"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.
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.
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.
Lilies at the Wildpark! SV Darmstadt 98 will be playing away against Karlsruher SC this coming Sunday (May 3rd/1:30pm) for the 32nd matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. Will Darmstadt's positive record from recent encounters continue? Will Florian Kohfeldt and Isac Lidberg extend their scoring streak against KSC? And will Fabian Schleusener finally stop scoring against SV 98? We've compiled all the facts and figures for you.
SV Darmstadt 98 will be playing away against Karlsruher SC on Sunday (May 3rd/1:30pm) at the Wildpark Stadium for the 32nd matchday. To ensure you are well prepared for your trip to KSC, here is a summary of all the important information for your visit to the stadium.
To ensure a smooth and convenient journey to Karlsruhe this weekend, SV 98 is offering a special train service that will transport Lilies fans directly from Darmstadt to Karlsruhe and back. Additionally, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team will host SV Hummetroth at their home academy this Wednesday evening (April 29th). For more news and updates, check out our usual "Lilien Across the Board" – all the latest news about the club, gathered here for you.
At the end of the current season, the partnership between SV Darmstadt 98 and Software AG, which has grown over many years, will end due to a strategic realignment of the software company.
The DFB sports court has suspended Patric Pfeiffer for one match following his sending-off against SV Elversberg.
Four goals, three points, and a well-deserved victory in the Hessenliga! At home against VfB 1905 Marburg last Saturday (April 25th), SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team finally celebrated a win after a long wait. Thanks to their confidence, assertiveness in one-on-one situations, and numerous scoring opportunities, the U21s convincingly beat the Marburg team 4-0.
As Florian Kohfeldt approached the team's dressing room at halftime, the Darmstadt head coach heard exactly one sentence: "It's not finished." Fraser Hornby had uttered it, setting the tone for his teammates and himself. What followed was a remarkable second half from Darmstadt 98 and a point against SV Elversberg, a point that, while likely insufficient for their promotion hopes in southern Hesse, nonetheless filled the Darmstadt fans with pride.
For every home goal scored by the Lilies, SV Darmstadt 98 fans will be doubly rewarded in the 2025/26 season. In addition to the joy and excitement, the Lilies' supporters will also receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor.