Felix Brych ends Schiri career: inspired by Angelique Kerber

Bundesliga record referee Felix Brych, 49, ends his career in summer. “I just notice that I have to go beyond limits and that the effort I am doing for a game is no longer in relation to what I will take out,” the lawyer from Munich explained his decision at the German Football Association ( Dfb). Previously, he had made his decision public at the World TV.

The two-time world referee of the year (2017, 2021) and six-time DFB referees of the year (2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023) wants to set “the final point itself”. “I am very satisfied with what was achieved and as a athlete you can feel when it comes to an end,” said the referee, who is more and more physically borders.

Brych took an exceptional athlete as a role model at his farewell: Angelique Kerber. The former world ranking in tennis also announced her resignation at the 2024 Olympics with a lead. “Kerber is an inspiration,” said Brych.

With 352 Bundesliga games, Brych is a German record referee. In addition, he also whistled as a DFB referee since 1999-since 2004 in the German elite class-138 second division games. Brych, of all things, had in his 344th Bundesliga mission in the 2-1 of VfB Stuttgart near Eintracht Frankfurt at the end of November 2023, with which he equaled the record of Wolfgang Stark, with a cruciate ligament tear.

After a ten month break, Brych whistled again in the Bundesliga. In the 1: 3 between Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfB Stuttgart in mid -September 2024, he rose to the sole record holder. “A season with a hand brake attracted – I can’t and don’t want to,” Brych said in the summer of 2024 to the dpa news agency.

The serious moment of the phantom goal of Stefan Kießling, who scored a header in the field as a Leverkusen striker against Hoffenheim in October 2013, was unforgettable. “There was no sign that it could be an irregular goal,” Brych explained his decision at the time to recognize the goal.

The former World Cup and European Championship referee, which is also a distance holder in the Champions League with a distance of 69, ended his international career at the end of 2021.

“I always needed goals in my career. Cracking the 350 Bundesliga games was a big brand that I made for this season. Now it is the last goal to say goodbye and in good shape,” said Brych.

In the Bundesliga in mid -January, the referee had to be replaced prematurely in mid -January in the game between Holstein Kiel and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (1: 3) due to a calf injury.

“The greatest of sport is always characterized by finding the right time in order to determine the end of their glamorous world career, as in this case, and to leave huge footsteps,” said DFB referee chief Knut Kircher. “This distinguishes sportsman Felix Brych, but also the person he has always remained in all his success.”

For the President of the Bavarian Football Association (BFV), Christoph Kern, a “fantastic career” ends in summer. Football loses a “formative personality on the square” and a “role model, especially for our offspring. Felix leaves great footsteps, but his records should remain unreachable”.