nerve cells that are responsible for the control and regulation of muscles and movements.
In the advanced course of the disease, complete paralysis of the skeletal muscles can even occur. ALS is therefore one of the most serious diseases and treatment can only alleviate the symptoms.
Trainer Wolf continued to take care of Nowak and kept in private contact with him and his family. When Nowak died in May 2005 at the age of just 29, Wolf said: “I lost a wonderful person, an impeccable footballer and a friend.”
The Wolves’ ex-coach still maintains a relationship with the family. His wife Beata started a job in the VfL Wolfsburg fan shop. Nowak could only follow the World Cup in Japan and South Korea from the stands.
“Number 10 of the heart”: That’s how Wolfsburg Nowak still commemorates
VfL always commemorates the Wolfsburg legend before every home game. There Nowak is proclaimed “number 10 of hearts” in the Wolfsburg line-up. And that’s not all: in 2002 the association also founded the “Krzysztof Nowak Foundation”, which supports ALS sufferers and their relatives.
The Pole once said about his illness: “It’s like football – you never know how it will end.” On September 27 he would have been 47 years old. In any case, at VfL Wolfsburg he will always remain part of the club as a very special personality, an outstanding footballer and “number 10 in hearts”.
