Ice hockey: Former national player Krueger suffers from Parkinson’s disease

The German-Canadian, who also has Swiss citizenship, played 45 international matches for the DEB team. His Justin also made it into the German national team. Ralph Krueger once led the Swiss selection to the top in the world and was coach of the Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabers in the North American professional ice hockey league NHL. As chairman of the board, he also headed the English football club FC Southampton.

“Illness is just a part of me”

To relieve the symptoms, he does a lot of exercise. “I’m more athletic than ever,” said Krueger. He learned to accept “that this illness is only part of me – but not everything.”

When Parkinson’s disease occurs, there is a loss of nerve cells in the midbrain of the brain stem that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. The consequences include, above all, a slowing of movements and increased stiffness in the muscles, but also tremors and, in the later stages, a disturbance of balance.