Hannover 96 has called on supporters to donate to a fundraising campaign for former striker Kreso Kovacec, who is in a coma following life-threatening medical complications.
The 56-year-old suffered a sudden aortic rupture that required emergency surgery, during which doctors also replaced a heart valve. Complications during the procedure led to a stroke and brain hemorrhage, necessitating further intervention, and the former Bundesliga professional has been in a coma since. The club, which shared a link to the fundraiser started by a close friend with the family's consent, said Kovacec's wife and two children are enduring an extraordinarily difficult time.
Kovacec played for Hannover 96 between 1995 and 1997, scoring 42 goals in 79 competitive appearances across the second tier and regional league.