PHOTO: Bildbyrån
He guided viewers through some of the greatest sports moments in 40 years of television and became a beloved entertainer in the process.
Arne Hegerfors has passed away, 81, old.
– Maradona… magnificent display! Ouch, ouch, ouch… ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch… Have you seen anything like this? This is the WC’s most fantastic goal so far and it is of course the world’s best footballer who offers it, Diego Armando Maradona!
Arne Hegerfors was, as always, there, guiding viewers to the unforgettable sporting moments. Like in the World Cup quarter-final in Mexico City in 1986 when Diego Maradona scored his famous solo goal for Argentina against England.
Hegerfors was in the commentator’s booth at the time Börje Salming received a standing ovation in the Canada Cup in 1976, when IFK Göteborg won the Uefa Cup in 1982 and he refereed the goal that gave Tre Kronor 2-2 against the Soviet Union on the way to the improbable World Cup gold in ice hockey in 1987.
“Pontiac Silver Doom”
The punishment in the Olympic final in ice hockey in 1994? Arne. Soccer World Cup 1994 in the USA? Yes, of course it was Hegerfors who exclaimed in Swedish:
– Now we celebrate midsummer here in Pontiac Silverdoom, after Martin Dahlin’s 3-1 goal against Russia in Detroit secured Sweden’s place in the round of 16.
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It went so far that Hegerfor’s old boss Lars-Gunnar Björklund jokingly gave him the nickname Alexander Lucasafter Donald Duck lucky cousin. Wherever he appeared, there were Swedish victories or medals.
Like that Monday during the 1976 Olympics in Montreal when he was actually supposed to be off, but wandered off to the cycling race and had to refer Bernt Johansson’s dramatic path to the unexpected Olympic gold in line races.
– I loved my job and felt enormously privileged, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else! I got to be part of many World Cups and other major sporting events, sat in the best seats, stayed in the best hotels and talked to the most interesting sportsmen, Hegerfors told TT in connection with his 75th birthday in 2017.
– I have lived for sport all my life and was almost prepared to pay to be part of all this. Although I hardly dared to admit that during the salary negotiations.
The entertainer Arne
It was Lars-Gunnar Björklund who saw something special in the newspaper journalist Hegerfors and gave him the chance to test the radio medium. In 1969, he came to Tv-sporten and then roughly 40 years of commentating followed. Appropriately enough, the final match was Gais against IFK Göteborg at Gamla Ullevi when Hegerfors, born in the working-class district of Majorna in Gothenburg, said goodbye to the television box in 2012.
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At the time, Hegerfors had changed employers 15 years earlier – from SVT to the pay channel Canal+, as a well-paid attraction for the Allsvenskan broadcasts.
But it wasn’t just sport for the jovial Hegerfors, who went through the window before that word was even invented. He became popular in a way that could only happen when there were only two television channels.
Like the predecessors Lennart Hyland, Bengt Bedrup and Tommy Engstrand Hegerfors was lured away from sports to work extra hard in the entertainment department. Together with Björn Skifs For many years in the 80s, he formed a popular radar couple in the entertainment program “Kryzz”, a suitable format for Hegerfors, who got the Gothenburg wit in his mother’s milk.
With Martin Timell and Anders Lundin Hegerfors also led the major investment “Det kommer mera” in the 90s.
In 2011, Arne Hegerfors suffered a massive heart attack which was followed by a stroke and a brain tumour. The last few years were difficult for the sports profile, who had to follow their favorite sports from home on the TV couch instead. His wife Kerstin became an important person.
– Because I have lost my field of vision, I have tunnel vision and cannot move freely, I always have to have someone with me if I go out. But I can watch on TV, said Hegerfors ahead of his 75th birthday.
Born: 4 July 1941 in Gothenburg.
Death: 29 January 2024.
Family: Wife Kerstin, three children.
Workplaces: Gothenburg Handels och Sjöfartstidning, Kvällsposten, Sveriges Radio, Sveriges Television, Canal+.
Prices: Stora journalist prize 1992, Kristallens hederspris 2008.
The pop star: Hegerfors appears on “Mera mål”, Markoolio’s unofficial song for the football European Championship 2000, which became number one on the Swedish singles chart.
The pair horse: Anders “Ankan” Parmström, was Hegerfors’ expert commentator in ice hockey for 30 years.
Several of Arne Hegerfors’ most memorable television moments can be found on Youtube. Here are some of them:
Börje Salming’s standing ovation in the Canada Cup 1976.
UEFA Cup Final 1982.
Maradona’s goal in the 1986 World Cup.
Ice Hockey World Cup 1987.
Olympic final in ice hockey 1994.
Soccer World Cup 1994.
What is your best memory of Arne Hegerfors? Share the article and tell us!
READ MORE: Arne Hegerfor’s tough confession after all these years – the TV profile’s decision changed everything: “Feels guilty”
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