It was the sixth matchday of the 2017/18 season, a sunny Sunday in September, and the second division fixture between SpVgg Greuther Fürth and Fortuna Düsseldorf was on the schedule. With Florian Neuhaus, Friedhelm Funkel, and Serdar Dursun on or off the pitch, the duel ended 3-1 for Fürth – thanks in part to a brace from Dursun. At first glance, probably just a typical second division victory. But historically significant and unforgettable for everyone in Fürth.
Since that matchday in the 2017/18 season, the team from Sportpark Ronhof has topped the all-time 2. Bundesliga table – and has done so for almost nine years. Greuther Fürth has amassed 1827 points, a full 137 points ahead of second-placed St. Pauli. 495 wins, 342 draws, and 420 losses in 1257 2. Bundesliga matches! Many impressive statistics, each a record in its own right. The goal statistics are equally remarkable: 1856 goals scored and 1653 conceded. No other team in the history of the 2. Bundesliga has amassed more.
But how are they doing now? Let’s take a look.
Unlike the all-time table, Greuther Fürth currently sit in 17th place before matchday 30, occupying a direct relegation spot. However, as is well known, the league is not only tight at the top but also in the bottom half of the table. Only six points separate Fürth from tenth place. Furthermore, Fürth are currently level on points with the teams in safety. The last five matches started promisingly for Greuther Fürth, with victories against Hannover and Elversberg giving them a boost in their fight for survival. With a total of seven points from their last five games, Fürth certainly have no reason to be ashamed.
| Opposition Team | Result | Points |
| Preussen Münster (A) | 0:0 | 1 |
| SC Paderborn (H) | 0:2 | 0 |
| Karlsruher SC (A) | 3:1 | 0 |
| SV 07 Elversberg (H) | 2:0 | 3 |
| Hannover 96 (A) | 1:2 | 3 |
| Top Scorers | Top Assists |
| Noel Futkeu – 12 Goals | Felix Klaus – 7 Assists |
| Felix Klaus – 7 Goals | Branimir Hrgota – 7 Assists |
| Branimir Hrgota – 4 Goals | Noel Futkeu – 5 Assists |
| Dennis Srbeny – 3 Goals | Dennis Srbeny – 2 Assists |
| Jannik Dehm – 2 Goals | Aaron Keller – 2 Assists |
Heiko Vogel
Head coach of Greuther FürthAttack: Loss of possession. Verdict: Goal conceded. That’s how the decision would go if the judge were from Fürth. Greuther Fürth ruthlessly exploits the opposing team’s turnovers. Eleven times already, a ball recovery by Fürth has led to a goal – only Elversberg has scored more. Darmstadt must therefore be extremely cautious, so that against Vogel’s team, the saying „loss of possession = goal conceded“ doesn’t apply.
Near Zurich, on a football pitch by Lake Greifensee. It was there, in 2005, that two twin brothers faced off during training. Their names? Jan and Nico Elvedi. While Nico has been playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach for eleven years, his brother Jan has played for a variety of clubs throughout his career. Despite their different paths, Jan Elvedi repeatedly emphasises the close bond he shares with his twin brother. He did so again in an interview with the newspaper „Blick“: „We always played together. Nico came first for me, then my teammates.“
His career began in the Zurich youth academy, and he also played in Switzerland for Winterthur, Cham, Wohlen, and Kriens. Six years ago – more precisely, in the summer of 2020 – the 29-year-old first gained a foothold in Germany. He spent three years each at Jahn Regensburg and Kaiserslautern before a loan move to Fürth in the winter of 2026. The Swiss player, like his brother, plays in central defence. Both brothers dream of facing each other in the cup every year. This almost happened in 2024. However, instead of the twins, Jan faced Saarbrücken in the semi-final, who had previously knocked out Borussia Mönchengladbach. Saarbrücken’s cup run ended against Kaiserslautern, and Jan Elvedi achieved what his brother had never managed before: reaching the DFB Cup final in Berlin.
Greuther Fürth’s cup dreams are currently far from reality, but the tension is palpable. Every point counts in the relegation battle – it’s fortunate that Elvedi has been an immediate asset. Before his arrival, Greuther Fürth conceded an average of 2.4 goals per game; with Elvedi, that number has dropped to just 1.5. He has played the full 90 minutes in eight of his ten appearances in the green and white jersey. Will the same be true on Sunday (April 19th/1:30pm) against Darmstadt?
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.
