Referee, Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur
«Whoever fails to strike the balance between humanity and consequence consistently abolishes humanity.»
Deniz Aytekin
Deniz Aytekin, born in 1978 in Nuremberg, is one of the most well-known referees in Germany. Football fans value his authentic presence during matches and his ability to communicate difficult decisions in an empathetic way.
He was voted DFB Referee of the Year in 2019, 2022, 2024, and 2026. In 2017, he officiated the DFB Cup final between Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt.
With his career as a referee in the Bundesliga, Deniz Aytekin brings unique insights into the world of fast decision-making and leadership under pressure. His deep understanding of fair play, decision-making, and conflict management has established him not only on the field but also as a sought-after keynote speaker.
Deniz Aytekin shares with his audience how to keep a cool head in heated moments, make difficult decisions, and at the same time show respect and appreciation toward everyone involved. His talks offer not only captivating insights into the world of professional sports but are also rich in transferable skills for leaders and teams in any industry.
2022 – 2025: Advisory Board Member, PRM – ParkRaum-Management GmbH
2021 – present: Founder & Managing Director, DA Consulting GmbH
2021 – present: Founder, schiri.de Akademie GmbH
2020 – present: Co-Founder, Daniel Mason GmbH
2013 – present: Co-Founder & Managing Director, fitnessmarkt.de services GmbH
2003 – present: Co-Founder & Supervisory Board Member, anwalt.de
2003 – 2012: Co-Founder, viversum GmbH
1999 – 2002: Business Administration graduate (Betriebswirt), VWA Bayern
1996 – 1999: Industrial Business Management Assistant (Industriekaufmann)
4x DFB Referee of the Year (2019, 2022, 2024, 2026)
UEFA Elite Category Referee
FIFA Referee (international license)
254 Bundesliga appearances
54 European Cup appearances
33 DFB Cup appearances
15 international matches
Champions League appearances (including PSG vs. Barcelona 2017)
Career ended May 2026 after 18 years as a Bundesliga referee