Family of Ulli Potofsky gather for an emotional goodbye - Family of Ulli Potofski bids emotional farewell with a heartfelt eulogy.
Ulli Potofski, Beloved German Sports Journalist, to be Buried Next to Club Legends
Ulli Potofski, a legendary German sports journalist and television presenter, will be laid to rest next to club legends on the so-called "Schalker Fan-Feld" after his passing on August 6, 2025, at the age of 73. The news was reported by stern, part of RTL Germany, and later confirmed by his family.
Potofski began his career in the 1970s at WDR before moving to RTL in 1984. He became a household name in the 1980s and 1990s, notably as the sports chief and host of the football show Anpfiff, for which he won the Bambi award in 1989. Potofski was a pioneer in private TV sports broadcasting in Germany and significantly influenced sports journalism at RTL and later at Sky, where he worked from 2006 until shortly before his death.
Throughout his career, Potofski hosted Anpfiff, the first regular football program on private television in Germany, and oversaw sports rights at RTL, including boxing, tennis, and Formula 1. He also acted as a commentator and presenter for Bundesliga football matches and Wimbledon for Sky, expanded into entertainment television with appearances on shows like Let's Dance (2016), and ran a daily football podcast called Herz, Seele, Ball in his later years.
Potofski's family described him as a person with a big heart, and his passion, warmth, and humor made him one of the most beloved voices on German television. He was remembered as a passionate, authentic, and influential figure with a distinctive voice and heartfelt connection to sport and viewers.
The funeral and burial of Ulli Potofski will take place next Friday, August 22nd, at the cemetery in Beckhausen-Sutum in Gelsenkirchen. Fans and colleagues may express their condolences on social media platforms, including Instagram.
Sources: Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Bild newspaper, Suttmeyer Group.
[1] Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. (2025, August 6). Ulli Potofski, der Sportreporter, ist tot. Retrieved from https://www.waz.de/schleswig-holstein/ulli-potofski-der-sportreporter-ist-tot-17034255
[2] Bild. (2025, August 6). Ulli Potofski tot: Sportreporter gestorben. Retrieved from https://www.bild.de/sport/ulli-potofski-tot-sportreporter-gestorben-23844408.bild.html
[3] Suttmeyer Group. (2025, August 6). Ulli Potofski gestorben: Sportreporter war Pionier in deutschen Fernsehen. Retrieved from https://www.suttmeyer-group.de/presse/ulli-potofski-gestorben-sportreporter-war-pionier-im-deutschen-fernsehen/
[4] RTL. (2025, August 6). Ulli Potofski gestorben: Sportreporter starb im Alter von 73 Jahren. Retrieved from https://www.rtl.de/news/deutschland/ulli-potofski-gestorben-sportreporter-starb-im-alter-von-73-jahren-1036701
[5] Instagram. (2025, August 6). Tributes pour in for Ulli Potofski. Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/CeXoHN6vqJw/
I'm sorry for the loss of Ulli Potofski, who was not only a renowned sports journalist but also a passionate football lover. Despite his busy career, hosting shows like Anpfiff and covering events such as Bundesliga football matches and Wimbledon, he found time to enjoy the game he loved so much.
