What do FC Bayern Munich, 1. FC Nürnberg, and 1860 Munich have in common? At first glance, the answer is quite simple: All three teams hail from the state of Bavaria. But upon closer inspection, there's another interesting similarity: They're all the current "dinosaurs" of German professional football—that is, the teams that have played in their respective leagues the longest without interruption. The Franconians have been in the 2. Bundesliga since 2019, sharing second-division dinosaur status with Karlsruher SC and Hannover 96. On Friday (08/08/6:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 travels to Nürnberg in Franconia. Reason enough to take a closer look at the club from the Valznerweiher lake.
| Top Signings | Top Departures |
| Luka Lochoshvili (from Cremonese, Defender) | Jens Castrop (to Borussia Mönchengladbach, Midfielder) |
| Mickaël Biron (from RWDM Brussels, Striker) | Oliver Villadsen (to Bröndby IF, Defender) |
| Semir Telalovic (from SSV Ulm 1846, Striker) | Christoph Daferner (to Dynamo Dresden, Striker) |
| Justin von der Hitz (from 1. FC Köln U19, Midfielder) | Stefanos Tzimas (End of Loan to Brighton, Striker) |
| Kristian Mandic (from Eintracht Frankfurt U19, Defender) | Jannes Horn (to Rapid Wien, Defender) |
Miroslav Klose
Head coach of 1. FC NürnbergInteresting Fact: During his time as a center forward, Klose scored many important goals. He lived up to his reputation as a centre forward: In an interview with „bundesliga.com,“ he revealed that of his approximately 300 goals, only two were scored from outside the box.
„He who has the youth, has the future.“ This is a famous quote by Napoleon Bonaparte. If this quote were to hold true, the Franconians would certainly have a bright future ahead of them: With an average age of 22.74 years, Nürnberg is the youngest team in the league. Recent examples such as Can Uzun, Nathaniel Brown, and most recently Stefanos Tzimas demonstrate how well players can develop in Franconia. Among the current „young guns“ are names like Rafael Lubach (20), Tim Janisch (19), and Berkay Yilmaz (20), who will surely try to shake up the 2. Bundesliga.
In the beginning there was the ball. If Robin Knoche were to write his biography one day, it could begin with precisely this sentence – not because it’s particularly striking, but because it reveals a surprising amount about him. For the 33-year-old, football isn’t just a profession. The fact that „ball“ was the first word Knoche uttered as a baby is therefore no coincidence, but almost a kind of prophecy.
This early connection to the game seems to have had a lasting impact on him. His CV now includes 13 years of professional football. And that experience is characterised by a rare quality: consistency. While other players visit numerous clubs and countries during their careers, Knoche has so far played for exactly three clubs and countries: VfL Wolfsburg (2012 to 2020), Union Berlin (2020 to 2024), and 1. FC Nürnberg (since 2024). In Wolfsburg, he also progressed through all the youth teams and made a name for himself in German football. In Berlin, he became a pillar of a team that achieved historic success with its first and, so far, only Champions League appearance. In Nürnberg, he now wears the captain’s armband.
What sets him apart is a talent he revealed on Sky’s „My Story“: memorising. Tactical processes, running routes, opponent profiles – Knoche absorbs them like other Netflix series. It’s no wonder, then, that he’s logged a total of 450 minutes of Champions League action with Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg. He’s also made 29 Europa League and six Conference League appearances. His international experience is more than impressive for a second-division player. Off the pitch, he knows exactly what he’s good at and what others can do better. For example, when it comes to home furnishings. During his time at Union Berlin, he left the design of their home to his wife. „She simply has a better eye,“ he says.
Despite his stops and successes, one thing remains constant: his connection to his hometown. Wolfsburg and his birthplace, Braunschweig, are more than just geographical coordinates. They seem to be his anchors. If Knoche could write a dream script for his career – as he reveals to Sky – it would end with him returning to where his career began: at VfL Wolfsburg.
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
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.
