Johnny Ertl

The Austrian team defender began his professional career at Sturm Graz and was signed by reigning champions and Supercup winners Austria Vienna in 2006. After two successful years in the federal capital and a considerable number of Bundesliga games, Johannes “Johnny” Ertl managed to make his football dream come true: the jump to the island - to the motherland of football. 

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The destination: Traditional London club Crystal Palace and then onto one of the oldest founding clubs in football history; Sheffield United. Johnny eventually found his home with former 2-time FA Cup winners Portsmouth FC. Everywhere the Graz native played on the island, he enjoyed cult status. Fans voted him “Player of the Year”, dedicated their own songs to him and he was lovingly referred to as “Johnny Ertl – Ninja Turtle”. Johnny's goals were complete at Portsmouth when he was awarded the armband for three years as club captain.  

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During his time in England, he completed a master's degree in business administration and completed business management training in the football and private sectors.

After his professional career, Johnny was elected to the board of the "Portsmouth Supporters Trust", where he was part of the backroom team that helped saved the club from going into administration and bringing it to a point of being passed onto the current owners, who have since taken the club to the next level from the foundations left by the Portsmouth Supporters Trust. 

Now presently working for the TV stations PULS 4, PULS 24 and the streaming platform Joyn, bringing together all of his playing and off-the -field knowledge. 

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As a football TV expert for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, UEFA Euro 2024 qualification and the German Bundesliga, he gives the Austrian audience insights behind the scenes into the world of football, analysing the action on the pitch. 

From 2016 to 2022, Johnny was the external project manager and sports director of the world’s largest urban football event, “Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five”, which was held in more than 40 countries around the world. This included sports marketing where he and his team were able to work closely with the Brazilian football superstar Neymar Jr.

Johnny is very committed to sustainability and actively looks after a forest in Styria.