In an interview with sv98.de, President Rüdiger Fritsch comments on the current overall situation, the upcoming crucial weeks and the search for a sporting director.
sv98.de: Rüdiger, 26 match days have been played in the 1st Bundesliga so far. It is the expected difficult season. How do you classify the overall situation?
Rüdiger Fritsch: With a huge effort, we all achieved promotion to the Bundesliga together. Our SV Darmstadt 98 were in a battle with a lot of very big clubs but we achieved this just in time for our 125th birthday. This is outstanding and the result of the solidarity and cooperation of so many people in and around the club. Anyone who has followed our journey together over the last few years will see what we have achieved together, regardless of individual game results. We have now established ourselves in professional football, are financially stable at our level and are pleased about the positive external perception.
And as far as the “difficult season” is concerned, that has unfortunately proven to be more true than we perhaps admitted at the beginning. However, when viewed in light, nothing has happened so far that was not previously imaginable. And importantly: we always have to keep our heads up!
sv98.de: You mentioned that there are still eight games to play after the international break, and we are currently six points behind the relegation place. How do you look forward to the rest of the season?
Fritsch: First of all, we have to self-critically state that this season, as in previous years, we have not yet managed to make the most of our limited economic possibilities. But now the crucial weeks are coming up with games against the teams from the lower table region. Let’s combine all our strengths together once again – with a good mix of full concentration and „Druff Kapell“ attitude. Nobody should write us off too soon.
sv98.de: “Joining forces” also means including all fan groups, right?
Fritsch: That’s exactly how it is. It’s not an easy season for all fans of the Lilies, losing too often is just no fun. But what happened in the stadium on Saturday against Bayern was the Bölle as it lives and breathes and as we all love it so, so much. The processing of the incidents from the Augsburg game definitely does not take place in every club with this openness and clarity. A lot went wrong on the day of the game against Augsburg, but I am grateful for the process of coming to terms with it and the way of self-reflection. The logical and good insight is that “We Lilies” are actually “All of us”.
sv98.de: What is the status of filling the position of sporting director?
Fritsch: We are proceeding with this new appointment in a structured manner and with a clear concept. The position is definitely important, but we won’t allow ourselves to be pushed into making quick decisions. We are not looking for the first, but rather the best for the lilies in our opinion and it is by no means the case that we are currently unable to act. The scouting department is still there, the “engine room” is functioning. This was also shown by the past winter transfer period with three new additions. We need a specialist who can use his expertise and good network to guide our squad composition and, as a result, raise the squad to an even better level. And that while recognising our framework conditions. To put it bluntly: this expert doesn’t grow on the trees of the Darmstadt city forest. However, we are confident that we will be able to report enforcement in a timely manner.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
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"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.