"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.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
In Wednesday's media briefing, Nicolas Verkooijen spoke about his Kickbase team, communication within the squad, and the intensive training in Germany. A former Darmstadt 98 player had the opportunity to compete against the best footballers, and we report on the historic stadium tour as part of the Bundesliga's founding anniversary celebrations. All the latest news from SV Darmstadt 98 can be found, as usual, in "Lilies Across the Board"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.