The video that finally made Esther Sedlaczek famous lasts six minutes and 46 seconds. Okay, those who regularly watch the “Sportschau” in the first were already familiar with the tall woman with the long dark hair, following all she has been celebrating this since 2021 as the successor to Matthias Opdenhövel ARD-High Mass of Sports. But the rest of Germany noticed her when, following the end of the German national team, she heralded the beginning of the end of Oliver Bierhoff with her uncomfortable and inexorable questions.
“Esther Sedlazcek: A pit bull tends to give in”: The Twitter community honored the 37-year-old sports journalist with this comparison, which only seems uncharming at first glance. Because she questioned when Noch-DFB director Bierhoff spoke vaguely of his anger: “What or who do you feel angry at?” biting once more: What would Bierhoff criticize regarding himself? The cross-examination finally leads to the question of whether there shouldn’t be a change at Bierhoff’s post as well: “Are you thinking regarding that?”
First studied fashion journalism, then all green
Unlike her colleague Laura Wontorra, Esther Sedlaczek was not born with a fascination for football from her father; Born in East Berlin, she grew up with her mother and only met her father – actor Sven Martinek – when she was 16. If he watches football today, it’s actually only for the sake of his daughter. Out of a spontaneous impulse, Sedlaczek, as a Berlin brat, had asked his mother to visit the football stadium, to Hertha of course, what else? the love Sedlaczek has stayed with the old lady, as has his enthusiasm for what is supposedly the most beautiful thing in the world.
Because she didn’t want to leave Berlin, Sedlaczek, blessed with model dimensions, first studied fashion journalism in the capital, but soon realized that grass green suits her much better. 2nd league, Bundesliga, DFB Cup, Europa League und Champions League: Esther Sedlaczek joined Sky as a field reporter in her mid-20s and initially worked her way up in the Bolz business at Sky. After Anne Will, Monica Lierhaus and Jessy Wellmer, she became the fourth woman to moderate the “Sportschau”. Four weeks before the birth of her son at the end of 2021, she was in front of the camera. To this day, Sedlazek has consistently kept to himself who is the father of the son and the daughter born in 2019. All that is known is that it is not a footballer. But a Munich businessman.
This woman doesn’t want to please – she wants answers
Ever since it started on the ARD “Sports Show”, but especially since the start of the World Cup in Qatar not only the media world, but also the audience sings praises to Eva Sedlaczek: “Finally someone with balls,” said a commentator on YouTube. The new pit bull in the ARD stable is not afraid of the big animals. But what is even more important: Sedlaczek is not vying for attention or sympathy. She doesn’t want to please, she wants answers. When she put Oliver Bierhoff in the pliers following the Germans left early, she – like the whole of Germany – didn’t want to hear any more blabla, but simply wanted to know: How might something like this happen once more?
The fact that qualities such as clarity, tenacity and an unpretentious manner in sports journalists now have to be expressly praised is not praise for the profession. On the other hand, interviewing professional footballers is a discipline in itself. Usually much less agile verbally than on the field, they were trained by PR professionals to pack a lot of content-related nothing into word clouds. But the fact that player interviews on live TV usually remain at the easy-listening level is also due to those who ask. Unfortunately, sports journalists are often fans themselves and have no interest in leaving scratches on the glossy paintwork of their heroes. In addition, there is the concern of being reprimanded or abandoned by a sports legend in front of the camera and making himself the laughing stock of the nation. So cotton questions meet word clouds: It’s not surprising that only fluffy things come out of it.
The best thing that might have happened to Schweinsteiger
The 1.83 meter tall Esther Sedlazcek, on the other hand, meets all interviewees up to the 1.77 meter tall national coach Hansi Flick on an equal footing – self-confident, objective, sovereign. ARD expert Bastian Schweinsteiger feels visibly comfortable next to the journalist: Sedlaczek gives him the right keywords and gently forces him to answer to the point instead of fleeing into generalities and a mischievous grin. With the presenter at his side, Schweinsteiger even withstood Flick’s questions and bravely showed him where, in his opinion, the much-vaunted team lacked the necessary passion for victory.
Before leaving for Qatar, Esther Sedlaczek had dreamed of hosting a World Cup final with German participation. This dream has burst for now. But unlike the team, the presenter can fly home in a few days with her head held high. With the good feeling of having given your best.
