Ulli Potofski: He is buried on the Schalke fan field

He was Schalke fan through and through-and now finds his final resting place on the Schalke fan field in Gelsenkirchen. The football commentator Ulrich “Ulli” Potofski (1952-2025), who died on August 3 at the age of 73, even even moderated in the Schalke jersey. The burial is now scheduled for August 22nd. It should take place in the chapel of the fan field from 11:04 a.m.

The Schalke fan field is a “community grave field in the Beckhausen-Sutum cemetery, just a few hundred meters from the Veltins Arena”. Royal blue fans are given the opportunity to “remain connected to their heart association”.

Potofski’s heart’s desire could be made possible thanks to donations that were collected through the “Schalker Markt” foundation. The Schalke connection also played a role in choosing the clergyman. With Gereon Age (58) a Catholic pastor will lead the ceremony, which is Schalke fan himself.

Christian Sprenger, who was close friends with Potofski and last represented him in the podcast “Heart, Soul, Ball”, told RTL “RTL”: “Nadja wanted a Catholic pastor for Ulli.

The Gelsenkirchen pastor embodies exactly what Potofski distinguished: “So warm, so unconventional and open to everything”, as Sprenger emphasizes. A property that made the deceased commentator one of the most popular voices in German sport for decades.

It is not yet clear whether other colleagues, companions or friends of Potofskis will take up the word as part of the funeral service. CDU politician Wolfgang Bosbach (73), with whom Potofski wrote the book “52: a vintage – two life”, cannot participate for scheduled reasons, as the broadcaster has learned.

Ulli Potofski, born on July 7, 1952 in Gelsenkirchen, was responsible for sports reporting at RTL from the 1980s, later worked for Sport1 and Sky.

Numerous fans and companions had passed publicly after the death of the football commentator. Sport moderator Esther Sedlaczek (39) wrote in an Instagram post: “The tears have not yet dried, but what remains are endlessly many wonderful memories of our time together and of you as unique people.” In the post office, Sedlaczek shared several photos with Potofski.