Felix Brych is a former FIFA referee and lawyer. Considered one of the most successful, best-known and popular football referees, he has twice been named World Referee of the Year and six times Referee of the Year in Germany. He was named World Referee of the Year twice and Referee of the Year in Germany six times. He also holds the record for the most appearances as a referee in both the UEFA Champions League (69 matches) and the Bundesliga (344 matches). Having officiated five matches in 2021, he also holds the record for the most final-round appearances at European or World Championships. He ranks third in the “best referees of all time” ranking, behind Pierluigi Collina and Markus Merk. Born in 1975, he studied law in Munich after finishing secondary school, earning his doctorate in law (Dr. jur.) from the University of Regensburg in 2004. He began his career as a DFB referee in 1999 and officiated matches in the 2nd Bundesliga from 2001 and the Bundesliga from 2004. He became a FIFA referee in 2007, and the following year he was assigned to the Saudi Arabian league and made his debut in the UEFA Champions League. During the 2009/10 season, he was promoted to UEFA's Elite Group. By the time he retired from international refereeing in 2021, he had officiated at 96 European Cup matches and 54 international matches. He sustained an injury during his 344th Bundesliga appearance in November 2023 and subsequently worked as a Video Assistant Referee in Cologne during his rehabilitation period. Following an eight-month break, he returned to the pitch for the 2024/25 season, becoming the sole record holder with his 345^(th) Bundesliga match. Until his retirement in 2025, he shaped the German Bundesliga with his precise refereeing style. Alongside his refereeing duties, he led the Talent Development & Refereeing Department at the Bavarian Football Association for 15 years, before taking up the position of Head of Elite Coaching & Talent Development at DFB Schiri GmbH in October 2025. Over the years, Felix Brych has officiated at all major international football tournaments. As a speaker, he draws on his impressive career to discuss football’s transition into the digital age, the psychological aspects of match preparation, decision-making under pressure, and leadership. He skillfully translates his experiences from the fast-paced world of football into the corporate environment, creating insightful parallels and practical takeaways for business audiences.