"Deep in the West, where the sun is dusty..." – The opening lines of Herbert Grönemeyer's cult song "Bochum" are more than just music. They represent a feeling, a way of life, that becomes palpable in the Ruhrstadion when thousands of voices sing along at the top of their lungs and blue and white scarves are held aloft. The song speaks of toughness, honesty, and solidarity – exactly what VfL Bochum stands for. A club that never needed to shine to be loved, but always thrived on fighting spirit and down-to-earth values.
VfL Bochum established itself in the Bundesliga in 1971. There, the club from western Germany developed into a fixture over many years. Bochum remained in Germany’s top flight for a total of 22 seasons, though they never finished higher than eighth. This lack of success earned Bochum the unflattering nickname „the gray mouse of the league.“ Later, however, this image changed: due to their impressive fighting spirit in the relegation battle, VfL became known as „the unrelegatable ones.“ This label stuck until 1993, when the club was relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in its history.
In 1994, they achieved immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga, but just one season later, they were relegated again to the second division. A year after that, Bochum was back in the top flight. In the years that followed, the club’s image was defined by constant promotions and relegations. These perpetual moves between the first and second divisions ultimately earned the club the reputation of a „yo-yo club“—an image that haunted VfL Bochum for many years.
Today, after four years in the top tier of German football, VfL Bochum finds itself back in the 2. Bundesliga. The team from the Ruhr region spent the winter break in 10th place, far from any immediate relegation fears, but also not yet in direct contention for promotion. This league position reflects precisely what has defined the club for decades: Bochum fights, perseveres, and remains true to itself.
| Top Scorers | Top Assists |
| Francis Onyeka – 6 Goals | Philipp Hofmann – 5 Assists |
| Gerrit Holtmann – 5 Goals | Maximilian Wittek – 3 Assists |
| Philipp Hofmann – 3 Goals | Cajetan Lenz – 2 Assists |
| Ibrahima Sissoko – 3 Goals | Philipp Strompf – 2 Assists |
| Cajetan Lenz – 2 Goals | Felix Passlack – 1 Assist |
Uwe Rösler
Head coach of VfL Bochum 1848VfL Bochum ranks third in the league with 105 corner kicks. These corner kicks have already resulted in 37 shots on goal and four goals. Four goals from corners? That’s the second-best tally in the league – only SV Darmstadt 98 has scored more from corner kicks. VfL Bochum is generally considered one of the most dangerous teams in the league when it comes to set pieces: the Ruhr club has scored 35 percent of its goals this season from set pieces.
The scent of spices fills the air. Creamy tomato sauce, a pleasant hint of heat, tender chicken – Butter Chicken. Philipp Hofmann’s favorite dish. It’s straightforward, robust, hearty, and satisfying. Qualities that suit the VfL Bochum striker remarkably well. Hofmann isn’t one for grandstanding. He stands for reliability, hard work, and integrity – both on and off the pitch.
Born on March 30, 1993, in Arnsberg, Hofmann grew up in the Sauerland region. He took his first steps at his hometown club, TSV Rot-Weiß Wenholthausen. SC Neheim served as a stepping stone to Schalke’s youth academy, as his talent for football was evident early on. In Gelsenkirchen, he completed a significant portion of his footballing education, learning discipline, tactical understanding, and the high demands of professional football. He secured a contract with the first team for the 2012/2013 season, but was denied his debut. He then went on loan from Schalke to gain valuable playing experience as a young player.
As a loan player, he spent a year each at SC Paderborn, FC Ingolstadt, and 1. FC Kaiserslautern before moving to England to join Brentford. He once explained to WDR why he needed this time to settle into the Bundesliga: „When I was that young, I wasn’t ready to play in the Bundesliga. All the transfers and the two years abroad taught me a lot and helped me grow. Now I simply feel ready for the Bundesliga, and this is already my third year.“
These experiences shaped him into the type of player he is today: a robust center forward. Strong in the air, tireless in running, and a team player. In the summer of 2022, Hofmann moved to VfL Bochum and quickly found his place both on and off the pitch. Hofmann works relentlessly off the ball, goes into every challenge, draws defenders, and is never afraid to put in the hard work. Goals are important, but not everything. Rather, it is his presence that brings structure to Bochum’s game. Hofmann isn’t a playmaker for the highlight reels, but a hard worker in the truest sense. This is precisely why he is valued by the fans. Because through his robust way of using his body, he embodies a working-class identity.
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
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: