Dundee United’s German goalkeeper Luis Zwick has told how he overcame childhood epilepsy to pursue his career as a professional footballer.
In an interview with the German newspaper Sport Bild, the 21-year-old Berliner told how he had his first epileptic fit at the age of 12 and by 15 he was cured.
Arriving in Dundee last summer having previously played for Hertha 03 Zehlendorf in the German fifth tier, he recently signed a two-year contract at Tannadice after he impressed as an amateur with their development squad.
Now established as United’s first-choice keeper, he has told how his “great dream” is now being fulfilled.
He said: “My first game was an indescribable feeling. When I saw my name on the board when we ran on and the fans applauded, I had goose-bumps.”
When Luis was a child it didn’t look as if he would play between the posts at a high level.
He can well remember the start of his illness.
He said: “I started to shiver in bed, I could see and say nothing but hear everything. My brother Paul kept shouting ‘Luis is dying’. I was terrified.”
The doctors diagnosed Rolando epilepsy, a nervous illness of children.
After the attack, he couldn’t get to sleep as it struck in the early morning.
In hindsight, this blow of fate made him stronger, according to his father, Carlos. He supported Luis throughout.
The 63-year-old Berlin architect said: “We made a three-year plan in 2013. I wanted to support him financially so that he can concentrate fully on sport. It’s great that it worked so soon.”
His first club was Teltower FV1913 at age seven under his friend, Moritz Fiedler’s father, who was youth coach at the time.
When the goalkeeper got injured, Luis got his chance and established himself as a regular. His talent was quickly spotted and he moved to Hertha 03 Zehlendorf as a 15-year-old.
He achieved one of his biggest successes when, in the final of the Berlin Cup against Berliner FC, he saved the crucial penalty.
Offers from regional clubs came in but often only as reserve keeper until Andre Lobei, a family friend, converted an unusual idea into reality.
He emailed an application video to all English and Scottish premier league clubs and Dundee United reacted quickly.