A car accident abruptly changed the life of former footballer Hakan Bicici: he has been in a coma for ten years, but football is still important to him.
During his time as a professional footballer at Hannover 96, Hakan Bicici was a star of the region’s large Turkish community. And this despite the fact that he has never collected trophies, won league titles or competed in the national team: Bicici was the first of the generation of so-called guest working children to receive a professional contract. He was a role model for many people.
But a sad anniversary will be celebrated in a few days: On November 26, 2012, eight years after the end of his career, Bicici’s life changed abruptly: the then 42-year-old had an accident with his car near the southern Turkish city of Adana. Bicici suffered severe head injuries, internal bleeding, and broken legs and ribs. Doctors fought for his life.
The former “king of the dribble” and midfield strategist of Hannover 96 has been in a coma for ten years now and is in a wheelchair.
In the 1990s, Bicici played with interruptions for a total of four years for Hannover 96. He was also under contract with TuS Celle and Eintracht Braunschweig.
How is Hakan Bicici today? His aunt Hülya Häseler tells t-online: “In many ways the situation with him is still the same: Hakan can neither speak, walk nor eat independently.” The 52-year-old is being fed through a gastric tube. But: “Many are very surprised when they meet him,” he says. According to the municipal employee, most people would imagine people in a coma as permanently bedridden and staring straight ahead. They would often be very surprised at how Bicici reacts to his surroundings.
Go to football as often as possible
The fact that Hakan Bicici is still aware of his surroundings despite his condition is particularly evident in football. His mother Fatma Bicici and his aunts Hatice Moormann and Hülya Häseler often take him to amateur courses. From time to time they make a detour to the amateur club SC Elite Hannover, where Bicici receives a warm welcome and is still surrounded by many people who have known him for a long time.
The rustic sports club with beer garden is located directly between the modern club center of Hannover 96 and Bicici’s former location, the Lower Saxony stadium, today’s Heinz von Heiden Arena.
In the 1990s, 96 players would meet here for many pub nights, they say in Hanover. Today, the club is best known as a point of contact for second division supporters before home games and as a venue for SC matches. “You know Hakan is happy when he watches football matches,” says Häseler. “Then his eyes widen. Many think he’s shocked. But really he’s just trying to absorb as much as possible,” he says.
Hardly any treatment options in the hometown
Bicici’s mother and aunts take care of the former professional together with a nursing service. “We try to keep him busy as often as possible. Also to train physically,” she says. “You get the feeling that someone who has been playing sports since they were three must somehow keep exercising.”
His interests aren’t limited to football: “He also likes theater and concerts,” he says. “And if he doesn’t like a situation, he just closes his eyes,” he adds with a laugh.
But attending events and therapy appointments takes time: at least two people must accompany him for transportation. So every appointment requires planning. “Unfortunately, there are no suitable special devices available in Hanover, although we have an outstanding clinic in Hanover with the Medical University,” says Häseler. Instead, Bicici has to be driven regularly to a gait training machine, the Lokomat training, in Braunschweig. This is to keep the legs busy by stimulating them on a treadmill.
