Felix Brych: From record referee to Mentor for the future!

Felix Brych: From record referee to Mentor for the future!

Augsburg, Deutschland - Felix Brych, the record referee from Munich, takes stock after his career and expresses the desire for more acceptance for referees in emotional moments. On May 23, 2025, Brych ended his extraordinary career after 359 Bundesliga games, with his last game on the 2-1 victory of Union Berlin against FC Augsburg. In over 20 years in competitive sports, Brych experienced a variety of significant moments, of which he describes his last one as unforgettable.

particularly worth mentioning is Brych's return after a cruciate ligament tear in November 2023. Despite this difficult phase, he wanted to leave the referee with good performance. He hopes that his departure inspires young referees and that the issue of referees is the focus of the public. In discussions he already has opportunities for a transfer of knowledge, but Brych no longer wants to work as a video assistant, but rather convey his experience and knowledge in other ways.

from the beginning to the farewell

Brych, 49 years old, began his referee career 30 years ago in Augsburg in the Bayernliga. He completed his first missions in front of only 500 spectators in the old Rosenustadion before developing into one of the most famous characters in German football. For his farewell, he chose Augsburg what is an emotional return for him, since he gained many of his early experiences there. Brych was allowed to make an exceptional decision and select the most suitable farewell game for him, although it was important to him that the game was of no importance for the teams involved.

Since the game was important to him near his hometown of Munich, he was able to bring friends and his 87-year-old father to the stadium. A sporting journey is associated with his beginnings at FC Augsburg, which includes numerous milestones. In addition to the FCA, the Swabian Augsburg and FC Enikon, which has now been dissolved.

The role of referee training

The referee training is a central pillar for the development and promotion of new talents in football. The training aims to train participants in mastery of the rules of the game, the decision -making competence and authority on the field. Interested parties have to meet some basic requirements, whereby the minimum age for prospective referees is often 14 years old, sometimes even from the age of 12, provided that they are a member of a football club.

The training includes both theoretical and practical parts, including a first course that is often offered online. Participants must take exams that include written tests and physical fitness tests. After the training, missions are planned in the youth area or in the lower play classes, where the new referees are often accompanied by experienced colleagues. Regular performance tests and advanced training are necessary to climb into higher play classes.

The Bundesliga is the climax in the career of a referee and requires a high degree of competence and professionalism. The German Football Association (DFB) offers comprehensive training materials and support for prospective referees, whereby the importance of respect, fair play and continuous learning is always emphasized in referee training.

Felix Brych plans to take a break after his emotional farewell. His hopes are that future referees will be encouraged by his experiences and that the referee is gaining in importance equally.

For more information about Brych's career and his plans for the future, you can do the articles on KStA.de and Sueddeutsche.de Read. There is also information on referee training on Fussball-reporter.de .