Manfred "Manni" Breuckmann is one of the best-known German sports reporters and radio presenters. He was a defining element of the Saturday ARD Bundesliga conference on the radio for 36 years, reported on six World Cups and six European Championships and broadcasted the 1997 European Cup triumphs of Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund. From 1972 to 1978 he studied law and after graduation worked for the Federal Press Office for three years. While still a student, Breuckmann (*1951) freelanced for football reports on WDR radio and pursued his talent and passion as a sports reporter and presenter. From 1981 to 2008 he was employed at WDR, where he covered not only sports but also North Rhine-Westphalian state politics. He became known nationwide for his rousing reports from Dortmund, Bochum and Schalke as part of the Saturday ARD Bundesliga conferences. Breuckmann retired from the radio microphone at the end of 2008. He is a successful author and thanks to his expertise he is a sought-after TV talkshow guest and interview partner.