Knut Kircher will be the new managing director of the DFB’s Schiri GmbH from summer 2024. Lutz Michael Fröhlich is therefore quitting earlier than initially planned.
The German Football Association (DFB) has found a successor for the outgoing referee boss Lutz Michael Fröhlich. Former referee Knut Kircher will be the new managing director of sports and communications at DFB Schiri GmbH from July 2024.
The 54-year-old Kircher signed the contract on Wednesday (December 6th, 2023). Fröhlich announced at the end of July that he would not be extending his contract, which expires at the end of December 2024. Now his successor will take over the official duties at the beginning of the 2024/2025 season. Fröhlich has been the managing director of sports and communications at DFB Schiri GmbH since it was founded in January 2022; he previously served as the sporting director of the elite referees from July 2016.
“I am pleased about the very stringent and transparent succession planning process, which quickly created clarity for everyone in the end,” said Frohlich.
Eight years as a FIFA referee
Kircher can look back on a long career in refereeing. Between 2001 and 2016 he refereed a total of 244 Bundesliga games, and from 2004 to 2012 he was also a referee for the world association FIFA. Since the end of his active career he has worked as a referee observer at the elite level.
“Together with the employees of DFB Schiri GmbH, the sporting directors and all active members, I would like to take German refereeing to the next level with clarity, internal and external transparency and straightforwardness – nationally and internationally.”said Kircher about his appointment.