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.
Darmstadt 98 lost to Hannover 96 while playing with ten men and must continue to wait for their first win of this second division season. Read our analysis to find out what positives remain and why Darmstadt 98 had factored in setbacks on their chosen path.
Around the time of the home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), the Jonathan Heimes Square was officially inaugurated. Before kickoff, club president Markus Pfitzner and Martin Heimes, father of Jonathan Heimes, who died of cancer about ten years ago, gave speeches highlighting "Johnny's" importance and his commitment to people with cancer.
The Lilien Team Marathon is not just about athletic performance and the shared experience around the Böllenfalltor stadium – but also about making a difference together.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team drew 2-2 (0-1) against SV Unter-Flockenbach. After a heated home game, the young Lilies had to settle for a frustrating, but ultimately deserved, draw. In this extremely balanced league, Patrick Kurt's team continues to grow week by week, gaining valuable experience.
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.
