About a year ago, Florian Kohfeldt took over as head coach at Darmstadt 98, and today he shapes the team both on and off the pitch. Jean-Paul Boëtius and Fabian Nürnberger also competed with their national teams in World Cup qualifiers. Off the pitch, SV 98 organised a trip to the Osthofen concentration camp for its fans. The approximately 40-person delegation visited the site and learned a great deal about the suffering that occurred there. You can read about all these and other topics in "Lilien Across the Board."
Almost exactly a year ago, on September 9, 2024, Florian Kohfeldt took to the pitch for his first training session as head coach of SV Darmstadt 98. Two days earlier, the club had announced the signing of the Siegen native. Freshly relegated from the Bundesliga, the club was looking for a coach who identified with Darmstadt 98 and its goals – and found him in Kohfeldt. His mission: to bring stability and introduce a new playing philosophy. „It really is a special club,“ Kohfeldt recently told the Darmstädter Echo, reflecting on his time in southern Hesse so far. „I find the diverse club life very impressive. Privately, we as a family have settled in well here. After a year, the region has become a piece of home for us.“ We’re glad you feel so comfortable with us, Flo!
Fabian Nürnberger and Jean-Paul Boëtius, who both played for their national teams, had very different international experiences. Nürnberger’s Bulgaria started the highly competitive Group E with two defeats. The Eastern Europeans suffered two 3-0 defeats to European champions Spain and European Championship participants Georgia. Against the Spanish, Nürnberger, who started on the left side of defence, had to deal with Lamine Yamal for about an hour. However, the superstar failed to score against our representative. Three days later, the „Lions“ faced Georgia in Tbilisi, and Nürnberger was substituted on at halftime in the defeat. The international trip was a clear positive for Jean-Paul Boëtius. With the Suriname team, he held their opponents from Panama to a 0-0 draw in their opening match, with Boetius coming on as a substitute after 74 minutes. The 31-year-old even started against El Salvador and played a 69-minute part in the 2-1 victory. With the four points, Surinamese topped their qualifying group.
SV 98 organised a visit to the grounds of the former Osthofen concentration camp for around 40 fans. Where information panels, photographs, and memorial stones now stand, suffering and oppression reigned during the Nazi era. The visit represents not only a confrontation with the past, but also a conscious responsibility to keep history alive and not let what happened be forgotten.
Special thanks go to the Osthofen Concentration Camp Memorial, whose staff provided a compelling account of the history. Because memories are not a closed chapter, but a mission for today and the future.
The international break, of course, didn’t apply to the Lilies‘ fan team, which faced TG Bessungen last weekend. Unfortunately, the „second team“ didn’t see much of a run against TGB from the start. The visitors were already 3-0 down at halftime. The balance of power remained unchanged in the second half. Bessungen remained hungry and determined, played with focus until the party ended, and added more goals. The final whistle read a sobering 7-0. This leaves the fan team with six points, placing them eleventh in the 16-team District League B.
The club is hosting a members‘ day around SV 98’s home game against Eintracht Braunschweig (Saturday, 1pm). Fans can fill out a membership application at a stand on floodlight mast 1 (between the south and main stands). Special Krombacher beer mats will also be available that afternoon, allowing fans to express their desire to become a member. All of this, of course, is aimed at reaching the 18,980 member mark by the end of the season.
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.
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.