While most of the players are already on their summer break, Fabio Torsiello still has another game on the agenda. The offensive player was called up for the U19 national team and a friendly against Denmark. We spoke to Fabio about the call up, his Bundesliga experiences and many other topics.
sv98.de: Fabio, your season isn’t over with the game in Dortmund, you were nominated for the U19’s and a friendly against Denmark on May 22nd. How excited are you about this?
Fabio Torsiello: I am of course very happy and proud of this nomination. It’s something very special to be able to play for Germany at this level. And at the same time I can also represent SV 98 there.
sv98.de: You played six games for the U18s and could now make your debut for the U19s…
Torsiello: Exactly, I was already nominated once on call and should have been nominated again, but unfortunately I injured myself and therefore had to cancel. Now it would be really nice if I could play at this age level for the first time.
sv98.de: You travelled to the U19’s with 10 Bundesliga appearances. Do you sometimes have to be amazed that this number is now in your statistics?
Torsiello: Absolutely. In my year, there aren’t that many players in Germany who have already been able to play in the Bundesliga. Accordingly, I am very grateful that I have received this trust and this number of matches here. Every single game was special and a great experience, even if it was only two or three minutes. It’s only when I’m a little further away and after the games that I realise where and who I was playing against.
sv98.de: There will probably also be corresponding feedback from friends and family…
Torsiello: Of course, my friends have known me for ages and they tell me that it’s crazy when they suddenly see me in the Bundesliga at the weekend. But it’s important to me that I don’t change compared to these people, but remain Fabio and don’t define myself by appearances in the Bundesliga.
sv98.de: You made your Bundesliga debut in Heidenheim, can you still remember the feeling when you came on as a substitute?
Torsiello: I was running on the pitch and first had the task of handing Klaus Gjasula a note from the coach. And then I realised: ‚Now it starts, now you have to be ready, now there’s no turning back.‘ Unfortunately we couldn’t catch up, but it was of course a special day.
sv98.de: The game in Leipzig was probably a similarly big highlight. In the starting XI against a Champions League participant…
Torsiello: After I saw my name in the starting lineup, I couldn’t stop smiling. I was full of emotions, wrote it directly to the family and arriving at the stadium was indescribable.
sv98.de: How did it generally feel to be on the pitch against the best footballers in the country?
Torsiello: They all definitely have something. (laughs) At the game in Leipzig I wore running shoes rather than soccer shoes because I was running after so much. You immediately notice what quality these players have. At the same time, it is also an incentive to reach this level yourself.
sv98.de: It was of course a disappointing season for the team, but can you personally look back on the year a little positively?
Torsiello: Of course, relegation clouds everyone’s season balance. But for me it was still a very positive year. I’m grateful that I got my chances and was able to learn a lot. People like to say: one eye laughs, one eye cries. I think this sentence fits my personal season quite well.
sv98.de: What have you learned this season?
Torsiello: I have to be much more consistent. The players in the Bundesliga perform at an extremely high level week after week; in this league you can’t afford any major fluctuations. In addition, the difference to the 2nd league was of course extreme. There we were often the team that dominated the game, but now we have of course experienced different game progressions and were usually punished coldly for our mistakes. And as a striker you especially notice that you often only get one chance in the whole game and then you have to be there. In the game against Augsburg I had a great opportunity when the score was 6-0 and I took a little too much time. And despite the high lead, the opponent ran after me with full energy and prevented me from finishing. That also showed me what the Bundesliga means.
sv98.de: In addition to all the Bundesliga moments, you also played five games in the U19 Hessenliga and helped the team with four goals. It’s completely normal for you to also appear for the young Lilies?
Torsiello: Of course, that’s my team too. I’m happy to be there for these guys; I’ve known many of the players for several years. There I am always seen as Fabio and not as a professional who comes down from the first team. We have a lot of fun and it’s nice to play with them.
sv98.de: With Asaf Arania, another young Lily has made her debut in the Bundesliga. Were you particularly happy for him?
