Foto: SV 98 17.04.2024 / English
Fernie officially introduced | “You are a fighter”
Paul Fernie officially started working at SV Darmstadt 98 this week, and the press conference for his introduction took place on Tuesday (April 16). There was bad news on Monday (April 15): Lilien captain Fabian Holland tore his cruciate and medial ligaments in the Freiburg game. What is more pleasing, however, is that you can watch the SVD on the training ground again this week or cheer on the Zwote at two home games. You can find out all this in our weekly section “Lilies across the board."
+++ “We can build something together” +++
Paul Fernie is now officially a lily. On Monday (April 15th) he introduced himself to the team, and on Tuesday (April 16th) the new sports director of SV 98 took his seat in the Lilien’s press conference room for the first time in his new role. In addition to a lot of information about his decision to join Darmstadt 98, his qualities and his tasks at the South Hesse team, the 37-year-old also gave insights into his career to date. “My CV is certainly not entirely normal,” smiled Fernie, who was never a professional footballer himself. In his youth he played as a right-back, but could also be used in midfield or on the left and right wing. “But I was the type of player who asked a lot of questions. I always wanted to know “why”. That probably annoyed one or two coaches,“ said Fernie with a wink, before he then returned the focus to his new job as sports director at the Lilies: „It’s important to feel a commonality in terms of humanity. The feeling I have that at Darmstadt. We can build something together.”
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 +++ This, that or that? +++
“When it comes to “the”, “them” or “that”, I will always have my problems,” said Paul Fernie, immediately causing a laugh in the press conference room of SV Darmstadt 98. The Lilies’ new sports director was convincing on Tuesday afternoon ( 16.4.) as part of his official presentation, but with impeccable German. How well the British-born man speaks the German language did not go unnoticed by the journalists present, which is why he naturally had to answer questions about his language skills. “In my early days in Germany, I went to evening school twice a week. At some point I just started talking,” explained Fernie, who speaks to his wife and son at home mainly in German.
You are a fighter and will overcome this hurdle too!
+++ "Get well soon, Captain!" +++
What very bitter news for Fabian Holland and the whole club. The captain of SV 98 will miss this and large parts of the coming season due to a torn cruciate and medial ligament. The diagnosis shocked all Lilien fans as well as teammates and former companions, so Holland was at least able to look forward to many encouraging words on social media. „Get well my friend. You are a fighter and will overcome the hurdle,” wrote Lilien keeper Marcel Schuhen on Instagram. Alexander Brunst also wished the defender a lot of strength: “Come back stronger, Captain.” Tobias Kempe joined in. “Get well soon, Capitano!” he typed in the comments under the post about Holland’s injury. Wilson Kamavuaka, who played with Holland at the Lilies from 2017 to 2019, also spoke up in his Instagram story with a “Get well soon, bro!” Overall, the entire Lilien family showed a high level of sympathy. We would also like to take this opportunity to wish Fabian Holland all the best: Come back quickly, Capitano!
+++ Second team with English home game week +++
After the Lilien fan team suffered an annoying 2:3 away defeat at DJK-SSG Darmstadt last weekend, there are two ways to make amends this week. The team led by coach Andreas Degenhardt will play on Wednesday (April 17/7:30pm) in the pursuit duel against the second representative of FTG Pfungstadt. Afterwards, the Lilies don’t have much time to rest, on Sunday (April 21/3pm) the second team hosts TSG Wixhausen II at home again.
+++ Watch the SVD during training! +++
This week it will again be possible for SV 98 fans to see the lilies during training. The training sessions on Wednesday (April 17/3pm), Thursday (April 18/3pm) and Friday (April 19/12:30pm) are all open to the public. The team around coach Torsten Lieberknecht is looking forward to your visit before the away game in Cologne on Saturday (April 20th/3:30pm).
+++ Attention: Fake profile of Torsten Lieberknecht on Facebook +++
Even Torsten Lieberknecht is not spared from fake profiles on social media. There is currently a Facebook profile circulating online that claims to be our head coach. Please note: This is a fake profile, Torsten Lieberknecht does not have an official Facebook profile. If you see content from this profile in the future, please report it.
+++ Happy Birthday!³ +++
Current and former lilies are celebrating their birthdays again this week. On Monday (April 15th) we were able to celebrate our long-standing team doctor, Dr. Michael Weingart, on his 73rd birthday. Benjamin Gorka also celebrated his birthday on Monday. The former central defender played for the 98ers from 2012 to 2017 and was now happy about his 40th birthday. Katrin Herbig’s blue-white birthday week ends on Friday (April 19th), the Lilies‘ current physiotherapist will be 28 years old. Happy Birthday! Good luck and happiness for everything to come in the new year to you three!
