“A colourful house, a monkey, and a horse” – Pippi Longstocking isn't the only one with these mascots; these two animal friends also feature in the mascot history of Hannover 96. The club has been supported by many different animals in the past, including a monkey and a horse.
A German Shepherd was the first character to support the Lower Saxony team from the sidelines. His successor was somewhat smaller and named „Popo.“ „Popo“ was a capuchin monkey kept on a leash – and was one of the few of his kind to experience the football action so closely. To complete the Pippi Longstocking analogy, a pony accompanied the 96ers in the 1970s and was also the last real animal to be used as an atmosphere-booster in the Hannover stadium. With the advent of today’s mascots, the wire man „VicTOR“ and the wolf „Hanno“ further energised the fans and the team.
Since 2013, „EDDI“ – a brown bloodhound – has been the mascot of Hannover 96. He has already experienced promotions and relegations – and this season, he follows every home game from close range.
Only one defeat in the last five games shows why Christian Titz’s team is currently competing at the top of the table. Eight points from the last five games is a respectable return for „Die Roten“ (The Reds), especially considering they faced two top-five teams, Schalke and Elversberg. With 50 points in the league so far, the team from Lower Saxony sits in fifth place, level on points with Darmstadt. Here’s the record from the last five games:
| Match | Result | Points |
| SV Elversberg (H) | 1:1 | 1 |
| Eintracht Braunschweig (H) | 1:0 | 3 |
| FC Schalke 04 (A) | 2:2 | 1 |
| SpVgg Greuther Fürth (H) | 1:2 | 0 |
| DSC Arminia Bielefeld (A) | 1:0 | 3 |
| Top Scorer | Top Assists |
| Benjamin Källman – 13 Goals | Noel Aseko – 6 Assists |
| Daisuke Yokota – 4 Goals | Maurice Neubauer – 4 Assists |
| Noel Aseko – 3 Goals | Enzo Leopold – 4 Assists |
| Enzo Leopold – 3 Goals | Mustapha Bundu – 3 Assists |
| Hayate Matsuda – 3 Goals | Maik Nawrocki – 3 Assists |
Christian Titz
Head coach of Hannover 96Tiki-taka, long balls, counter-attacking play, or the simple one-two pass. All these tactics require one thing: getting the ball safely from one player to another! Put simply: passing. And Hannover 96’s pass completion rate is an excellent indicator. 85.9 percent of all passes from Titz’s team find their target – the best in the league. Hannover also enjoys a high percentage of possession (56.3 percent), more than any other team in the league.
A quick one-two, a dribble through three opponents, to the edge of the penalty area, and a shot – the ball flies towards the far corner, shouts of „Goal!“ erupt, but the ball doesn’t go in. Nahuel Noll makes another save, as he has so often this season. He has already kept nine clean sheets this campaign, consistently proving himself a reliable last line of defence for his team. Only three other goalkeepers have managed more clean sheets this season.
The 23-year-old spent his youth at 1860 Munich and TSG Hoffenheim. He is still under contract with the latter and is currently on loan at Hannover 96. He previously gained considerable second-division experience last season, also on loan at Greuther Fürth. Noll’s future in the summer remains uncertain, but his focus is currently on Hannover. “I feel very comfortable in Hanover and am 100 percent focused on the job here. And once we’ve all done our jobs and played the season, then we can talk about everything in the summer,” Noll explained in an interview with the Bild newspaper.
The goalkeeper is now not only shining between the posts, but also with the ball at his feet. It’s clear that he’s involved in the team’s build-up play. Nevertheless, he’s not afraid to send the ball on a long, long run. He probably fondly remembers the first-half match against Bielefeld: Hannover 96 not only won, but also benefited from an assist by Noll that led to the equaliser. Only one other goalkeeper has managed an assist this season: Marcel Schuhen. The two will face each other in the match on Saturday (April 11th/8:30pm).
For the first time this season, SV Darmstadt 98 finished a match at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor without any points. The Lilies offered more resistance to Hannover 96's two goals in the second half. However, the pressure exerted by the South Hessians at the end proved fruitless. Read here what the players and both head coaches had to say about the defeat, which Darmstadt considered deserved overall.
Everything has to end and so the undefeated home record of SV 98 ended on Saturday night. Hannover 96 triumphed 2-0 (1-0) to hand the Lilies their first home loss of the season at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
Another top match at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. On matchday 29 (April 11th/8:30pm), Hannover 96 visits Darmstadt. For the clash with their direct league rivals, Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting eleven. The suspended Lidberg and Klefisch are replaced by Lakenmacher and Papela, and Niklas Schmidt comes in for Marco Richter. Bartosz Bialek returns to the Darmstadt 98 matchday squad for the first time this calendar year after recovering from injury.
Once again at 8:30pm, floodlights, top match, and at the Bölle! On Saturday (April 11th/8:30pm), Hannover 96 visits Darmstadt, and once again two teams from the top five meet at Nieder-Ramstädter-Straße. What do the two head coaches have to say before the match? Who will be the referee? And who will be the commentator? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the game against the Lower Saxony side for you in "Matchday Compact."
Florian Kohfeldt spoke at the press conference ahead of the match against Hannover 96 (April 11th/8:30pm) about the fast-paced first game, the strong opponent, and the squad. We've compiled the most important statements from our head coach for you.
At their home game on Saturday (April 11th, 8:30pm) at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, SV Darmstadt 98 will send an important message. Together with the Björn Steiger Foundation and the German Heart Foundation, the club will promote the HERZSICHER (Heart Safe) initiative. The initiative aims to empower as many people as possible to perform CPR in the event of cardiac arrest through free 60-minute resuscitation courses. The German Football Association (DFB) is a cooperation partner.
An evening full of classics: At the "Lionel Richie Tribute Night" on June 27, 2026 (Saturday evening, doors open at 8:30pm), Jimmie Wilson will bring the greatest hits of the American soul singer live to the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. A concert evening presented by SV Darmstadt 98 Stadion GmbH in a special atmosphere – whether for singing along, dancing, or simply enjoying the music.
On Saturday evening (April 11th/8:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will host the team from Hannover 96 and asks you to take note of the following information.
SV Darmstadt 98 aims to extend their home record. However, the task ahead is a tough one: As the league's best home team, the Lilies host Hannover 96, the second-best away team and also their direct rivals in the standings. Both teams are deservedly in the top third of the table, having impressed both offensively and defensively. We've compiled all the key facts and figures for Saturday evening's second division clash. Here you'll find the top facts about the match between the team from southern Hesse and the Lower Saxony side.
“Fernie becomes sporting director at SV 98” – SV Darmstadt 98 made this announcement exactly two years ago today, on April 8, 2024. Paul Fernie has been working as sporting director for the Lilies for two years now. In his Lilienkurier column “Post from Paul,” the 38-year-old looks back on his first two years at the Böllenfalltor stadium – words that we would also like to share with you on our homepage.
Looking ahead. Bielefeld is behind us, Hannover is the next target. We report from the media briefing with Marco Richter, as well as on the young Lilies and our partner club from San Antonio. This week we also celebrate the anniversary of the Lilies‘ sporting director and several birthdays. Read „Lilies Across the Board“ here.
SV Darmstadt 98 congratulates its honorary member Alfred Krämer on his milestone birthday. The long-time chairman of the board of directors of the Lilies celebrates his 80th birthday on April 6th. Until his voluntary retirement in 2021, Krämer served the club for nearly two decades in a leading position on the board of directors, making invaluable contributions.