End of an era in Bundesliga: Referee Patrick Ittrich announces retirement

Patrick Ittrich, one of the most recognizable football referees in Germany, announced the end of his professional career at the conclusion of the 2025/2026 season. The official information about the departure of the 47-year-old referee appeared on March 12, 2026, in a statement published on the website of the German Football Association. Ittrich, who works daily as a police officer, is the fourth referee from the current Bundesliga roster who recently decided to part ways with the pitch after the current competition ends. The media describe him as one of the faces of the German refereeing scene, emphasizing his charisma and experience in officiating top-tier matches.

The referee from Hamburg has been associated with the DFB since 2003 and has been regularly officiating at the Bundesliga level since 2016. Over a decade of presence in the elite, he has built a reputation as a referee capable of keeping calm in crisis situations, which is often attributed to his professional experience in the police. Patrick Ittrich was born on January 3, 1979, in Hamburg. He began his career in the structures of the national federation over two decades ago, and since 2016 he has continuously officiated matches at the highest competitive level in Germany. During his many years of work, he became one of the most recognizable referees in the country, combining duties on the pitch with professional work in uniformed services.

The decision to hang up the whistle was announced on Thursday and sparked a wide echo in the German sports community. Ittrich intends to finish the ongoing season before finally retiring from refereeing. „In einem Statement auf der DFB-Website kündigte Ittrich am Donnerstag an, seine Laufbahn im Anschluss an diese Saison nicht mehr fortführen” (In a statement on the DFB website, Ittrich announced on Thursday that he would not continue his career after this season) — Patrick Ittrich via DFB [{"dataISO": "2003-01-01", "data": "2003", "tytul": "Start at DFB", "opis": "Beginning of refereeing work within the structures of the German Football Association."}, {"dataISO": "2016-01-01", "data": "2016", "tytul": "Bundesliga debut", "opis": "First matches officiated in Germany's top division."}, {"dataISO": "2026-03-12", "data": "March 12, 2026", "tytul": "Retirement announcement", "opis": "Official announcement of career end after the 2025/2026 season."}]