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.
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.
