Longest career for a football (soccer) referee (male)

The longest career for a football (soccer) referee (male) is 60 years and was achieved by Ken Wright (UK) in Swansea, South Glamorgan, UK, as measured on 6 June 2025.

The longest career for a football (soccer) referee (male) is 60 years, achieved by Ken Wright (UK), as measured in Swansea, South Glamorgan, UK, on 6 June 2025. Spanning six decades on the pitch, Ken's career reflects a rare and remarkable dedication to the sport, officiating through generations of changing rules, playing styles, and technology in the game while maintaining the fitness, focus, and love of football needed to keep stepping onto the field match after match, year after year. Reaching such a milestone speaks not just to longevity but to a lifelong commitment to the game from the sidelines, long after many referees have long since hung up their whistle.