Dr. Felix Brych

Felix Brych is one of the most successful, well-known, and popular soccer referees. He has been named World Referee of the Year twice, Referee of the Year in Germany six times, and
holds the record for most matches officiated in the Champions League (69) and the Bundesliga (344). With five matches in 2021, he also holds the record for the most matches officiated in the final stages of a European Championship or
World Cup tournament. On the list of the “Best Referees of All Time,” Felix Brych ranks third behind Pierluigi Collina and Markus Merk.

Felix Brych (born 1975) studied law in Munich after graduating from high school and earned his doctorate in law (Dr. jur.) from the University of Regensburg in 2004. In addition to his work as a referee, he serves as head of the Talent Development & Referees Department at the Bavarian Football Association. Dr. Felix Brych has been a DFB referee since 1999; he has officiated matches in the 2. Bundesliga since 2001 and in the Bundesliga since 2004. In 2007, Felix Brych became a FIFA referee, and since 2008, he has officiated matches in the Saudi Arabian league. That same year, he made his debut in the UEFA Champions League, and in the 2009–2010 season, he became a member of the UEFA Elite Group. By the end of his international career in 2021, Brych had officiated 96 European Cup matches and 54 international matches. During his 344th Bundesliga match in November 2023, Brych suffered an injury, and while working toward his return to the field, he served as a Video Assistant Referee in Cologne. After an eight-month hiatus, he returned to the field in the 2024/25 season and has held the sole record since officiating his 345th match. In recent years, Felix Brych has served as a video assistant referee (
) at all major international soccer tournaments. As a speaker, he draws on his impressive career to discuss soccer’s transition into the digital age, psychological aspects of preparing for a match, decision-making under pressure, and leadership. In doing so, he applies his experiences from the fast-paced world of soccer to everyday business life and draws compelling analogies.