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.”
The second consecutive away game, and the last of the season, is upon us. Once again on a Sunday (May 10th, 1:30pm), Darmstadt will be playing away – this time against SC Preußen Münster. Everything you need to know for your final away trip of the season to the LVM-Preußenstadion, about three and a half hours away, can be found here in the usual fan information section.
There's a lot going on at the Bölle. The 98th Darmstadt baby of 2026, along with their family, visited the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, and they weren't the only ones. Where else the Bölle gang has ended up, and many more news items about the club, can be found here in our "Lilies Across the Board" section, as every Wednesday.
SV Darmstadt 98 informed all season ticket holders about the season ticket procedure for the 2026/27 season on Wednesday (May 6th) and would also like to share this letter on the club's own website.
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.