Fan Information for the Wolfsburg Game
On Saturday afternoon (May 4th/3:30pm) SV Darmstadt 98 VfL Wolfsburg will be guests. You can find all the important information for your visit to the Volkswagen Arena here. For spontaneous Lilien fans: There will be a box office in Wolfsburg.
“End the season professionally”
Press conference in the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor. Before SV Darmstadt 98's upcoming away game at VfL Wolfsburg (May 4th/3:30pm), Torsten Lieberknecht took a seat in the PK room. The Lilien head coach answered questions about the rest of the season and the upcoming game. We have summarised the most important statements for you.
Successful Fernie fan evening | „Heads up!“
The new Sports Director is a guest at the Lilienschänke: On Monday (April 29th) the April fan evening of SV Darmstadt 98 took place with Paul Fernie – an entertaining, exciting evening. Meanwhile, the day before, the Lilies received a lot of encouraging messages via social media – including three former Darmstadt professionals. We also report on Asaf Arania's first appointment to the matchday squad and provide you with information about our fan team. You can find out all this in our weekly section “Lilies across the board”.
Open letter from the Presidium
On the occasion of the confirmed relegation of the Lilies, the executive board of SV Darmstadt 98 addressed the public with an open letter.
Opposition Check: VfL Wolfsburg
What has to happen for one of the largest Spanish daily newspapers to print the following sentence? “Wolfsburg in the style of Real Madrid!” That was the headline in the newspaper “El Mundo” during the 2014/15 season. VfL had just spectacularly defeated FC Bayern Munich 4-1. “Suddenly Wolfsburg appeared and messed up Bayern’s film,” the Spanish reporters continued in their text. The Lower Saxony team were currently Bayern's number one hunters – well on the way to perhaps even becoming FCB's worst competitor?
When the day comes
“If you know that this day is coming, you can prepare for it to some extent,” said Torsten Lieberknecht in front of rolling TV cameras. At this point late on Sunday evening, there was already certainty in the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, which was filled with dejected people, hanging heads and sad faces. The 0-1 defeat against 1. FC Heidenheim sealed SV Darmstadt 98's relegation from the 1st Bundesliga. “But when that day comes, everything you thought about beforehand is gone,” continued the Lilien head coach: “Because it’s just a rubbish moment.”
“It’s a rubbish feeling”
The result this Sunday means that SV Darmstadt 98's Bundesliga journey is coming to an end. In the coming season, the Lilies will compete in the second Bundesliga. We have summarised here what the Darmstadt protagonists said in front of the microphones after the 0-1 defeat against 1. FC Heidenheim.
Relegation Confirmed
The Lilies lose their home game, so it's clear: SV 98 will play in the 2. Bundesliga again next season. The match against 1. FC Heidenheim ended 0-1 (0-0).
Four Changes in the Starting XI
Torsten Lieberknecht has to change his starting lineup to four positions compared to the away win at 1. FC Köln. In addition to Aaron Seydel, Clemens Riedel and Klaus Gjasula, Matthias Bader is also out for the duel with 1. FC Heidenheim with a broken nose. Luca Pfeiffer, Christoph Zimmermann, Jannik Müller and Emir Karic move into the starting line-up to replace the injured quartet. Asaf Arania from the U19 is in the Lilies' competitive squad for the first time.
Matchday Compact: All Information for the Heidenheim game
After the away win in Köln now comes our home game with Heidenheim. On Sunday evening (April 28th/7:30pm) the SVD finally wants to win again in front of their own crowd. It is clear that this will not be an easy task against 1. FC Heidenheim, but Torsten Lieberknecht's team still wants to give the lily fans their second win in a row. Before the Bölle gets down to business, we will provide you with all the information about the duel between the Lilies and the guests from Heidenheim.
Figures & facts: The top facts about the Heidenheim game
Next Sunday (April 28th/7:30pm) SV Darmstadt 98 will face fellow promoted team 1. FC Heidenheim. After Torsten Lieberknecht's team finally celebrated another victory in the Rhineland last week, they should also be able to do it at home this week. With a win of their own and some help, the Heidenheimers could stay in the league three match days before the end. But before the Lilies meet Frank Schmidt and “his” Heidenheimers, you will find all the important facts about the game here. What gives hope for the second win in a row? What are the strengths of the people of Baden-Württemberg? And which lily became a professional in Heidenheim? You can find out in our top facts about the game.
“I still look forward to every matchday”
About the success in Köln, the upcoming duel with 1. FC Heidenheim (April 28th/7:30pm) and the staff: Torsten Lieberknecht answered questions about these and other topics at the press conference on Friday (April 26th). We have put together the most important statements from the head coach for you.