Torsiello: I’m always happy when one of the boys makes it. Clemens helped me a lot back then, now I tried to help Asaf as best as I could. After his debut in Wolfsburg we also spoke and I congratulated him and told him again that he should enjoy what he was able to experience there.
sv98.de: Next year we will continue in the second league. You’ve already logged a few minutes there during the promotion season, are you already looking forward to the new season or are you just thinking about the U19 national team and then the vacation?
Torsiello: I’m now looking forward to the game against Denmark and then, even on holiday, I’ll constantly be thinking about football and will often have a ball at my feet. I can’t do without. Of course I will also switch off, but I also want to prepare myself so that I can give full throttle when I start preparing. And of course I want to help ensure that we can have a good season.
sv98.de: A lot of things are changing in the youth sector for the new season, the top talent team is being introduced. Certainly something good for young players, right?
Torsiello: That’s really great. Many youth players can gain their first experience in the men’s area there and also get used to the speed and hardness. The Hessenliga is certainly a start at a high level. Conversely, a few players from the professional team can also get their first minutes there after injuries and get match practice. This is certainly a good thing for the club. And I’ve already spoken to some players from the U19, and many of them are happy to be able to take this step.
Attention Lilien fans: During SV Darmstadt 98’s training camp in Bad Wörishofen (Allgäu region)—taking place from July 19th to July 26th, 2026—there will once again be an opportunity to meet the team, chat with the players, and, of course, get autographs and photos. The fan meet-up is scheduled for Saturday, July 25th, following the friendly match against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Kick-off for the match is at 12pm.
SV 98 remains active in the transfer market. The "Lilies" have signed Christopher Lannert from Arminia Bielefeld.
Friendly matches, fundraising campaigns, and plenty of photos—that’s what the week looked like for SV 98 and the club’s community. Between their 5–1 victory over FC Homburg and the upcoming friendly in Walldorf this Friday (July 17), the „Lilies“ showed their best side for the cameras. In addition, the SV 98 legends team will face an Odenwald select squad on Sunday (July 19th). You can also win great prizes in competitions taking place in Erbach and at the pop-up store in downtown Darmstadt. Lilies Across the Board brings you all the latest news from life at SV 98.
The Bundesliga finalised the match schedules for matchdays three through six on Wednesday (July 15th): Darmstadt's home game against Hannover 96 on matchday three will take place on Sunday. This will be followed by their away game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday at 1pm. The home game against Arminia Bielefeld on Friday evening and the away game in Wolfsburg, also on Friday evening, have also been confirmed.
The Lilies can welcome another new arrival at the Böllenfalltor: Florian Kleinhansl will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 25-year-old joins on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with 1. FC Kaiserslautern on June 30th.
Third test, third clear victory. SV 98 won the match against FC 08 Homburg 5-1 (3-0).
SV Darmstadt 98 and the fusion energy company Focused Energy are entering into an official partnership. The aim of the collaboration is to more closely link top-level football and high technology from the Darmstadt region and to jointly generate momentum for innovation and future societal issues.
Killian Corredor will be playing in his home country again in the future. SV 98 has reached an agreement with FC Nantes on the transfer of the Frenchman.
On Tuesday (July 14, 6pm), SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Regionalliga side FC Homburg and asks fans to take note of the following information.
A home game against KSV! SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Holstein Kiel for the opening matchday of the 2. Bundesliga season this Saturday (August 8 at 1pm). Here’s how you can be there: the member pre-sale for the new season's first home game begins this coming Wednesday (July 15) at 12pm —available online and at the ticket shop at the Merck-Stadion, as usual. You can find all further details in this announcement.
For every home goal scored by the "Lilies," SV Darmstadt 98 fans were doubly rewarded during the recent 2025/26 second-division season. Beyond the joy and excitement, supporters received 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every goal Darmstadt scored at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
In recent days, various media outlets have published reports and graphics regarding the distribution of TV revenue for the 2026/27 season. Some of these reports included not only specific figures but also a comparison to the previous season. This comparison indicates a supposed revenue increase of €1.4 million for SV 98 compared to the 2025/26 season.