Matthias Hüppi leaves SRF - and joins FC St. Gallen
Longtime sports broadcaster Matthias Hüppi is leaving SRF. Effective January 15, 2018, the 59-year-old from eastern Switzerland will become the full-time president of FC St. Gallen. Matthias Hüppi will make his final appearance on SRF this coming Sunday, December 17, 2017, on the program «Sportpanorama.».
After 38 years at SF DRS and later at SRF, Matthias Hüppi has decided to take on a new professional challenge. This writes SRF in a statement on Tuesday. As of January 15, 2018, he will take over as chairman of Super League club FC St. Gallen. The 59-year-old thus follows an appointment by the shareholders of the eastern Swiss football club. The St. Gallen native will make his last appearance on SRF next Sunday, December 17, 2017, as host of "Sportpanorama.
Matthias Hüppi began his journalistic career in 1979 as a student at the University of Zurich at what was then Radio DRS, before leaving his first mark on television shortly afterwards. Since the early 1980s, the sports journalist, commentator and presenter has been one of SRF Sport's figureheads, particularly in the sports of soccer, alpine skiing and wrestling.
To date, Matthias Hüppi has hosted the magazine shows "Sportpanorama," "Super League - Goool," "Sportaktuell," as well as the Champions League broadcasts and other live shows. From 1991 to 2014, he accompanied the Swiss national soccer team as a presenter at European and World Championships. He has been a commentator and presenter at all Winter Olympics since 1988 in Calgary. He was a presenter at the Summer Olympics from 1988 to 2012.
From 1997 to 2007, Mattias Hüppi also hosted the "Credit Suisse Sports Awards" sports gala. From 1991 to 1998, in addition to his duties as a presenter and commentator, he headed the then editorial department for sports news and was deputy to SRF's head of sports. In 2011, he received the East Switzerland Media Award in the television category.
"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I can't pass up".
Matthias Hüppi commented on his departure in an SRF release: "I am leaving SRF full of gratitude, melancholy and respect for the new task. My special thanks go to all the people who have always supported me with their work behind the camera. Until recently, I could hardly have imagined that I would make such a significant change after 38 years in television. To be able to take up my career again at my age is a unique opportunity that I can't miss. Even in my new role, I will always be a great advocate for my longtime employer SRF." (pd/hae)
The new president of the @FCSG_1879 Matthias Hüppi: "In the future, there will be only one group in this club: GREENWHITE!" pic.twitter.com/jMHKZH1pjG
- Tagblatt Online (@tagblatt_ch) December 12, 2017
