The league newcomer comes to the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor this weekend (October 27th/1:30pm) with enormous fighting spirit. The “Spatzen” will meet SV Darmstadt 98 again after long years in the regional league. The Lilies' last home game against SSV Ulm in the 2nd Bundesliga took place at Bölle in 1987 - SV 98 won 1-0. Since then, of course, a lot has happened not only among the people of southern Hesse, but also among the people of Ulm. For a better insight, we took a closer look at SSV Ulm in our opponent check.
| Top Scorers | Top Assists |
| Felix Higl (9 Games/4 Goals) | Maurice Krattenmacher (9 Games/2 Assists) |
| Maurice Krattenmacher (9 Games/1 Goal) | Dennis Chessa (9 Games/2 Assists) |
| Johannes Reichert (9 Games/1 Goal) | Philipp Strompf (9 Games/1 Assist) |
Their own father was a coach and their sister was once a professional footballer. No wonder that Thomas Wörle couldn’t resist the temptation of football either. First, the current head coach of SSV Ulm laced up his football boots himself and played at professional level for clubs such as FC Augsburg, 1860 Munich, Kickers Offenbach and Greuther Fürth. However, at the Kleeblatt he had to end his active career early at the age of 26 due to health problems.
However, it was immediately clear that he could continue in the coaching role. His father and his job as a trainer influenced him too much and inspired him to do exactly this job. The 42-year-old started as head coach of the women’s team at FC Bayern Munich. He quickly established the German record champions‘ footballers both nationally and in international business. In his nine years on the sidelines at Bayern, he won the championship twice and the DFB Cup once. In 2021 he moved to men’s football in the Regionalliga Südwest, where he took over his new love, SSV Ulm. “The Ulm project that we started in 2021 captivated me from the first minute because we knew that a lot was possible here too,” emphasised Wörle in an interview with dfb.de: “We didn’t want to set any limits for ourselves.” No sooner said than done. In its first season, the Spatzen were promoted to the 3rd league in 2022. From there, under the leadership of Wörle, they made it through to the 2nd Bundesliga. “Absolute madness,” is how the ambitious and down-to-earth trainer describes this most successful phase in the club’s history.
Especially against the ball, SSV Ulm shows their absolute fighting spirit, with which they made it into the 2nd Bundesliga. Last week we reported about the the player with the most duel wins in the 2nd Bundesliga – Aleksandar Vukotić. In the section, however, it is the “Sparrows” who set the tone when it comes to duels. SSV Ulm is the strongest team in the league. In total, head coach Thomas Wörle’s team won a total of 989 duels. This is the top value in the 2nd Bundesliga.
… Johannes Reichert. Like Federico Dimarco once at Inter Milan, the 33-year-old at Ulm has made it from the fan curve to the seat of his favorite team. And if he can’t be on the field, then he’ll be back in the block… Just like in the last third division season in the home game of SSV Ulm against Dynamo Dresden: Reichert was missing due to a yellow card suspension and promptly decided to watch the duel together with the supporters – to follow fans in the home block and to briefly take on the role of lead singer. The man is an Ulm native through and through. “I started playing football with the Bambinis. The club is home, family and center of life all in one. “All of us at home are SSV fans,” Reichert once explained in an interview with dfb.de.
Born in Ulm, a fan of Ulm since he was a child and now captain of his club. The central defender has played almost continuously for his hometown club since 1996 – with the exception of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons, when he ended up at 1. FC Kaiserslautern II. Hardly anyone on the team would identify with the club as much as Reichert does. With a total of 415 competitive games, the central defender is in second place on the SSV’s all-time record player list. Reichert already played with Ulm in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg and the Regionalliga Südwest – and then suddenly in the 2nd Bundesliga. In 2022, promotion to the 3rd league, a year later the march through to the German lower house of football. Reichert: “After the difficult times, it was always my dream to take the club back there. So many people are proud of SSV Ulm again, which makes me incredibly happy.”
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.
