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.
From the warm opening ceremony to the awards ceremony: The German Football ID Championship in Darmstadt offered exciting games, many wonderful encounters and a well-deserved German champion in the Hesse selection, which also included players from the SV 98 ID team.
The first dates for SV 98's preparations for the 2026/27 second division season have been set: On June 25th, the professional team will return to the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor to undergo various medical tests and performance diagnostics. The first team training session will take place on June 27th in the Odenwald region.
Who will SV Darmstadt 98 face in the first round of the DFB Cup? This question will be answered this coming Saturday (June 6th). The draw for the first round will be broadcast live on ARD's Sportschau. We'll be taking a look and providing you with all the information. We'll also be celebrating with the fan team's survival in the Kreisklasse B (eighth tier) and taking a look across the border to Texas in the USA. All this and more for you in "Lilies Across the Board" on Wednesday.
Fraser Hornby's time at Darmstadt 98 comes to an end after three years. The Scottish attacking midfielder is moving to VfL Wolfsburg. Both clubs have agreed to keep the transfer fee confidential.
An eight-goal thriller to close out the season. The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team took to the pitch one last time this season on Saturday (May 30th) – away against FC Eddersheim. The young Lilies secured a 5-3 victory in Eddersheim, finishing the 2025/26 Hessenliga season in eleventh place. Even more remarkable, however, was the U21's run at the end of the season: the Blue and Whites won their last five matches, scoring an impressive 22 goals in the process.
Barcelona, Spain. A global city right on the Mediterranean. Over 1.7 million people live here. And one of them is Clemens Riedel. The 22-year-old former Darmstadt player moved from SV 98 to Espanyol Barcelona last summer – from youth academy to professional in the Spanish first division. We spoke with Riedel about his first year in Barcelona, the past season, and his still close ties to Darmstadt.
SV 98 can continue to rely on the services of Fabian Nürnberger. The Lilies have extended the expiring contract with the Bulgarian international.
Grayson Dettoni will continue to wear the SV 98 jersey. The Lilies have exercised their option to buy the defender, who was previously on loan from FC Bayern Munich.
The German Football Championship for People with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) kicks off on Sunday – and it's taking place in Darmstadt's Bürgerpark! Last week, the Darmstadt 98ers' home ground offered a different kind of sporting event: a karate demonstration. We also take a look at the opponents for the new season and celebrate two birthdays this week. You'll find all this and much more about Darmstadt 98 in our usual "Lilies Across the Board".
„I’m proud of you,“ were the words of U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt to the team after they secured their place in the Hessenliga. On Saturday (May 23rd), SV Darmstadt 98’s U21 team had the chance to stay in the league against Turabdin Babylon Pohlheim – and they seized it impressively! The young Lilies delivered a convincing 5-1 goal fest, but at the same time still needed help from other teams to guarantee their survival. However, because their direct rivals, CSC 03 Kassel, narrowly lost in Stadtallendorf, the U21 team was finally able to celebrate.
For the fourth time, the Haftpflichtkasse insurance company and SV Darmstadt 98 have jointly awarded four clubs with the Volunteer Award. The award ceremony, including the presentation of the checks, took place last Sunday (May 17th) before the home game against SC Paderborn at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The Volunteer Award, established in 2023 by the Haftpflichtkasse and SV Darmstadt 98, aims to strengthen volunteer engagement and promote outstanding projects.
