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.
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.