For many young football fans, 1. FC Nürnberg is now primarily known as a traditional club in the 2nd Bundesliga. But in the 1961/62 season the club played on the European stage for the first time - and quite successfully. With four wins, Nuremberg reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup, where FCN met defending champions Benfica. In the first leg, the Franconians celebrated an impressive 3-1 win in front of a sold-out crowd. But in the second leg, the dream of the semi-finals was dashed - the club was eliminated with a clear 6-0 defeat. Despite the bitter end, the then striker Heinz Strehl made an exclamation mark: with eight goals, he became the competition's top scorer, even if that could hardly be any consolation for missing out on a place in the semi-finals.
Today, 1. FC Nürnberg is level on points with SV Darmstadt 98 and Berlin’s Hertha in the tight 2nd Bundesliga table and is in eleventh place. After a good start to the second half of the season with a 2-1 win against Karlsruher SC, Miroslav Klose’s team lost 3-1 against their friends from Gelsenkirchen last weekend. Now the Lilies are coming to the Max-Morlock Stadium on Friday evening (January 31st/6:30pm) for what will hopefully be an exciting floodlit game. In our opponent check we look at SV 98’s upcoming opponents.
| Top Scorers |
Top Assists |
| Stefanos Tzimas – 10 Goals | Julian Justvan – 7 Assists |
| Julian Justvan – 3 Goals | Caspar Jander – 4 Assists |
| Jens Castrop – 3 Goals | Stefanos Tzimas – 2 Assists |
| Mahir Emreli – 3 Goals | Jens Castrop – 2 Assists |
| Lukas Schleimer – 3 Goals | Danilo Soares – 2 Assists |
Record goalscorer for the German national team. Germany’s Footballer of the Year 2006. World Champion 2014. Plus many other titles and trophies. Today he is head coach in the 2nd Bundesliga at 1. FC Nürnberg. After his outstanding playing career, Miroslav Klose also found his way as a coach.
The 46-year-old gained his first experience as a trainer in the youth ranks of the German national team before moving to FC Bayern Munich in 2018, initially to look after the B-juniors there and later to work as an assistant coach for the professionals. After a short stay as head coach at SCR Altach in Austria, he took over the club for the 2024/25 season.
Under his leadership, Nürnberg is currently in eleventh place in the 2nd Bundesliga. Even though Klose would have liked more points in some games, he is satisfied with his team’s development. In the balanced league, “everyone is able to beat everyone,” he explained optimistically in an interview with RTL.
Is it due to head coach Miroslav Klose, who has proven his goalscoring abilities as a striker for years? Or is it simply the individual class of the players? Probably a mix of both. 1. FC Nürnberg is not one of the teams with the most goals or shots on goal – with 34 goals this season they are the seventh strongest offensive in the competition. But when the club gets into the penalty area, it becomes extremely dangerous. With an opportunity conversion rate of 10.5 percent, FCN ranks fourth in the 2nd Bundesliga in this statistic – proof of their efficiency in front of the opponent’s goal.
Greek strikers are making more and more impressions in the 2nd Bundesliga. While Christos Tzolis almost secured promotion for Fortuna Düsseldorf last season with 22 goals, Stefanos Tzimas is now causing a sensation at 1. FC Nürnberg.
The only 19-year-old attacker, who moved to Franconia on loan from PAOK Saloniki last summer, has quickly turned out to be an absolute shooting star. With ten goals in 16 games, he is one of the most dangerous strikers in the league. A reason? He feels right at home in Nürnberg. He finds life there to be much quieter than in his homeland Thessaloniki. He received support in getting used to the game from coach Miroslav Klose and sports director Olaf Rebbe – two key figures in his move.
However, the contact came as a surprise, as Tzimas told kicker. “I was on vacation with friends when Miroslav Klose called me. “I was impressed that Miroslav Klose wanted me,” recalls the goalscorer and is convinced of his move to Nuremberg: “It was the best decision I could have made.”
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.