In 2009, over 50,000 spectators were in the sold-out Düsseldorf Arena to watch the third division game between Fortuna and the understudy of SV Werder Bremen in wonderful summer temperatures. A record crowd for the 3rd league. For one simple reason: Fortuna was able to find its way back to the 2nd Bundesliga in this game. No sooner said than done. In the end it was a cross that gave the home team luck. The ball slipped through Bremen's goalkeeper's fingers and the celebration knew no bounds. Düsseldorf ultimately managed the lead until the end – and when Bibiana Steinhaus blew her whistle three times, it was done: Fortuna Düsseldorf was able to call itself a second division team again after ten years of absence.
They stayed there for three years before even gaining promotion to the 1st Bundesliga in 2012. However, it quickly went back down to 2. Bundesliga. The German second division championship followed in 2018 and thus the renewed promotion. This time they stayed in the top echelon of German football for two seasons. Fortuna have been in the second highest class for five years now. There they narrowly failed in relegation against VfL Bochum last year. We’ll take a closer look at SV Darmstadt 98’s opponents before the clash next Friday (January 17th/6.30pm).
| Top Goals | Top Assists |
| Isak Johannesson – 6 Goals | Isak Johannesson – 5 Assists |
| Dawid Kownacki – 5 Goals | Shinta Appelkamp – 4 Assists |
| Tim Rossmann – 2 Goals | Dawid Kownacki – 2 Assists |
| Jona Niemiec – 2 Goals | Tim Rossmann – 2 Assists |
| Dzenan Pejcinovic – 2 Goals | Myron van Brederode – 2 Assists |
After his active career as a professional footballer, he took a very special path. He jumped on the trampoline, rode horses and learned numerous new skills that would help him in his later professional life. Daniel Thioune spent seven years – from 2012 to 2019 – at the University of Vechta, where he studied sports science and education.
His goal was clear: after completing his studies, he wanted to start a career as a professional trainer. The basics of sports science were indispensable, but it was the educational sciences in particular that left a lasting impression on him. He learned how important social interaction is in a large group and how to inspire them to share a common vision. His mission, as he once said: “To win over the players, to take them on a journey and to unlock potential in all areas, that requires a high level of empathy and leadership.”
He had to prove these leadership qualities even after a serious setback: after the bitter defeat with Fortuna Düsseldorf in the relegation second leg against VfL Bochum on May 27th, missing out on promotion on penalties. But instead of falling apart at this low point, the team came together again. Together they were able to take a lot from this situation and collected themselves. The relegation? Ticked off. To this day he has not watched the second leg again. Instead, Thioune’s goal remains to one day be on the sidelines as a coach at 3:30pm in the Bundesliga. But at the moment he is particularly excited about working with his team. He wants to be successful with them. “It is exciting to develop further with Fortuna, to grow healthily and to work sustainably,” says Thioune.
Fortuna is impressively versatile when it comes to scoring goals this season. In total, the Düsseldorf team have already scored 25 goals – with the participation of twelve different goalscorers. Particularly striking: every striker who received minutes of action hit the opponent’s goal at least once.
However, there is one name at the top of the internal top scorer list: Isak Bergmann Johannesson. The midfielder scored the most goals for Fortuna with six goals. For the Lilies this means: when preparing for the game, the focus should not only be on a specific player, but rather vigilance is required. Because at Fortuna, anyone can score at any time.
Barely filled stands, every sound of the players echoes through the stadium. And the lawn in front of the goal looks more like a sandpit than a playing field. This is what the playing days of a regional goalkeeper often looked like – including those of the former amateur goalkeeper of VfB Stuttgart. But then everything changed suddenly.
Florian Kastenmeier. He blinked and suddenly found himself in an atmospheric arena. Filled stands, flags flying like clouds. And a flawless green in front of his goal. For Kastenmeier it must have felt like a dream. A dream that became reality due to unforeseeable events: First, Fortuna’s goalkeeper Zack Steffen was injured. Then the then coach Friedhelm Funkel was also without Michael Rensing, who had suffered a shoulder joint rupture. So Kastenmeier – only the third goalkeeper at the time – suddenly found himself between the posts for the Fortuna professionals. And that too in the 1st Bundesliga. The first game in League 1 against Werder Bremen ended in a 0-1 defeat – a change of coach followed shortly afterwards. Was that the end of his journey? Back to the bench? No, the new coach also relied on the new man in the box.
Today – five years later – Kastenmeier is the undisputed number one goalkeeper at Fortuna Düsseldorf. The 27-year-old has set a record: no other goalkeeper has stayed between the Düsseldorf posts for so long. This season too, Kastenmeier is repaying his club’s trust with strong performances. With 73 saves, he ranks first among all goalkeepers in the 2nd Bundesliga. On average, he saves 4.3 shots per game.
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.