Hans Huber's Book: "More Than Just the Swedes!"

Hans Huber has not been seen as a presenter and commentator on ORF for some time now. However, this man is still present – not least thanks to legendary TV moments that have etched themselves into the memories of Austrian sports fans.

"The Swedes are a very, very tough nut to crack!" When a technical defect led to this pronouncement during the ÖFB team's World Cup qualifier against Sweden in 1997, domestic sports television history was made.

But the now 82-year-old was, of course, much more than just this one slip of the tongue. And he was also much more than the man who was pelted with stones and oranges by the home fans during an ÖFB guest appearance in Israel.

Stories from Other Times

The former ORF Head of Sport has penned his story together with Markus Geisler – the freelance journalist also supplies LAOLA1 with his meticulously researched stories.

Exciting, entertaining anecdotes, stories from his early days in journalism, when the media world was entirely different, and background information on his most famous moments.

"Between humor and goosebumps, between live blunders and shining moments, a very personal portrait emerges of a man who shaped Austrian sports journalism for decades – both in front of and behind the camera. A journey through football, sports, and television history. Full of passion, mishaps, triumphs – and of course: 'Swedes'," reads the blurb.

Hans Huber says: "I don't feel like a star or a celebrity. But I am an eyewitness to TV history often featured on screen, and even today I am frequently recognized and approached at events, in restaurants, or on the street. A selfie here, an autograph there. That flatters my vanity; inwardly, my self-confidence purrs like a contented, well-fed tomcat. I even occasionally hear 'legend.' I would be lying if I claimed not to be pleased about it, even though it always surprises me. I perceive this designation as recognition because I have always pursued my work with dedication, enthusiasm, and a certain humility. That probably stuck in people's memories, even though several years have passed since my ORF days.

Time and again, questions about 'the Swedes' and Israel, or the statement 'You accompanied my entire youth,' naturally come up. I recently experienced this again during encounters with Thomas Stipsits and Reinhold Bilgeri. Before I could even ask them for a selfie, they had already pulled out their phones and asked me for a picture with them. For me, that's pure appreciation. But it's not just the corresponding age group that gets in touch with me. Young people, who couldn't have experienced me as a commentator or presenter, also approach me. Various social media channels, YouTube, and Google make it possible."

Hans Huber
is an Austrian sports journalist and long-time ORF presenter. He hosted numerous sports shows as well as major national and international sports broadcasts and was also ORF Head of Sport. For decades, he shaped the broadcaster's sports reporting.

Markus Geisler
is a freelance journalist in Vienna. Since 2019, he has worked, among other things, as editor-in-chief of ÖFB-Corner and Stadion-Corner, and as an author for the Bundesliga-Journal. Previously, he worked for many years for the Styria Media Group (Sportmagazin, SportWoche). Other positions included Sportzeitung, Bravo Sport, and sport.de.

ISBN/EAN 978-3-903538-51-1
Binding: Hardcover
Format: With dust jacket
Publisher: Edition Platin
Pages: 256 pages