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.
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.
Lilies at the Wildpark! SV Darmstadt 98 will be playing away against Karlsruher SC this coming Sunday (May 3rd/1:30pm) for the 32nd matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. Will Darmstadt's positive record from recent encounters continue? Will Florian Kohfeldt and Isac Lidberg extend their scoring streak against KSC? And will Fabian Schleusener finally stop scoring against SV 98? We've compiled all the facts and figures for you.
SV Darmstadt 98 will be playing away against Karlsruher SC on Sunday (May 3rd/1:30pm) at the Wildpark Stadium for the 32nd matchday. To ensure you are well prepared for your trip to KSC, here is a summary of all the important information for your visit to the stadium.
To ensure a smooth and convenient journey to Karlsruhe this weekend, SV 98 is offering a special train service that will transport Lilies fans directly from Darmstadt to Karlsruhe and back. Additionally, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team will host SV Hummetroth at their home academy this Wednesday evening (April 29th). For more news and updates, check out our usual "Lilien Across the Board" – all the latest news about the club, gathered here for you.
At the end of the current season, the partnership between SV Darmstadt 98 and Software AG, which has grown over many years, will end due to a strategic realignment of the software company.
The DFB sports court has suspended Patric Pfeiffer for one match following his sending-off against SV Elversberg.
Four goals, three points, and a well-deserved victory in the Hessenliga! At home against VfB 1905 Marburg last Saturday (April 25th), SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team finally celebrated a win after a long wait. Thanks to their confidence, assertiveness in one-on-one situations, and numerous scoring opportunities, the U21s convincingly beat the Marburg team 4-0.
As Florian Kohfeldt approached the team's dressing room at halftime, the Darmstadt head coach heard exactly one sentence: "It's not finished." Fraser Hornby had uttered it, setting the tone for his teammates and himself. What followed was a remarkable second half from Darmstadt 98 and a point against SV Elversberg, a point that, while likely insufficient for their promotion hopes in southern Hesse, nonetheless filled the Darmstadt fans with pride.
For every home goal scored by the Lilies, SV Darmstadt 98 fans will be doubly rewarded in the 2025/26 season. In addition to the joy and excitement, the Lilies' supporters will also receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor.