Kreisliga legend Menzel whistles last game after 40 years!

Kreisliga legend Menzel whistles last game after 40 years!

Rotenburg, Deutschland - Michael Menzel headed his last district league game on May 27, 2025. In the meeting between FC Walsede and VfL Visselhövede, the game ended with a clear 6: 3. With over 40 years of experience as a referee, Menzel is one of the oldest active mediators in the district league Rotenburg and whistled an impressive number of 400 district league games during this time. His farewell game will be remembered, not least because of the eight yellow cards he showed in this game - well above his average of one to three per game.

Menzel also led higher leagues like the Landesliga in his career. His only dispute this season was against Tobias Budde at the end of March. He originally started his career at the age of 15 and has been passionate about the referee profession since then. In addition to his referee activity, he was also active as the founder of the MTV Jeddingen women's team, which he led to the Oberliga.

a new phase of life

After his resignation, Michael Menzel plans to whistle in the 1st and 2nd circle class and to spend more time on his long -term campsite in Denmark. His son, Morten Menzel, also works in the referee, but has less time because of his pilot training. The farewell to Menzel marks the end of an era in the Rotenburg district league, in which he was valued as a referee and personality.

However, developments in the referee are not limited to Menzel. As the leadership academy , the German Football Association (DFB) works for the redesign of the referee's creation. A one-year advisory project has led to a new organizational model that structurally redefines the referee elite area.

strategic change in the DFB

As part of the project, strategic goals and the self-image of the referee elite area were developed. The sporting management of the elite referees is transferred to the main office in order to meet the increased requirements of professional football. At the same time, the DFB referee committee will be increasingly taking care of the interests of the amateurs, especially with regard to the interpretation and talent promotion.

A significant step was also the unanimous decision of the 43rd ordinary DFB Bundestag for the outsourcing of the elite referees into its own referee GmbH. This means that the previous structure of the DFB referee commissions for elite and amateurs is canceled.

Michael Menzel's career is not only a review of a long and successful referee career, but also part of a greater change in the DFB, which sets the course for the future of the referee. His commitment and experience will be remembered.

For more details about Menzel's career and the changes in the DFB, the Kreiszeitung offers exciting insights.