What began in the spring of 1906 as a school team is now part of German football heritage: SC Preußen Münster, founded by students of what is now the Johann-Conrad-Schlaun-Gymnasium, has since developed into a truly traditional club. Originally founded as FC Preußen Münster, it was renamed to its current name in 1920 after moving to what was then a cow pasture on Hammer Straße. The club experienced its heyday in the 1950s: In 1951, Preußen Münster finished as German runners-up – one of the greatest successes in the club's history to date.
For decades, the club’s image has been shaped by highs and lows. But what happened in the 2023/24 season resembled a modern-day football fairytale: After a mixed first half of the third division season, which saw them only in twelfth, the Prussians embarked on an incredible comeback. On the final matchday of the 3. Liga, a 2-0 home win against SpVgg Unterhaching provided the final emotional climax – and the perfect passage from the Regionalliga to the 2. Bundesliga. After the final whistle, all the dams in the Preußenstadion broke, because at that moment, everyone realised: For the first time in 33 years, Preußen Münster was back in the second division.
| Top Scorers | Top Assists |
| Joshua Mees – 7 Goals | Marc Lorenz – 3 Assists |
| Lukas Frenkert – 3 Goals | Charalambos Makridis – 3 Assists |
| Torge Paetow – 3 Goals | András Németh – 3 Assists |
| Hólmbert Aron Fridjónsson – 3 Goals | Jano ter Horst – 2 Assists |
| Marc Lorenz – 2 Goals | Niko Koulis – 2 Assists |
Listening to Sascha Hildmann, you quickly realise that football was never just a job for him – it was a part of his life from the very beginning. Born and raised in Kaiserslautern, he learned the game on the streets – alongside his older brother, who took him along when they played outside. His father was also football-mad – so his direction was set early on.
Even as a player, Hildmann passed through several storied clubs – including 1. FC Kaiserslautern, 1. FC Saarbrücken, and Alemannia Aachen. But not only sport, but also his life off the pitch had its own solid foundation from an early age: He has strong family support in his wife and daughter. And for several years now, he has felt particularly at home in one place: „Münster is my first home,“ he says – and that doesn’t just apply to sports.
It was no coincidence that Hildmann took up coaching at the age of 35. „I wanted to do better than some of the coaches I’ve seen.“ For him, a good coach is someone who is empathetic, engages all players, and at the same time offers clear leadership. This balance was also attested to during his training: During his coaching course, psychologists described him as „friendly and authoritative“ – a description that still applies to him today. Sascha Hildmann is a coach who is not only present on the sidelines, but also close to people.
Besides football, Hildmann has a second great passion: fishing. „I need it to clear my head,“ he says. The peace and quiet, the nature, the ability to switch off – it’s his counterbalance to the intense world of football. In general, he has a wide range of interests: tennis, handball, basketball – he’s tried everything. In the end, though, he stayed where it’s loudest, most emotional, and most passionate: football.
The Münster Eagles are notably strong in one category: As their heraldic animal suggests, they are the kings of the skies this season. As a team, they have already won an impressive 709 aerial duels – the undisputed leader in the 2nd Bundesliga. Second place in this category is occupied by SSV Jahn Regensburg, who have won 65 fewer aerial duels so far.
He was the man of the hour when Preußen Münster secured promotion to the 2. Bundesliga in the summer of 2024: Malik Batmaz – Preußen’s top scorer with 17 goals this season – played a key role in their return to the second division after 33 years. In the decisive match against SpVgg Unterhaching, the Bretten native also provided the assist for the goal that made it 2-0 – the final point of a season that probably no Münster resident could have imagined in their wildest dreams.
It’s no wonder that Batmaz was slated to be a permanent fixture in the second division team in the new season. And the 25-year-old immediately repaid that trust: In Preußen’s first second division match, he scored the first goal – an emotional moment for club and player alike. But then came the bitter setback: In a friendly against Borussia Dortmund II, Batmaz tore his cruciate ligament – a serious injury that sidelined him for three months. Since then, the attacker has been fighting his way back and is back on the pitch – but is still waiting for his first goal after the long break.
