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"
Nicolas Verkooijen has only been in Darmstadt for a few weeks, but he’s already settled in perfectly with the Lilies. This was evident during his media session on Wednesday (August 26th) and is due not only to the team, but also to a shared passion in the locker room: Kickbase. „I have Gadou and Ansah,“ the Belgian revealed about his current team. He’s already sold Wimmer, however. His squad is still „a work in progress.“
The 19-year-old is also working diligently on his language skills for his new life in Germany. Every day he tries to learn some German. His favourite word so far is already clear: „Genau.“
The Belgian grew up speaking Dutch and, as he says himself, „feels a bit Dutch.“ Accordingly, he often uses their shared language in conversations with Milan Smit, Ibrahim El Kadiri, and Lance Duijvestijn, even though English or German is predominantly spoken in the locker room.
Verkooijen is feeling very comfortable in Darmstadt. „It’s a very good feeling to be here. The group is very nice, everyone gets along well.“ The new signing also seems to have settled in quickly on the training pitch. He is often one of the last to leave the field.
I like being on the pitch. I like scoring goals.
Two thousand six hundred sixty-six euros and ten cents. That is the donation amount that the association for children with cancer and chronic illnesses Darmstadt / Rhine-Main-Neckar e.V. received from the Silver Lilies.
Since 1987, they have supported families whose child has cancer or a chronic illness. Services offered include psychosocial support, counseling, and assistance for the entire family. Psychomotor therapy, working with clay, music education, and animal-assisted therapy provide additional support for the emotional processing of the illness.
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, houses, and clubhouses now stand, Darmstadt’s football history was once written. On German Football History Day, 35 participants embarked on a special journey of discovery in the professional team’s bus. From the first-place finishes of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to their current home at the Böllenfalltor stadium.
Clemens Riedel started for Espanyol Barcelona against Real Madrid last weekend, facing off against the likes of Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham. The 23-year-old put up a strong fight, stopping Vinícius in a spectacular one-on-one situation and even forcing Thibaut Courtois into a save with his own shot. Riedel was substituted late in the game after receiving a yellow card. Espanyol ultimately lost the match 2-1 after conceding a goal in the 90th minute.
Riedel’s presence on this stage today has a blue-and-white history: in 2019, he joined Darmstadt’s youth academy, and two years later, he made his professional debut. The centre-back made a total of 84 appearances for SV Darmstadt 98 before making the move to Espanyol Barcelona in the summer of 2015. We wish our former youth player continued success in Spain!
Executive Board representative Uwe Kuhl celebrated his birthday on Monday (August 24th). We congratulate him warmly and wish him all the best!
On Sunday afternoon (Oct 18th, 1:30pm), SV 98 will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the season. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kickoff? Who will be officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we’ve put together all the essential information for the game against KSC in our "Matchday Guide" feature.
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.