Top referee Felix Brych looks back fondly on his debut with three current Bundesliga coaches as players on the pitch and Jürgen Klopp on the sidelines shortly before his record. “I have very positive memories of my first game because it was always my goal to reach the Bundesliga. I was very proud to have achieved this interim goal,” said the 48-year-old. “It was the real step into professional football.” On Saturday (6:30 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker) in the game between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart, Brych set Wolfgang Stark’s (54) Bundesliga record with his 344th appearance. a.
On August 28, 2004, in the 1-1 draw between Hertha BSC and 1. FSV Mainz 05, when current coaches Pal Dardai, Niko Kovac and Marco Rose as well as long-time manager Fredi Bobic played, Brych was where he always wanted to be: in the middle of the pitch in the Bundesliga. It was the beginning of a great career that took him to World and European Championships, the Olympic Games, the Champions League final and world referee honors. “I was happy when the game was over, even though it went well,” said Brych about his debut, which the “Kicker” rated with a 2.5.
Over the course of almost two decades, football, the tools with the “biggest turning point” through the video assistant or rule interpretations have changed. And for Brych also the view of himself. “The importance of myself on the pitch has diminished for me. When I think back to my first game, that was of course the greatest thing for me. I was in the Bundesliga, on television, and I felt very important,” said the doctor of law.
Brych was named Referee of the Year for the sixth time
“I now feel very relaxed about being part of the Bundesliga. For me, it’s no longer so much about me as a person, but about managing the game well for the teams,” said Brych. He was named Referee of the Year in Germany for the sixth time this year – after almost two decades, the referee’s career “will not last forever”.
Stepping onto the Bundesliga stage was different for Brych – as well as for his colleagues – than it was for professional footballers. These usually first get a taste of themselves as jokers; Referees have to get a zero-to-100 start. “Suddenly you’re the only one in focus, all the fans are looking at you, all the cameras – that’s a different situation for the referee than for the player,” said Brych. “We referees are the focus right away.”
Brych has experienced a lot in his career. The unloved moment of the phantom goal by Stefan Kießling, who scored a header through a hole in the side netting as a Leverkusen striker ten years ago, will never be forgotten. The Munich player set a record for the fastest red card after kick-off when he sent off Cologne captain Youssef Mohamad after 87 seconds 13 years ago. And despite his great experience, the 48-year-old experienced something new shortly before the upcoming record.
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During FC Augsburg’s 1-1 draw against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, a firecracker was thrown towards the pitch and exploded near the corner flag. “It’s also a referee’s job that things always happen that you’ve never experienced before,” said Brych, who had never experienced such a loud bang in a stadium before.
The veteran kept a cool head and received praise for it after the game. “It’s good that it’s recognized that we have a great responsibility, not only for the decisions, but also for safety,” said Brych, who has been a DFB referee since 1999. Internationally, where he enjoyed working with alpha animals like Sergio Ramos and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he is no longer in action.
“The record has great meaning for me. When I look back on my career, what I’m most proud of is that longevity,” said Brych, who spanned many playing careers. “To perform at this level physically, mentally and in terms of performance for 20 years – that’s what defines my career.”
Brych with his wife Andrea at a charity event organized by the Alexander Zverev Foundation in June this year in Going, Austria
Quelle: Getty Images for WorldChanger/Gerald Matzka
Stark is “relaxed” about the approaching end of his record record of six and a half years. “I don’t think anyone else will be able to achieve that. This was never going to last forever and now it’s here. You also have to remember that I would never have set the record if Markus Merk hadn’t stopped a year earlier with six fewer games,” said Stark, who turned 54 on Monday, in a DFB interview.
In contrast to football stars, referees do not have the chance to win championships or cups. On the other hand, there is a risk of going down in history because of wrong decisions. This makes records all the more beautiful. “Just like track and field athletes or swimmers want to achieve records so that they go down in the annals, that is also a goal for the referee,” said the 48-year-old. “Overall, we have little opportunity to go down in the annals – which is supposed to be our original goal: we should basically be the focus of attention as little as possible.”
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