Hans Rinner (18 March 1963 – 16 February 2018) was an Austrian entrepreneur and sports executive best known for combining a regional business career with high-level football administration. He ran a refrigeration company and later became a prominent figure in Austrian club and league governance. His life bridged private enterprise and organized sport.

Career in business and local roots

Born in Semriach in the state of Styria, Rinner built a reputation as a businessman active in the refrigeration sector. He managed and owned a medium-sized company where he focused on operational management and regional employment. His business background informed his pragmatic approach to sports administration, emphasizing financial responsibility and professional structures.

Roles in football administration

Rinner moved into football governance through involvement with SK Sturm Graz and later the national league. He served as president of SK Sturm Graz from 2007 to 2010, then remained on the club's supervisory board until 2016 and was named honorary president. On 7 December 2009 he was elected president of the Austrian Football Bundesliga, a post he held until his death.

Responsibilities and impact

As league president Rinner chaired meetings of club representatives and participated in decisions affecting competition organization, commercial partnerships and regulatory matters. His profile blended commercial experience with club-level knowledge, and he is remembered for advocating stable club governance and closer cooperation among stakeholders.

Notable facts and death

  • Born: Semriach, Austria (18 March 1963).
  • Club leadership: President and later honorary president of SK Sturm Graz.
  • League leadership: President of the Austrian Football Bundesliga from 7 December 2009 until 2018.
  • Died: 16 February 2018 in Salzburg from pancreatic cancer at age 54.

Rinner's passing was widely noted in Austrian football circles. Colleagues highlighted his role as a link between business practice and sporting administration, and he remains a reference point when discussing the professionalization of club management in Austria. For further background on his roles, see resources on his business and on Austrian league structures, and biographies of SK Sturm Graz and the national competition, which provide additional context on the institutions he led (football administrator resources and league histories).