Tradition, commitment, and a sporting focus: At the New Year's reception in the State Theatre, the Lilies, together with 600 invited guests, looked ahead to the year 2026. There was also reason to celebrate: Marcel Schuhen turned 33 on the day of the reception. On the sporting front, Marco Richter focused on the start of the second half of the season. You can read these and other news items in our weekly column "Lilies Across the Board."
Back in Darmstadt, Marco Richter was in good spirits after the first training session. He had personally racked up more scoring points at the end of the first half of the season, but he doesn’t intend to rest on his laurels. „I try to give my best every day. Now it’s a fresh start. All that matters is the team’s success. And I hope I can help the team,“ Richter said in a media briefing on Tuesday. He feels very comfortable in the „really awesome team“ of SV 98.
Looking ahead to the start of the second half of the season, Richter emphasised that the good results in the first half were only achieved through hard work. „It doesn’t work if we take even one step less. That applies one hundred percent to the game in Bochum as well.“ Nevertheless, SV 98 travels deep into the west with confidence: „We have to be ready from the first second, but we’re going to Bochum with our heads held high and want to start the second half of the season with three points.“
A cherished Darmstadt 98 tradition took place for the second year in a row on Tuesday evening (January 13th) at the Darmstadt State Theatre: the club’s New Year’s reception. Around 600 invited guests from the worlds of sports and politics, as well as partners and sponsors, gathered to celebrate the start of 2026. The players sold raffle tickets for charity, Markus Pfitzner addressed the guests, and the contract extension between SV Darmstadt 98 and HAIX was announced. Further information about the evening can be found here.
Yesterday, Tuesday, there was another reason to celebrate – for Darmstadt captain Marcel Schuhen. The number one goalkeeper for SV Darmstadt 98 celebrated his 33rd birthday that day. For many years – more precisely, since the summer of 2019 – he has been a fixture at the Bölle stadium, shaping the team with his performances as a leader both on and off the pitch. It’s great that you’ve been in Darmstadt for so long. We wish you all the best for your new year!
The SV Darmstadt 98 recreational sports camp, held from January 5th to 9th at the Bürgerparkhalle, offered participating children a variety of fun-filled days with plenty of exercise and team spirit. „We are delighted that the recreational sports camp was so well received. It was fascinating to see how much fun the children had with the different sports that SV 98 offers in its amateur departments,“ said Roy Reinelt-Peter, board member responsible for amateur departments and the fan and support department.
Under the professional guidance of coaches and instructors, the kids were able to try a different sport each day. These included futsal, judo, basketball, table tennis, and headis. It was all the more gratifying that the fully booked camp brought great joy to everyone involved. „The recreational sports camps are an important step in increasing the visibility of our sports departments in the city and the region. We need this visibility to grow our recreational sports program and attract new members to our sports club,“ Reinelt-Peter added.
Together with „Die Haftpflichtklasse VVaG,“ SV 98 is hosting the second edition of the „Chancen+“ study and training fair on January 28th. Over 30 companies will be at the Bölle stadium to present careers, entry-level positions, and training opportunities to students. Whether entire school classes attend or students visit alone, with friends, or with family, all the information is available here.
On Tuesday, January 13, Dr. Karl Heß (1900–1975) would have turned 126 years old. Heß was a former chairman of SV Darmstadt 98 and was posthumously appointed honorary chairman at the club’s general meeting in 2018.
Dr. Karl Heß was a German-Jewish lawyer who, as a sports official and passionate football enthusiast, significantly shaped the development of SV Darmstadt 98 during the Weimar Republic. Due to his Jewish faith, he was expelled from Darmstadt during the Nazi era and forced to flee Germany. In 1963, Heß returned to his hometown. He is representative of the numerous German-Jewish athletes, officials, and supporters who fell victim to Nazi antisemitism. A memorial plaque and the Karl Heß Square, inaugurated on January 15, 2017, in front of the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, commemorate his life’s work.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
In Wednesday's media briefing, Nicolas Verkooijen spoke about his Kickbase team, communication within the squad, and the intensive training in Germany. A former Darmstadt 98 player had the opportunity to compete against the best footballers, and we report on the historic stadium tour as part of the Bundesliga's founding anniversary celebrations. All the latest news from SV Darmstadt 98 can be found, as usual, in "Lilies Across the Board"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.