The first home game in 2025 is on the program! However, before the ball rolls between SV Darmstadt 98 and SC Paderborn on Sunday afternoon (January 26th/1:30pm), the press conference with Florian Kohfeldt took place on Friday (January 24th). In this, the Lilien head coach answered questions about the upcoming game, his own approach and the current sporting situation of SV 98. We have summarised the most important statements for you.
Personnel Update: Paul Will, Matthias Bader, Christoph Zimmermann, Isac Lidberg and Fabian Holland are out. In addition, Othmane El Idrissi and Tobias Kempe with knee problems are also unavailable.
It will be a very exciting game because Paderborn is a team that has an exciting footballing approach. They are very strong in positional play with the ball. They have different variations in how they want to occupy the spaces. So just taking the ball away from them will be a challenge. They actually react more from space against the ball and direct the opponent to one side. But I don’t want to commit myself, Lukas comes up with a special plan every now and then (grins). They also have exciting new additions, with whom they have further increased the quality of the squad. Tactically it will definitely be a very exciting game. On the other hand, I don’t know whether it will be a lively game with a lot of back and forth. That depends on if and when the goals are scored and how quickly the game becomes open. Preparing for the game was one of the things I enjoyed the most because we can expect a high tactical level on Sunday.
Our idea and our aim is to completely understand how the respective opponent wants to play football. But we always want to push through our game – with its different facets. And on one game day you need one more facet and then another. We prepare the team for that. I don’t see us deviating completely from our plan. It’s about finding the moments in the game in the opponent’s basic orientation so that we can use them offensively and defensively. Basically, we want to play dominant, targeted and structured possession football against Paderborn in search of fast-paced actions. The question is how to organise it. This varies from game to game.
A first game like this after the break is always something special, especially at home. We want to continue on the path we have taken at home in the last few weeks and months. From the outside, people don’t know exactly what to do with us. We are currently neither in a direct relegation battle nor in a direct promotion race. This allows us to concentrate even more on our performance, which we want to make more consistent. Everyone would have signed our current situation with a kiss at the beginning of October.
As a club of our size, you have to recognise situations in which there are opportunities that normally wouldn’t have been there. For years, Jean-Paul has performed at a level that would probably never have been conceivable even for a first division team, Darmstadt 98. Through Paul Fernie and I’s personal network, we got the hint that he wanted to prove himself and was ready to return to professional football. He has a lot of sympathy for our game idea. League membership and one or two financial issues are not that relevant for him at the moment. We then had very good conversations. He is able to play all central positions in midfield. And we all see it as a very big opportunity. We want to help him get back to his level. If we can do that, we will have an outstanding player for Darmstadt 98. When it comes to the answer to the question of when it will be fully available to us, I don’t want to commit myself.
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.
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.