From the Pitch to the Soil: How Heartbreak Taught Kevin Kampl the True Value of Time

One week after celebrating his birthday alongside his brother in Mallorca, professional footballer Kevin Kampl received the phone call that changed his life forever. His older brother and closest confidant, Seki, had suffered a sudden, fatal heart attack. Kevin immediately left training to travel back to Solingen, but by the time he arrived, his brother was already gone. Just days earlier, the two had stood arm in arm, making plans for everything they would pursue together after Kevin’s eventual retirement. In an instant, that entire future evaporated.

Kevin had spent his adult life competing at the pinnacle of European sports, representing top clubs like Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig, while collecting trophies and making hundreds of Bundesliga appearances. Yet in the wake of Seki’s death, the pitch lost its hold on him. With his father’s health declining, Kevin recognized that continuing his career meant sacrificing irreplaceable moments with the people he loved most. He requested an early release from RB Leipzig, officially retiring at age 35 to step away from the sport entirely. He had spent years chasing victories; now, he simply wanted time.

Tragically, grief struck again just months later when his father passed away. Having lost both his brother and his father within seven chaotic months, Kevin sought refuge with his wife and two sons at their quiet finca in Mallorca. Away from the roar of stadium crowds, he found a new purpose in simple labor—tending to olive trees, melons, and fresh produce in his garden. The quiet harvest could never erase his immense loss, but it provided a peaceful sanctuary to heal. Kevin Kampl spent decades believing the next match was ever