Death at the age of 85
Mourning for former sports show presenter Holger Obermann
Holger Obermann, here on a photo from May 2013, also worked as a development worker
© Daniel Karmann / Picture Alliance
Holger Obermann will be fondly remembered by many fans of the ARD sports show. The former professional footballer also made a name for himself as a development worker. He has now died of Corona at the age of 85.
Holger Obermann was a well-known face at the sports show in the 1970s and early 80s. Now the former professional soccer player, TV presenter and development worker has died at the age of 85.
Obermann’s death was confirmed to the German Press Agency by his wife Barbara. The “Hessische Niedersächsische Allgemeine” had previously reported on it. Accordingly, Obermann died on October 30 of the consequences of a corona infection. According to his wife, Obermann had been vaccinated twice and there was no booster vaccination. Born in Kassel, he also leaves two children and three grandchildren.
Holger Obermann was the first German professional footballer to move to the USA
Goalkeeper Obermann once played for Hessen Kassel, Concordia Hamburg and FSV Frankfurt before becoming the first German professional to go to SCE New Jersey in the USA in 1961. In 1966 his TV career began with ARD, for which he reported about 500 Bundesliga games. From 1971 to 1984 he also moderated the ARD sports show, and was on site as a reporter at five world championships.
Above all, Obermann made a name for himself as a development worker. He led numerous aid projects around the globe. Foreign assignments on behalf of the DFB, FIFA, DOSB and the federal government have taken him to countries such as Gambia, Guinea, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines. The globetrotter also traveled to crisis and war areas such as Sri Lanka after the earthquake, East Timor and Afghanistan. His last project was a youth soccer school in Nepal.
See in the video: Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb is a police officer and football referee. She has already whistled games in the World Cup and the Olympics. In the VOX voice format, it demands more respect in our society.