Unmistakably, he glides elegantly across the sky. And when he’s not soaring through the air, he perches atop his nest, which can be up to two metres in diameter. His predominantly white plumage defines his appearance. His red beak and legs provide a striking contrast. We’re talking, of course, about the stork.
These colours were long reflected in football as well. Holstein Kiel, also known as the „Storks,“ used to play in white jerseys and shorts with red socks – an appearance strongly reminiscent of the bird they were named after. Today, the color scheme is slightly different, but the nickname remains.
The team from northern Germany currently sits in 15th place in the table. Before the last matchday, they had gone four consecutive second-division games without a win. But then there was a change in the coaching position. New coach = fresh start? Tim Walter was back on the sidelines for Kiel last weekend, having previously coached KSV Holstein Kiel in the 2018/19 season.
In his Kiel comeback, SV Elversberg visited the Holstein Stadium, and the Storks immediately secured their first point against the fourth-placed team. The Storks intend to use this momentum to establish themselves above the relegation zone.
| Top Scorers | Top Assists |
| David Zec – 5 Goals | Alexander Bernhardsson – 6 Assists |
| Phil Harres – 4 Goals | Phil Harres – 2 Assists |
| Ivan Nekic – 2 Goals | John Tolkin – 2 Assists |
| Alexander Bernhardsson – 2 Goals | Niklas Niehoff – 2 Assists |
| Jonas Therkelsen – 2 Goals | Adrian Kapralik – 1 Assists |
Tim Walter
Head coach of Holstein KielThe league is a marathon, not a sprint, or so the old football adage goes. Kiel players cover an average of around 122 kilometres per game. Only Arminia Bielefeld and Dynamo Dresden cover more distance. The Storks also rank highly in terms of high-intensity runs per game: with 721 runs, they are third in the league, surpassed only by Schalke and Bielefeld. The KSV players not only cover great distances, but also frequently push themselves to their limits.
Comeback qualities can be crucial in the relegation battle. One Kiel player exemplifies this: Alexander Bernhardsson. The attacking midfielder unfortunately missed eleven games due to foot problems. Last weekend, fans in the Kiel stands breathed a sigh of relief: In the 71st minute, „Berra,“ as he is also known, finally made his return, ending his three-month absence. Although he left the pitch without scoring, he boosted the team’s belief in staying in the league. On his immediate return, Holstein Kiel secured a point against the top team from Elversberg.
The Swede is under contract in Kiel, his first club outside his home country. He joined the Storks at the beginning of 2024 and is currently experiencing the peak of his career. The Swedish national team only really took notice of the 27-year-old during his time at KSV Holstein Kiel. At what is statistically the prime age for a footballer, he doesn’t just want to be a promising talent, but also a key player in the hunt for goals.
Although he’s just returned from injury, Kiel’s number eleven, with eight scorer points in 15 matches, is still the Stork’s most offensively potent player. How many minutes he’ll be able to play against SV Darmstadt 98 on Saturday afternoon remains to be seen. It’s clear, however, that he can be dangerous even with just a few minutes on the pitch. It’s no coincidence that Darmstadt’s head coach already stated before the first leg that Bernhardsson „is one of the top players in the league.“
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.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
In Wednesday's media briefing, Nicolas Verkooijen spoke about his Kickbase team, communication within the squad, and the intensive training in Germany. A former Darmstadt 98 player had the opportunity to compete against the best footballers, and we report on the historic stadium tour as part of the Bundesliga's founding anniversary celebrations. All the latest news from SV Darmstadt 98 can be found, as usual, in "Lilies Across the Board"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.