1. Early life and background
1.1. Birth and family
Rolf Günther Feltscher Martínez was born on 6 October 1990, in Bülach, Switzerland. Rolf Feltscher is the younger brother of Frank Feltscher and the elder step-brother of Mattia Desole, both of whom are also professional footballers. His mother is from Venezuela, which later influenced his decision to represent the Venezuelan national team.
2. Club career
Feltscher's club career began in Switzerland, his country of birth, before moving to Italy and later playing in Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. His journey has included multiple loan spells and two stints with MSV Duisburg.
2.1. Grasshoppers
Feltscher joined the academy of Grasshoppers in 2001 and progressed through their youth system. Despite being just 16 years old, he made his professional debut in Grasshoppers' first match of the 2007-08 season. He played the full 90 minutes at right back in a 2-0 victory over FC St. Gallen. He continued to be a regular presence for Grasshoppers for three seasons.
2.2. Parma
In November 2009, Feltscher signed a pre-contract with Parma and officially joined the Italian club after the end of the 2009-10 season. During his time at Parma, he played for the club's primavera (youth) team in the 2011 edition of the Torneo di Viareggio. He made limited appearances for the first team in his debut season, with just two league starts and one substitute appearance, and four appearances the following year.
2.3. Padova
In June 2012, Feltscher was loaned from Parma to Calcio Padova for the 2012-13 season. The loan deal included an option for Padova to buy him permanently. He made six league appearances for Padova during this period.
2.4. Grosseto
During the 2012-13 season, after his spell at Padova, Feltscher was loaned to U.S. Grosseto 1912 from Parma. He played in 15 league matches for Grosseto in Serie B.
2.5. Lausanne-Sport
For the 2013-14 season, Feltscher returned to Switzerland to play for FC Lausanne-Sport. He made eight appearances for the club during this period.
2.6. MSV Duisburg (first stint)
Feltscher joined MSV Duisburg for the 2014-15 season. He became a key player for the club, making 53 appearances over two seasons. In his second season, 2015-16, he scored two goals.

2.7. Getafe
On 11 July 2016, Feltscher signed a two-year deal with Getafe CF, who were then in Segunda División. Despite his contract, he was rarely used by the club, making only seven appearances before being loaned out.
2.8. Real Zaragoza (loan)
On 31 January 2017, Feltscher was loaned to fellow Segunda División team Real Zaragoza from Getafe for the remainder of the 2016-17 season. He played nine matches during this loan spell.
2.9. Cardiff City
In September 2017, Feltscher had a ten-day trial with EFL Championship side Birmingham City, where a potential permanent deal was considered. However, after the departure of Birmingham manager Harry Redknapp, he was allowed to leave. Redknapp later recommended Feltscher to Neil Warnock, the manager of fellow Championship club Cardiff City. After several weeks on trial with Cardiff, Feltscher signed an initial two-month contract on 16 November 2017. Despite signing, he did not make a first-team appearance for Cardiff City, featuring as an unused substitute in two league matches.
2.10. LA Galaxy
On 19 December 2017, Feltscher signed with Major League Soccer (MLS) side LA Galaxy ahead of their 2018 season. He made seven appearances, all starts, before being sidelined for four months in April 2018 due to a broken shoulder. At the end of the 2018 season, he was released by LA Galaxy but was re-signed on 15 January 2019. In 2019, he featured in the Leagues Cup, where LA Galaxy reached the semifinals. He made 57 appearances and scored two goals across three seasons with the club.
2.11. Würzburger Kickers
On 23 December 2020, Feltscher returned to Germany, joining 2. Bundesliga side Würzburger Kickers. He played 19 matches for the club during the 2020-21 season.
2.12. MSV Duisburg (second stint)
In June 2021, Feltscher rejoined MSV Duisburg for his second tenure with the club. He has continued to play a role in their squad in 3. Liga, making 69 appearances and scoring two goals in this second stint as of May 2024.
3. International career
Feltscher began his international career representing Switzerland at various youth levels. He played for the Switzerland U-17 team in the qualifying round of the 2007 UEFA U-17 Championship, featuring in all three matches during that round. He also represented the Switzerland U-19 team from 2008 to 2009, making 14 appearances, and the Switzerland U-20 team in 2011, with two appearances.
Due to his mother's Venezuelan heritage and his possession of Venezuelan nationality, Feltscher accepted an invitation from the Venezuelan Football Federation to represent Venezuela. He made his debut for the Venezuela national team in 2011. He was part of the Venezuelan squad for the Copa América Centenario in 2016 and the 2019 Copa América in 2019. As of July 2021, he has made 27 appearances for the Venezuelan national team.
4. Honors and achievements
Rolf Feltscher has accumulated several club-level honors throughout his career.
- Grasshopper Club Zürich
- Swiss Super League: Third place (2009-10), Fourth place (2007-08, 2008-09)
 
 - MSV Duisburg
- 3. Liga: Runner-up (2014-15)
 - Lower Rhine Cup: Semifinals (2014-15, 2021-22)
 
 - LA Galaxy
- Leagues Cup: Semifinals (2019)
 
 
5. Career statistics
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | Division | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Grasshopper Club Zürich | 2007-08 | Swiss Super League | 21 | 0 | - | - | - | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2008-09 | Swiss Super League | 21 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2009-10 | Swiss Super League | 21 | 0 | - | - | - | 21 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 63 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 65 | 0 | |||
| Parma | 2010-11 | Serie A | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2011-12 | Serie A | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Calcio Padova (loan) | 2012-13 | Serie B | 6 | 0 | - | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| Grosseto 1912 (loan) | 2012-13 | Serie B | 15 | 0 | - | - | - | 15 | 0 | |||
| Lausanne-Sport | 2013-14 | Swiss Super League | 8 | 0 | - | - | - | 8 | 0 | |||
| MSV Duisburg | 2014-15 | 3. Liga | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 0 | ||
| 2015-16 | 2. Bundesliga | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |||
| Total | 53 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 56 | 2 | |||
| Getafe | 2016-17 | Segunda División | 7 | 0 | - | - | - | 7 | 0 | |||
| Real Zaragoza (loan) | 2016-17 | Segunda División | 9 | 0 | - | - | - | 9 | 0 | |||
| Cardiff City | 2017-18 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| LA Galaxy | 2018 | MLS | 15 | 1 | - | - | - | 15 | 1 | |||
| 2019 | MLS | 25 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 26 | 2 | |||
| 2020 | MLS | 17 | 0 | - | - | - | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 57 | 2 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 58 | 3 | ||||
| Würzburger Kickers | 2020-21 | 2. Bundesliga | 19 | 0 | - | - | - | 19 | 0 | |||
| MSV Duisburg | 2021-22 | 3. Liga | 28 | 0 | - | - | - | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2022-23 | 3. Liga | 17 | 2 | - | - | - | 17 | 2 | ||||
| 2023-24 | 3. Liga | 24 | 0 | - | - | - | 24 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 69 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 69 | 2 | ||||
| Career total | 313 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 320 | 7 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Venezuela | 2011 | 1 | 0 | 
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 0 | |