The wind whistles across the hard court on the outskirts of the city as a small group of young men pull up their socks. It's a cool morning in the early 1920s, yet there's a special energy in the air. On the sports grounds of the Freiburg Gymnastics Club of 1844, the sound of leather hitting grass, motivational shouts, and the crunch of studs fills the air. Here, in the middle of a simple training area, the club that decades later would become one of the most influential football clubs in southwest Germany is taking shape: SC Freiburg.
In the 1920s, SC Freiburg was not yet an independent force within Freiburg’s sporting landscape. As the football division of the Turnerschaft (gymnastics club), the players used its pitches and infrastructure – yet a distinct identity was already beginning to develop. In 1921, the club even acquired its own office, an organisational step that underscored the young club’s ambitions.
A milestone followed in 1928. SC Freiburg was finally able to move into a proper football stadium – the Winterer Stadium in the west of the city. With space for significantly more spectators and a modern facility for the time, it became the club’s new home. The team promptly repaid the club’s faith in them with a spectacular 2-1 victory against the reigning German champions, 1. FC Nürnberg, at the inauguration. For many Freiburgers, this match marked the moment when SC Freiburg truly stood „on the big stage“ for the first time.
But the club’s development wasn’t straightforward. After the end of World War II, the stadium was taken from them – SC Freiburg was once again without its own home ground. Forced by circumstances, the players returned to the facilities of the Turnerschaft (gymnastics club); a temporary situation that nevertheless strengthened team spirit. The next major turning point came in 1954: the inauguration of a new sports field, which would later become the club’s permanent home. With this ground, the club began its gradual transformation into the professional football club that, over the decades, gained nationwide renown. Today, SC Freiburg occupies a mid-table position in the Bundesliga and will face Darmstadt 98 in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup. We’ve taken a closer look at Darmstadt’s opponent for next Wednesday (December 3rd, 6pm).
| Top Scorers | Top Assists |
| Vincenzo Grifo – 7 Goals | Yuito Suzuki – 4 Assists |
| Derry Scherhant – 4 Goals | Christian Günter – 3 Assists |
| Maximilian Eggestein – 3 Goals | Matthias Ginter- 3 Assists |
| Yuito Suzuki – 3 Goals | Johan Manzambi – 3 Assists |
| Johan Manzambi – 3 Goals | Vincenzo Grifo – 2 Assists |
Julian Schuster
Head coach at SC FreiburgSC Freiburg has shown a diverse range of performances in this cup campaign. In the first round, Julian Schuster’s team prevailed 2-0 against Sportfreunde Lotte, followed by a comfortable 3-1 victory against Fortuna Düsseldorf in the second round. Remarkably, Freiburg’s five goals were scored by five different players: Dinkci, Höler, Matanovic, Grifo, and Scherhant each found the back of the net. The assists were equally varied, with five different players involved: Lienhart, Günter, Manzambi, Matanovic, and Suzuki all provided the necessary assists.
Vincenzo Grifo was born in Pforzheim in 1993 to Italian parents. From an early age, he grew up in an environment that shaped him both athletically and personally. His family instilled values such as solidarity, discipline, and respect – qualities that Grifo would later embody on the football pitch. He took his first steps in organised football with local clubs in the Pforzheim region. VfR Pforzheim became his home club, later he joined Germania Brötzingen, before returning to VfR and finally being accepted into the youth academy of Karlsruher SC.
Grifo quickly attracted attention – primarily through his technique, vision, and instinct for crucial moments. In 2012, he began his professional career at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, initially in the reserve team, but soon gained experience with the Bundesliga squad. Loan spells at Dynamo Dresden and FSV Frankfurt followed in 2014.
For the 2015/16 season, Grifo permanently joined SC Freiburg, where he immediately impressed as a creative playmaker. In 2017, he made the move to Borussia Mönchengladbach, later returning to Hoffenheim – neither of which brought him the hoped-for breakthrough.
In 2019, a loan spell brought him back to Freiburg, where he immediately picked up where he left off. Since then, he has been a permanent member of the club. Grifo has now made 307 competitive appearances for Freiburg, scoring 94 goals and providing just as many assists – figures that underscore his central importance to the club. In 2025, SC Freiburg extended his contract early, a clear sign of their appreciation for his performance and his personality.
At SC Freiburg, he finally achieved his breakthrough in professional football. Here, he established himself not only as a technically gifted playmaker but also as a leader who takes responsibility. Despite public criticism online, Grifo remains focused – supported by his family, who provide him with unwavering support in the often hectic world of professional sports.
Darmstadt 98 lost to Hannover 96 while playing with ten men and must continue to wait for their first win of this second division season. Read our analysis to find out what positives remain and why Darmstadt 98 had factored in setbacks on their chosen path.
Around the time of the home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), the Jonathan Heimes Square was officially inaugurated. Before kickoff, club president Markus Pfitzner and Martin Heimes, father of Jonathan Heimes, who died of cancer about ten years ago, gave speeches highlighting "Johnny's" importance and his commitment to people with cancer.
The Lilien Team Marathon is not just about athletic performance and the shared experience around the Böllenfalltor stadium – but also about making a difference together.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team drew 2-2 (0-1) against SV Unter-Flockenbach. After a heated home game, the young Lilies had to settle for a frustrating, but ultimately deserved, draw. In this extremely balanced league, Patrick Kurt's team continues to grow week by week, gaining valuable experience.
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.
