Former Soccer Star Sebastian Rosenthal Reveals Father's Suicide Tragedy

Sebastian Rosenthal, a former soccer player once nicknamed "The Best Jew in the World," has revealed the profound tragedy of his life: his father's suicide. Rosenthal's father, Lazaros, died by suicide at age 57 in 2016. His body was found in his car near a Jewish cemetery with a gunshot wound to the head, and the circumstances were unclear at the time. Rosenthal, who played in Israel for Maccabi Petah Tikva and Maccabi Netanya late in his career, decided to speak out recently in a Chilean interview to raise awareness about depression.

Rosenthal described his father as a "very tough man" and noted that soccer had brought them closer, as his father often accompanied him and shared his experiences. The suddenness of his father's death, without any prior history of depression, was a severe blow to the family. "It happened from one moment to the next, and it was very difficult for all of us to deal with it," Rosenthal stated.

He emphasized the importance of discussing depression openly and without blame, stating, "It is important to talk about it, if you are willing. You don't need to blame anyone." Rosenthal believes his father's actions were an escape from immense suffering, not an act of selfishness, and that no one can judge whether he could have been helped. "His suffering was too great," he explained.

Rosenthal also reflected on his own career, including his brief stint in Israel. He mentioned that his former wife was pregnant with their son, Lucas, and they had planned for him to be born in Israel. However, a sudden issue with his club, where the coach allegedly dismissed him without explanation on the day he was supposed to travel to Israel, led to his retirement. "Almost all the windows were closed. I could have continued playing, but I decided to retire," he said.