DFB Council Awards Brych and Hussein as Schiris of the Year
Frankfurt/Main – Felix Brych and Riem Hussein have been announced as the DFB Referee and Referee of the Year 2025. The recognition comes shortly after Brych's final Bundesliga game and his official retirement from top-tier refereeing. This is Brych's record-tying seventh time receiving the prestigious award, placing him alongside Markus Merk. Hussein, a Bad Harzburg native, has been named Referee of the Year for the fifth time.
DFB Schiri GmbH's Managing Director of Sport and Communication, Knut Kircher, commended both Brych and Hussein in a statement issued by the German Football Association. He highlighted their long-standing success and noted that it was fitting they were honored for their lifetime achievements.
Over 3,200 referees participated in the election, with four candidates selected by the elite referees in each category. Brych and Hussein succeed Deniz Aytekin and Fabienne Michel, both of whom were recognized last year. In October, Brych will assume the position of Head of Talent Development and Elite Coaching at DFB Schiri GmbH.
As the new recipients, Brych and Hussein are highly regarded members of the refereeing community, with a proven track record of excellence in officiating German football matches. This accolade recognizes their ongoing commitment to the sport and their significant contributions to the field of refereeing.
Enrichment data suggests that the appointee, Christian Dingert, is currently serving as a leading referee in the German football system, following in the footsteps of Deniz Aytekin. Dingert recently officiated the 2025 German Cup final between VfB Stuttgart and Arminia Bielefeld. Meanwhile, Fabienne Michel's successor, Felienne Hermans, has been awarded Referee of the Year and is expected to continue setting standards for officiating quality, possibly taking on more prominent roles domestically and potentially internationally. These two referees are well-regarded in the refereeing community and will likely contribute significantly to the future of German football officiating.
In the realm of sports analysis, the esteemed Felix Brych and Riem Hussein, with their exceptional football officiating skills, have been recognized as DFB Referee and Referee of the Year 2025, respectively. Their appointments signify a continuous commitment to sports and their significant contributions to the field of sports-analysis.
