A little over a year has passed since an evening became unforgettable not only for VfL Bochum, but for all of German football. It was the second leg of the 2023/24 Bundesliga relegation playoffs. Düsseldorf's Takashi Uchino stepped up to take the penalty and fired the ball over the bar with full force. The dams broke in Bochum's away section and at home: This missed penalty allowed VfL Bochum to pull off a miracle and thus remain in the Bundesliga. But why is this game still worth mentioning a year later?
The first leg at the home Vonovia Ruhrstadion went anything but as the Bochum fans had hoped. An early own goal in the 13th minute put the team behind. A double strike by Felix Klaus and Yannik Engelhardt in the 64th and 72nd minutes further dashed the hosts‘ hopes. The final score was a bitter 0-3 defeat in front of their home crowd. Not a good starting point for the return leg. But in Düsseldorf, a completely different picture emerged. Bochum, who seemed to have no chance, played with a sense of freedom, while Fortuna Düsseldorf seemed paralysed. With an incredible 3-0 lead over 90 minutes, VfL Bochum managed to save themselves in extra time and ultimately to a penalty shootout. The rest is history.
One year later, the reality is different: After four consecutive years of top-flight football, VfL Bochum was relegated to the 2. Bundesliga at the end of last season. At the season opener on Saturday (August 2nd/1pm), the Lilies host the Bundesliga relegated team and we take a close look at VfL Bochum for you.
| Top Signings | Top Departures |
| Kjell Wätjen (from Borussia Dortmund, Midfielder) | Tim Oermann (to Bayer Leverkusen, Defender) |
| Ibrahim Sissoko (from AS St.-Étienne, Forward) | Lukas Daschner (to FC St. Gallen, Midfielder) |
| Colin Kleine-Bekel (from Holstein Kiel, Defender) | Patrick Drewes (to Borussia Dortmund, Goalkeeper) |
| Kevin Vogt (from Union Berlin, Defender) | Bernardo (to TSG Hoffenheim, Defender) |
| Romario Rösch (from SSV Ulm 1846, Midfielder) | Dani de Wit (to FC Utrecht, Midfielder) |
Dieter Hecking
Head coach of VfL BochumCuriously, when Dieter Hecking moved from Lübeck to Aachen, he first came into contact with the then Aachen manager Jörg Schmadtke – triggered by a curious circumstance: Hecking called him to get his opinion on a „Molten“ match ball. This is how the two first connected. A few weeks later, Hecking’s phone rang, and Schmadtke was on the other line – this time with a more serious matter: While Hecking was playing PlayStation with his daughter, Schmadtke informed him that he was looking for a coach – and Hecking accepted.
Bochum’s biggest advantage lies in their strength in aerial duels—at least if you look at the statistics from last Bundesliga season. With a total of 899 aerial duels won, VfL was by far the league’s strongest team in terms of aerial prowess. By comparison, Union Berlin, the second-place team in this category, only managed 758 successful aerial duels, over 100 fewer. This quality is unlikely to have diminished much with the summer signing of Kevin Vogt. The almost two-meter-tall central defender brings not only additional experience but also a physical presence in the air.
Tattoos adorn his arms and chest, and his passion for fashion is reflected in his striking looks. Poker and faith also play a role in his life. We’re talking about Kevin Vogt, a defender for VfL Bochum since the summer of 2025, who is returning to his former stomping grounds after many years away.
Born in Witten and raised in Bochum, Vogt spent the first 17 years of his life almost exclusively in his hometown. From WSV Bochum, he played for all of VfL Bochum’s youth teams, culminating in his Bundesliga debut at the age of 17 in the Revierderby against Borussia Dortmund, where he came on as a substitute for ten minutes.
In 2012, Vogt moved to FC Augsburg. He then went on to play for 1. FC Köln, TSG Hoffenheim, Werder Bremen, and Union Berlin. In total, he made 352 Bundesliga appearances, as well as eleven Europa League and six Champions League appearances. At Hoffenheim, he became a key defensive player who, according to his then head coach and current national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, „has a lot of ball contact, initiates attacks, recognises danger, and constantly makes decisions.“ Nagelsmann even compared him to football star Tom Brady.
In the summer of 2025, Vogt returned to VfL Bochum. The return of the Westphalian native is a special one for the club, as VfL Sporting Director Dirk Dufner explained on the club website: „Kevin will help us with his experience and technical skills. We expect him to lead the way as a leader.“
Off the pitch, Vogt has many passions. His tattoos – including the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus, a dream catcher, and the words „Only God Can Judge Me“ and „God Blessed Me“ – are very meaningful to him. Although he used to attend church regularly, he once revealed in the Werder podcast that his faith had waned somewhat. He also enjoys playing poker, where he finds the mix of luck and tactics appealing, as he said in an interview with the Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung.
In his private life, Vogt is a very organised person who values spending time with family, friends, and his two dogs. Friends jokingly call him „Alfo“ – a play on the nickname „Alpha Kevin.“ He takes it with humour, because Vogt simply remains himself. With all his interests and characteristics, he is now returning to Bochum. The very place where it all began – and where he feels at home.
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.