His football roots lie in the southwest: Batmaz made his way to the professional ranks via the youth academy of SV Sandhausen and Karlsruher SC. He made over 80 competitive appearances for KSC between 2018 and 2023, including a brief loan to VfB Stuttgart II. Now Batmaz wants to get back on the attack in Münster – and pick up where he left off before his injury: as a reliable goalscorer, emotional leader, and promotion hero.
What awaits SV Darmstadt 98 on Saturday afternoon against Arminia Bielefeld? How did the 98ers use the international break, and what are Florian Kohfeldt's thoughts on the final stretch of the season? The Lilies' head coach answered these and other questions at the press conference on Thursday before the match at the Alm (April 4th, 1pm). We've summarised the most important statements from our head coach's press conference for you.
The sun is shining on the Bielefeld Alm on Saturday afternoon (April 4th, 1pm). On matchday 28 of this second division season, DSC Arminia Bielefeld hosts SV Darmstadt 98. To ensure you have all the information you need for your trip to the SchücoArena, here's what you need to know about your visit.
2025 was Arminia's year! After being relegated from the top German league in the 2021/22 season, Bielefeld were relegated all the way down to the third division. But their last season there belonged to Arminia: as champions of the 3. Liga in 2024/25, they were promoted to the 2. Bundesliga, and they also caused a major upset in the DFB Cup.
While Bielefeld are looking to improve their record to secure safety at the end of the season, SV Darmstadt 98 are eager to finally pick up three points away from home. In Saturday's match (April 4th, 1pm) between Arminia Bielefeld and Darmstadt, the 15th-placed team hosts the fourth-placed side. You can read about the areas where the two teams are closely matched, as well as all the key facts and figures, in the Top Facts section below.
Marcel Schuhen is eager to get back to Bielefeld and explained just that in a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon (April 1st). The Bölle Gang and numerous other kids were also out in force this week. With the Easter egg hunt at the Bölle stadium and the Merck-Lilien football camp at the youth academy, there was something for even the youngest Lilies to enjoy. You can read about these and other topics in "Lilies Across the Board". As usual, our weekly column features numerous articles about club life at SV Darmstadt 98.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team failed to secure any points away at SV Weidenhausen on Saturday (March 28th/3pm). Despite leading at halftime and putting in a strong effort, they ultimately suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat.
After their eventful days in San Antonio, the Darmstadt delegation concludes their trip to Texas in Beaumont. And the scene that greets the team from southern Hesse initially seems like a crazy dream. Far from home and under the Texas sun, a club wears the Lily on its chest and the Darmstadt name on its back.
A delegation led by Darmstadt 98 president Markus Pfitzner is using the current international break in March for a trip to San Antonio to further strengthen the connection with cooperation partner San Antonio FC, gain deeper insights into the local economy, and immerse themselves in the culture and history of Darmstadt’s sister city. We will be covering their time in Texas on this page.
The German Football League (DFL) announced the exact times for the remaining matchdays on Friday afternoon (March 27). The home game on matchday 31 against SV Elversberg will take place on Saturday evening (April 25) at 8:30pm. This will be followed by two away games against Karlsruher SC (May 3) and Preußen Münster (May 10), both at 1:30pm. On the final matchday, Darmstadt will host SC Paderborn at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor at 3:30pm. (May 17).
SV Darmstadt 98 won their friendly match against 1. FC Saarbrücken during the international break. Florian Kohfeldt's team triumphed 4-2 (2-1) at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, behind closed doors.
Following his injury, Luca Marseiler posted an emotional message on Instagram, while Patric Pfeiffer has been called up to the Ghanaian national team for the first time. You'll also find out what the other Darmstadt teams have been up to. All this and more, as always, in our "Darmstadt Across the Board" section.
Born in Hamburg in 1999 and raised in the Hanseatic city, Patric Pfeiffer's roots lie in Ghana, his mother's homeland. He has now been called up to the Ghanaian national team for the first time, and two special international matches await the SV Darmstadt 98 centre-back: first against Austria (March 27th, 6pm), then against Germany (March 30th, 8:45pm). Before the 26-year-old departs with the West Africans, we arranged an interview with him. A conversation about family and dreams, memories and old acquaintances.