Summer preparation: Complete! SV 98 starts the new 2024/25 second division season on Sunday (August 4th/1:30pm) and welcomes Fortuna Düsseldorf to the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor - and Marcel Schuhen will be in goal as number one for the Lilies. In a media round, the keeper answered questions from journalists and reported on the anticipation of the new season. At the same time, the U19s are also preparing for their first opponent of the season and the Lilien family is celebrating the next series of birthdays. You can find out all this and more in our weekly “Lilies across the Board” section.
Without him, would SV Darmstadt 98 have anything to do with professional football today? Probably not. Hans Kessler: A very decisive personality in the history of Lilies. In September 2007 – in difficult economic and sporting times for the club – Kessler was elected president of SV 98. As the new Lilien president, he averted the threat of insolvency at the time and, thanks to structural changes and a realignment of the sports club, laid the foundation for sustainable, structural and economic recovery. Hans Kessler: As President from 2007 to 2012 and as a member of the Board of Directors from 2012 to 2015, he made invaluable contributions to our sports club. Next Saturday (August 3rd) Hans Kessler will celebrate his 75th birthday. We would like to say thank you once again for everything you have done for the Lilies and congratulate you on your special day, dear Hans!
I'm glad that it's starting now and the tingling is finally starting again.
“I’m glad that it’s starting now and the tingling is finally starting again,” emphasised Marcel Schuhen in a media round on Tuesday afternoon (July 31st). The SV Darmstadt 98 goalkeeper is looking forward to the new second division season – and especially to the first home game next Sunday (August 4th/1:30pm) against Fortuna Düsseldorf. “For me, this is one of the top 5 teams in the league,” explains Schuhen when asked about their opening opponents. New season. New challenges. However, the Lilies are well prepared for this. The number 1 in South Hesse said: “I have the feeling that something is emerging here again. We’ve got new guys who really want to step on the gas. You can see this in every single form of training and game. We have an ambitious team and want to collect results again.”
The final phase of summer preparation is over. And the U19s return from the familiar “Das Bischof” hotel with fresh energy – now ready for the upcoming season. “As in previous years, the conditions in Tauberbischofsheim were excellent. Great places, warm people and good food. We made the most of the time to prepare for the season. We’re going to Nürnberg next week,” said U19 head coach Patrick Kurt in a positive mood. He and his U19s start the new season with an away game at 1. FC Nürnberg. The last time the two teams met in the 2022/23 season there was a draw (1:1). How will we get the first points in the DFB’s new youth league?
Before the start of the season, despite the intensive preparation, there is also reason to celebrate: Today, Thursday (August 1st), Lilien head coach Torsten Lieberknecht will celebrate his 51st birthday! The native of the Palatinate took over the coaching position at SV Darmstadt 98 in 2021 and has since then made a significant contribution to the development of the team – unforgettable moments such as promotion to the Bundesliga in 2023 that will always be remembered. Lieberknecht has been on the sidelines of SV 98 for 107 competitive games and fully identifies with the sports club from Darmstadt. Dear Torsten, we warmly congratulate you on your special day and wish you all the best!
„Die Sonne scheint. Die Menge tobt und wartet auf ein Lilientor!“ Every Lily knows these lines and knows this song inside and out. Alberto Colucci, the performer of our ever-popular Lily hymn, turns 71 on Friday (August 2). Alberto, we warmly congratulate you on your special day and wish you all the best! Thank you for still delighting all stadium visitors at the Böllenfalltor with your melody and lyrics after more than 30 years! We wish you sunny weather and lots of goals from your favourite team in the coming season.
And the next member of the coaching team, please! On the Lilies‘ first matchday (August 4th) of the new season, our assistant coach Darius Scholtysik celebrates his 58th birthday. He has been part of the Lilien family since July and will have his first competitive game as part of the Lilies on the sidelines on his birthday. Darius, we congratulate you on your special day!
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.