Graphic novel about Helmut Köglberger presented

A project by journalist and author Philip Bauer, co-author Anatol Vitouch and illustrator Eugenio Belgrado that combines football history, contemporary history and social issues.

The event was not only a tribute to one of Austria's most important footballers, but also a reflection on racism, integration and social responsibility. Philip Bauer, who already devoured graphic novels as a teenager, said that a story about Herbert Prohaska was originally planned, but he showed no interest in such a book project. A short time later, in dialogue with Anatol Vitouch and Eugenio Belgrado, the idea was born to tell the life of Helmut Köglberger. A stroke of luck: Köglberger had accurately documented his life – an ideal basis for a well-founded narrative. Through contact with his son Stefan Köglberger, director of the Upper Austrian House of Literature, Bauer gained access to his extensive archive.

Detailed journey through time

Anatol Vitouch developed the story's arc from Bauer's research, facts and figures, while Eugenio Belgrado meticulously took care of the drawings. The illustrator invested a lot of time in historical research – from hairstyles to buildings and streets to stadiums. It was a challenge to authentically visualise Austria from the 1940s to the 1970s. The aim was not to simply copy a world, but to understand it and recreate it. Photos by Helmut Köglberger helped to paint an authentic picture.

Eugenio Belgrado said: "I learnt a lot about football and the passion for it while working on the book. The research gave me the impression that football was more authentic back then. It's also a true story, Helmut Köglberger had a fascinating life. I was able to get to know him without having known him."

A life between racism and a passion for football

Karl Daxbacher, a friend and fellow player of Köglberger's at FK Austria Vienna and in the Austrian national team, recalled a cheerful, humorous person who showed strength and composure despite racist experiences in post-war Austria. A particularly moving experience: the 1974 friendly match in Brazil, which had great significance for Köglberger.

"Heli was a really funny guy, a great footballer, lived football, wrote everything down in a notebook. It was a different time, there were always derogatory, racist comments coming from the stands. Football certainly helped him out of that, he hardly let anything get to him," said Daxbacher.

Old newspaper cuttings show that the reports were very racist. Growing up in 1946 as the black child of a US soldier and an Upper Austrian woman was not easy. There were practically no articles without racial connotations, skin colour always played a role, Bauer added.

Talent as opportunity for social advancement

Stefan Köglberger gave a very personal insight into his father's life – as a footballer, coach and socially committed person. Together with him, he launched the Acakoro project (https://www.acakorofootball.com) in Nairobi in 2013, which offers children from the slums education, football training and prospects for the future. When the project was launched in Nairobi, Kenya, the Köglbergers were approached. At the time, Helmut Köglberger was head of youth development at LASK and his son was a youth coach. They travelled to Nairobi, visited the project and then joined in. There is now an academy with training, school and catering for 150 girls and boys. The involvement of girls was always important to them. According to Stefan Köglberger, his father saw himself in the children and had a passion for social justice. The aim of the project is not to train professionals, but to train for life, to enable the children to make the leap out of the slums. Although some have now made it to the top leagues in Kenya or even abroad.

Stefan Köglberger believes that his parents would have been delighted with the book: "My father was a tough coach, I had the ‘pleasure’ myself several times. He was voted a football icon, the LASK player of the century. I was chosen as a photographer to take photos with fans again and again. My father's talent was his opportunity for social advancement, and he made the most of it. He had an incredible resilience in the face of racism, he was almost indifferent to abuse."

The graphic novel tells of social advancement, of resilience and of a man who remained true to himself despite all obstacles. It is not just a series of football moments, but a vivid portrait of a man who touched and inspired with his story – this was the conclusion of presenter Nicole Selmer, editor-in-chief of ballesterer football magazine.

Club 2×11 is an event organised by Büchereien Wien, the fairplay initiative, tipp3, Wir Frauen im Sport and ballesterer.