Football coach Kuhn crowned "Swiss of the Year"

Television viewers across the country have named the coach of the national football team, Jakob "Köbi" Kuhn, Swiss personality of 2006.

The 63-year-old Kuhn is the fifth winner of the main prize and succeeds Peter Sauber, the founder of Switzerland's former Formula One racing team.

Actress Stephanie Glaser and snowboard Olympic gold medallist Tanja Frieden came second and third respectively in Saturday's award ceremony in Zurich.

Kuhn said he was very pleased with the prize. "It's an award for the whole football team which did so well," he told the SonntagsBlick newspaper.

Kuhn took the Swiss squad to the last 16 at last year's football World Cup in Germany, where they lost to Ukraine after a penalty shoot-out.