Long before Dynamo Dresden was founded in 1953, football played a significant role in the Saxon capital. In 1874, the ball first rolled in an organised fashion in the Florence on the Elbe. The first club was the "Dresden English Football Club," founded by workers from England. Football has always been a close part of the city, and after the founding of SGD, an absolute success story began, which today allows the club to boast a very well-filled trophy room.
The 1970s, in particular, saw a string of trophies go to Dresden. During this period, Dynamo celebrated five East German championship titles and won the East German Cup twice. The SGD also regularly celebrated special nights on the international stage, competing against the best teams in Europe.
After reunification, Dynamo remained in the Bundesliga until 1995, but since then, they have not been able to return to the top flight of German football. In recent years, Dynamo has alternated between the 3rd and 2nd divisions, to which they returned this season. We take a closer look at SV 98’s next opponent. Dynamo Dresden in the opponent check.
| Top Scorers | Top Assists |
| Christoph Daferner – 3 Goals | Niklas Hauptmann – 2 Assists |
| Niklas Hauptmann – 1 Goal | Jakob Lemmer – 1 Assist |
| Jakob Lemmer – 1 Goal | Vinko Sapina – 1 Assist |
| Luca Herrmann – 1 Goal | Konrad Faber – 1 Assist |
| Claudio Kammerknecht – 1 Goal |
Thomas Stamm
Head coach at SG Dynamo DresdenDynamo Dresden has been known for attacking football this season, especially away from home. Dresden has already scored six goals on the road; only Greuther Fürth has scored more goals at other stadiums. Furthermore, SGD has the second-most shots on goal in the league so far. The trio of Nils Frölin, Christoph Daferner, and Jakob Lemmer are primarily responsible for their attacking threat. All three have already found the back of the net this season.
When someone is called a „snake,“ the term usually doesn’t have a positive connotation. The comparison to the reptile is often intended to emphasise that the person in question has acted dishonestly or isn’t particularly trustworthy. In the case of Dresden’s Niklas Hauptmann, however, the reason is quite different. Former Dynamo captain and current youth development director Marco Hartmann gave his teammate this nickname in reference to his playing style. „You can’t get him away from the ball. He turns right, left, and you can’t get to him.“
Although, according to Hauptmann himself, the nickname „snake“ has become the exception, this comparison still describes the footballer well: The Köln native is difficult to grasp, moves skillfully in space, and has the ability to glide through the midfield.
The now 29-year-old’s talent was, in a sense, in his genes. His father, Ralf, played a total of 205 Bundesliga matches for Dynamo and 1. FC Köln and also played for the East German national team. Thanks to his time at Effzeh, his son, Niklas, was born in Köln in 1996 and later began his football career at Viktoria Frechen, before the Hauptmanns returned to the East and Niklas joined SC Borea Dresden. There, it was noticed that Hauptmann possessed exceptional vision and a fine passing game – skills that made him a special talent in central midfield.
His path then led him to Dynamo Dresden, where, after seven years in the youth system, he made the leap to the professional team. After a year of training, „Haupe“ quickly became a key player in the second division and caught the attention of 1. FC Köln, where he joined in the summer of 2018, once again following in his father’s footsteps.
Beim „Effzeh“ kämpft Hauptmann jedoch häufig mit Verletzungsproblemen, die ihm nur wenig Spielzeit erlaubten. Um regelmäßig Spielpraxis zu sammeln, wechselte er deshalb in den turbulenten Coronazeiten auf Leihbasis zu Holstein Kiel. Dort findet er wieder zu alter Form zurückfinden und scheitert mit den „Störchen“ nur knapp am Aufstieg zur Bundesliga.
Nach der Leihe endet trotz des starken Jahres in Kiel die Zeit in Köln endgültig. Hauptmann zieht es zurück zu seinem Herzensverein nach Dresden, für den er mittlerweile 167 Pflichtspiele absolviert hat. Auch in dieser Saison hat der Mann mit der Rückennummer 27 eine wichtige Rolle inne und kommt bereits auf drei Scorerpunkte. Die Lilien sollten also gewarnt sein.
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
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: