Torsten Lieberknecht is no longer head coach of SV Darmstadt 98. After internal analysis and several intensive discussions with everyone involved, the 51-year-old has asked to end the collaboration for the benefit of the club. SV 98 complied with his request.
Torsten Lieberknecht: “Everyone knows how much the club means to me. But I have always emphasised that no one is above the club. This also applies to me. With my decision, which I made after serious consideration, I would like to help everyone to look forward again and pool their strengths with a view to the tasks ahead. I wish the Lilies with all my heart that this great club gets back on the road to success.”
Paul Fernie: “We value Torsten very much and thank him from the bottom of our hearts for the work he has done over the past few years. For the success of SV 98, however, it is important to feel the 100% energy and conviction for the sporting turnaround. It speaks for Torsten that we were able to discuss this objectively with him and came to this conclusion. It is anything but a given in professional football that you maintain a relationship that enables such an honest and open exchange in this difficult situation. This proves once again Torsten’s attitude and character.”
Rüdiger Fritsch: “Today is not a good day for SV Darmstadt 98. Because a person who completely identifies with the lilies and has made great contributions to the club is no longer our coach from now on. But I am sure that with a little distance it will not be the recent results that will be remembered, but above all the great successes that Torsten brought to SV 98.”
For the time being, the existing coaching team around Darius Scholtysik and Ovid Hajou will lead the units, starting with the next training next Tuesday (September 3rd) at 11am. The club will inform about the successor to the head coach in due course.
SV 98 finally secured their long-awaited victory on Friday evening. While the team from southern Hesse didn't exactly put on a dazzling display of football against Arminia Bielefeld, their pragmatic approach and strong mentality earned them three points. It was a success whose foundation had been laid in the preceding days.
The long-awaited three points are finally here! In a hard-fought but also disjointed match on Friday evening, Darmstadt showed character and didn't let setbacks get them down, even if not everything went perfectly during the 90 minutes. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here:
A crucial home win for Darmstadt! SV Darmstadt 98 defeated Arminia Bielefeld 2-1 (1-0). Lee (3') gave the home side an early lead, and after the visitors from East Westphalia equalised, Smit (86') sealed the victory with a penalty.
Darmstadt host Arminia Bielefeld. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the defeat in Kaiserslautern. Carlo Sickinger starts in place of Hiroki Akiyama, who is out with a thigh injury. Returning player Marco Richter replaces Lars Kehl in the starting eleven, and Hojae Lee starts instead of Lance Duijvestijn.
Floodlight Friday! On Friday evening (Sept. 11, 6:30pm), SV 98 takes on Arminia Bielefeld in Matchday 5 action. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match? And where can you follow the game? As always, we’ve gathered all the key information about the match against Bielefeld for you in "Matchday Guide."
For the upcoming home match on Friday (September 11, 2026, at 6:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information. Starting this season, we are introducing dedicated entrances for women at the west side of the stadium. Additionally, there is a "Bölle Bande" family entrance offering easier access at Karl-Hess-Platz.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team won 3-1 (0-0) against SV Rot-Weiss Walldorf. In a heated match, Patrick Kurt's team prevailed and remain undefeated at home.
Ahead of the first evening match of the season against Arminia Bielefeld (September 11th, 6:30pm), our head coach Florian Kohfeldt spoke about returning player Marco Richter, the bond between fans and the team, and the upcoming opponent. We've summarised the most important points for you here:
Arminia Bielefeld hosted SV Arminia Hannover and delivered a performance that remains unmatched to this day. DSC Bielefeld swept aside their opponents with an 11-0 victory. It was not only an extraordinary rout, but also remains the biggest win in the history of the 2. Bundesliga.
On Thursday (September 10), the Bundesliga finalised the exact scheduling for Matchdays 7 through 13. For Matchday 7, we host Energie Cottbus on a Saturday. A week later, we travel on a Sunday to face Karlsruher SC at the Wildpark, before welcoming FC St. Pauli to the Böllenfalltor for a Friday evening match under the floodlights on Matchday 9. The following two matchdays—at home against Magdeburg and away in Nürnberg—are both scheduled for Saturdays. Matchdays 12 and 13 will subsequently take place on Friday evenings.
A familiar face is returning to SV 98: The "Lilies" have signed Marco Richter. The 28-year-old previously played for the South Hessian club on loan last season. Richter had agreed to the termination of his contract with 1. FSV Mainz 05 on September 1st, making it possible to sign the attacking midfielder even after the transfer window had closed.
September 10th marks the tenth anniversary of a very special moment in the recent history of SV Darmstadt 98. During the Hessian derby against Eintracht Frankfurt on that day in 2016, Sandro Sirigu scored the decisive goal—and secured an unforgettable 1–0 home victory for the Lilien—shortly before the final whistle with a delivery that was actually intended as a cross. Ten years later, we spoke with him again about that special goal, his memories of his time at the Bölle, and his enduringly close connection to SV 98.