BERLIN - Hoffenheim midfielder Boris Vukcevic has thanked the club and its fans for their support as recovers from a serious car crash that left him with life-threatening head injuries.

The Bundesliga club says on its website that Vukcevic can now express himself verbally and that he expressed his gratitude in a message sent through his parents.

Hoffenheim quoted Vukcevic as saying: "I want to greet everyone and ask at the same time that I'm given the necessary time and calm to find a way back into my life."

The 22-year-old Vukcevic's car collided head on with a truck on Sept. 28. He spent seven weeks in an induced coma, from which he awoke last month.

The Croatian-born German made 78 Bundesliga appearances for Hoffenheim, and six for Germany's under-21 team.

© Copyright 2013