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!
The second consecutive away game, and the last of the season, is upon us. Once again on a Sunday (May 10th, 1:30pm), Darmstadt will be playing away – this time against SC Preußen Münster. Everything you need to know for your final away trip of the season to the LVM-Preußenstadion, about three and a half hours away, can be found here in the usual fan information section.
There's a lot going on at the Bölle. The 98th Darmstadt baby of 2026, along with their family, visited the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, and they weren't the only ones. Where else the Bölle gang has ended up, and many more news items about the club, can be found here in our "Lilies Across the Board" section, as every Wednesday.
SV Darmstadt 98 informed all season ticket holders about the season ticket procedure for the 2026/27 season on Wednesday (May 6th) and would also like to share this letter on the club's own website.
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.