German refereeing legend Dr. Felix Brych closed the curtain on over 20 years of officiating in the top flight on Matchday 34 of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season.

The 49-year-old oversaw Union Berlin’s 2-1 win at Augsburg, taking his tally of Bundesliga appearances to a record-extending 359. He has also officiated more UEFA Champions League fixtures than any other referee (69).

Byrch said ahead of his last match as referee: “I am leaving in the best of spirits. I have a great time past me to think of and am looking forward to what comes next.” He added it has been worth “giving absolutely everything” into every single match of his long career.

It all began in 2001 in Duisburg, as Brych officiated the first of 139 Bundesliga 2 matches (with the hosts facing Reutlingen). Berlin’s Olympiastadion was the venue in 2004 when Brych made his Bundesliga debut as Hertha Berlin drew 1-1 with Mainz. He would return to that iconic ground to lead two DFB Cup finals, in 2015 and 2021. His high regard in UEFA saw to him being appointed referee for both the 2017 UEFA Champions League final and 2014 Europa League final.

Brych naturally made the ocassional mistake over his long time in officiating, most notably in an October 2013 encounter between Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen as Stefan Kießling headed into the side netting – and through a hole in the net that saw it enter the goal. He admitted allowing the goal had been “extremely stupid” in a later book.

The referee had the honesty to explain how the error came around, saying that he and his assistants “had been too distracted the previous evening by thinking about the World Cup than the task in hand” as a qualifier his team of officials had recently taken charge of paved the way for his inclusion on the 2014 World Cup officiating list.

Despite the mishap in Sinsheim, Brych’s eagerness to always be looking for ways to improve himself was rewarded in the years to come with his appointment for the aforementioned 2017 Champions League final. Additionally, Brych officiated five matches at the 2021 European Championship, which marked another record for the referee.

One of his greatest personal accomplishments, however, came during his 344th Bundesliga match as an official, in which he equalled Wolfgang Stark’s record. Brych tore his cruciate ligament, but just nine months later, he was back, whistle in tow and with his usual confidence. “To make a comeback at the age of 49 after a cruciate ligament rupture is even bigger than the record for me,” the referee said of his return.

As if that wasn’t impressive enough, just one day after his injury, Brych stayed true to his word, limping into an education centre in Frankfurt to deliver a seminar to apsiring, young referees, as had previously been agreed. Hats off to a true, conscientious professional!