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.
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.
