Béla Réthy (* 1956) is a German sports journalist and commentator. After studying journalism, sociology, and ethnology, he worked freelance as a reporter before becoming a staff editor at ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, German Public Television). There he worked as a soccer announcer for over three decades starting in 1991. He was the “German voice of soccer,” from 1996 to 2018. Réthy was the German commentator on all the finals of the World and European Championships broadcast by ZDF, including Germany’s 7:1 victory against host Brazil in 2014. After the 2022 World Cup, Réthy officially retired from ZDF but has continued to work in the fields of documentary and film. He has received several awards for his work in sports journalism, including the Herbert Award for best TV live commentary, the Audience Award for the most emotional report, and – along with the ZDF sports editorial team – the 2023 German Television Award.
