Ilona Lowen, the wife of St. Louis City SC midfielder Eduard Lowen, passed away on Monday after battling brain cancer. She was 28 years old, as reported by local media.
The club shared the news through a statement on social media.
“We grieve alongside Edu and everyone affected by this loss, asking the CITY community to keep them in your thoughts during this tough time. Ilona was a remarkable example of love, humility, and kindness and will be greatly missed,” the statement read.
Ilona was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2024 after experiencing severe headaches. Following several surgeries, doctors informed the couple that the cancer had progressed to Stage 4 and could not be treated. Prior to this, she had been diagnosed with a benign brain tumor.
Eduard has not played this season but attended the club’s opening match, discussing his commitment to his wife and his wish to support her during this time.
“We receive a lot of support from family and friends, but there are moments and responsibilities that only I can manage. I want to take care of her because I’m her husband,” he shared, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Sometimes unexpected things arise that require my attention.”
Eduard Lowen, 29, played in Germany before joining St. Louis City in 2022. Over 71 regular-season MLS matches (62 starts), he has scored 17 goals and provided nine assists.