Bayern Munich goalkeeper announces tragic death of six-year-old son

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Sven Ulreich has announced the heartbreaking passing of his six-year-old son after a long battle with a serious illness.

Ulreich confirmed the tragic death of his six-year-old son, Len, via an announcement on Instagram, stating the decision to go public was incredibly difficult but necessary to bring clarity and avoid speculation.

FC Bayern Munchen goalkeeper Sven Ulreich has announced the death of his son.| Hollandse Hoogte | GERRIT VAN KEULEN (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)

The veteran goalkeeper wrote on Instagram: “It is with deep sadness that we would like to announce today that our son Len passed away a few weeks ago after a long, serious illness.

“The decision to make this public now is incredibly difficult for us however, it is an important step for us as a family to create clarity in our environment and also in the public eye. Together with our daughter, we are now trying to find our way back to life step by step.

“A special thank you goes to our families, friends, and FC Bayern Munich for their discretion and great support over the past few months that means a lot to us.

“We ask the public and media representatives to be considerate and respect our privacy. We kindly ask you to refrain from further inquiries or statements. Lisa & Sven.”

Len was born in November 2018, three years after Ulreich joined Bayern from Stuttgart. The announcement comes just weeks after the 36-year-old signed a one-year contract extension with the club.