Former Tottenham and Liverpool star Christian Ziege, 52, mourns death of his wife Pia as his ‘world stops’ after her long battle with serious illness

Former Tottenham and Liverpool star Christian Ziege revealed that his wife Pia died on Monday after a long battle with ‘a serious illness’.

Ziege wrote on Instagram on Friday: ‘Our world has stood still since November 4th. Pia has closed her eyes forever after a long and serious illness.

“We would like to thank everyone who has walked this long and difficult path with us, and for their great sympathy and compassion. Pia, you will live on in our hearts forever.’

‘And there are always traces of your life, thoughts, photos, moments. They will remind us of you, make us happy and sad, and never let us be forgotten.”

The former football star and Pia had been married since 1997. They have two children, Alessandro and Maria. Pia also had a daughter, Katharina, from a previous marriage.

Ex-Tottenham and Liverpool star Christian Ziege revealed his wife Pia passed away on Monday

Ziege shared the news via a post on Instagram and a collection of photos with his wife

Ziege shared the news via a post on Instagram and a collection of photos with his wife

They have two children, Alessandro and Maria, and another daughter, Katharina, from Pia's previous marriage

They have two children, Alessandro and Maria, and another daughter, Katharina, from Pia’s previous marriage

Ziege shared the emotional message with followers on Friday morning

Ziege shared the emotional message with followers on Friday morning

During his only season at Liverpool he won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup

During his only season at Liverpool he won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup

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After playing for Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Tottenham and Borussia Mönchengladbach, Ziege retired from professional football in 2005.

During his only season at Liverpool he won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. He also finished runners-up in the League Cup with Tottenham in 2001–02.

At the start of his career, he spent seven seasons at Bayern Munich. He played 227 games for the team before eventually leaving for AC Milan.

In addition to his impressive club career, he was also capped 72 times by the German national team.

After retiring, the 52-year-old continued with a career in management, but his most recent job saw him leave FC Pinzgau in September 2022.

He coached just six games, winning three, drawing one and losing two.