An era is coming to an end. Rüdiger Fritsch will step down from his position as president of SV Darmstadt 98 after 13 years. He served on the Lilies' executive board for a total of 17 years. Between 2008 and 2025, he experienced some very difficult times, but also incredibly positive moments at Böllenfalltor. From his appointment to the executive board to bankruptcy filings, special people and incredible advancements to infrastructure-related decisions: Together with Fritsch, we look back on 17 special moments from his 17 years on the SV 98 executive board.
Rüdiger Fritsch first held a position at the club in 2008. He was appointed vice president of the executive committee under Hans Kessler. At the time of his appointment, he had already been involved for several months, as President Kessler had asked Fritsch and his expertise for help in averting SV 98’s financial difficulties and impending insolvency. The task could not have been more ambitious: The Lilies had to be saved and their continued existence as a club was to be secured.
I simply had a passion for football—and for working for a traditional club. At the time, I wasn't fully aware of how difficult the task would actually be. But my interest and desire overcame any hesitation.
In March, SV 98 officially announced its insolvency and filed for insolvency proceedings. What followed were many months of existential fear and enormous efforts to avert the worst-case scenario. This included star marches, numerous rescue operations, and a charity match against Bayern Munich. The board had to fight on many fronts. But the battle was successful: the insolvency application was withdrawn.
This was the first major success of the work of Hans Kessler's entire team. When the fax went out announcing the withdrawal of the insolvency application, I actually had tears in my eyes. It was pure relief and joy.
In 2012, Fritsch was elected president of SV 98. Financially, the club continued to consolidate, but there were also some challenges to be addressed on the pitch. The Lilies were fighting to avoid relegation from the third division. In December 2012, Fritsch appointed a certain Dirk Schuster, who had recently joined direct rivals Stuttgarter Kickers. At the time of the signing, the club was at the bottom of the table. In the second half of the season, the Lilies launched a major comeback, but missed safety on the final matchday. And yet, Schuster’s appointment proved to be a wise move by Fritsch…
It was a decision that turned out to be absolutely the right one. A highly successful period began for both sides, characterised by mutual trust—and a constant demand for structural improvements.
The Lilies hadn’t managed to avoid relegation on the pitch, but they benefited from the economic rationality they had adopted a few years earlier. Local rivals Offenbacher Kickers had their third-division license revoked. The result: forced relegation for OFC, while SV 98 managed to stay in the league.
This was a tremendous joy because we were able to continue on the path we had chosen. What was particularly piquant, of course, was that it was Kickers Offenbach and not any other club in Germany. It was another starting signal to roll up our sleeves and take the next step.
In the following season, the South Hesse team transformed from a relegation candidate into a team in contention for promotion. At the end of the season, they finished third in the table, qualifying for the relegation playoffs. This would go down in history: After a disappointing 1-3 first-leg result against Arminia Bielefeld, the Lilies triumphed in the second leg, beating the East Westphalians 4-2 away in extra time.
The game is hard to describe or categorise. No Hollywood director could have conceived such a script. It was simply magical, full of emotion—pure goosebumps.
As in the previous season, the Lilies were tipped as the first candidate for relegation, and once again they managed to defy the predictions. From the very beginning of the season, SV 98 established themselves in the top third of the table, with a tight three-way race developing behind league leaders Ingolstadt between SV 98, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and Karlsruher SC. On the final matchday, it was the Lilies who secured promotion thanks to a Kempe free kick against FC St. Pauli. Their progress from the 3. Liga to the Bundesliga was complete.
This was the continuation of an incredibly intense, successful story. A sensational moment! Back in the Bundesliga after three decades! Another moment that almost had you searching for the hidden camera.
A constant pioneer of the previous successful years was Jonathan Heimes and his „You Must Fight“ wristbands. The football fan, who battled cancer for many years, succumbed to the disease in March 2016. His death shocked people across Darmstadt and the surrounding region. Club representatives, coaches, and the team attended the funeral. To this day, „Johnny“ remains a presence in the stadium and in people’s minds.
Even the greatest fighter sometimes has no chance. I feel incredible appreciation for his endurance and his gift for inspiring others. We have lost a man who had become a truly iconic figure.
Chapter three of the sensational years. SV 98 also held their own in the Bundesliga, managing to avoid relegation for the only time in the club’s history. With just one game remaining, the Lilies completed the miracle with an away win at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
All superlatives had truly been exhausted. The third consecutive sporting success, once again pure madness. Words were barely enough to describe it.
Darmstadt 98 will continue to play at its traditional Böllenfalltor stadium. The Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor is to be gradually rebuilt „as it stands.“ The club and city announced this in a joint press conference that summer. Four other alternative locations had also been examined, but the conclusion was that no new construction could be built at these sites.
In the jungle of feasibility studies, we carefully weighed all the pros and cons – and ultimately made the right decision: a clear focus on remaining at Böllenfalltor.
Finally, the excavators started rolling: the demolition of the back straight marked the beginning of the reconstruction of the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. For many fans, the demolition meant the (temporary) loss of a long-time regular seat. But from an economic perspective, the work was inevitable.
The back straight was a symbol of the old Böllenfalltor, steeped in tradition. Its demolition was rationally necessary, but emotionally difficult. I was impressed by how many fans took memorabilia with them, like breakwaters or seat shells, thus ensuring that the tradition lives on.
After a renovation phase lasting only about a year, fans were able to stand in the back straight again. The first match after completion drew 2-2 against newly promoted VfL Osnabrück. Due to global events, only three more matches could initially be watched from the new stadium area…
It was the first piece of the puzzle on the path to modern infrastructure, and at the same time a very emotional moment. A successful grandstand: standing people at the front, sitting people at the back. A strong visual representation of the Böllenfalltor, something to be proud of.
A global pandemic paralysed football and many other aspects of society. Football was suspended for several months, but then resumed in May with ghost games. Many professional clubs faced serious financial difficulties due to the loss of revenue, and SV 98 also faced significant economic challenges.
A terrible time for football, for sport, for society as a whole. Overnight, it became clear how quickly everything could turn 180 degrees. The shock was profound, coupled with massive financial concerns for the club. No spectators, no sponsorships... several crisis meetings followed. And in this case, "crisis" wasn't an overused word, but reality. The games behind closed doors took some getting used to: First, no fans at all, then few. Everyone had to adapt their behavior. And yet, the support was palpable, within the bounds of what was possible.
The second construction phase was also able to begin – albeit with a slight delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Jochen Partsch, City Treasurer André Schellenberg, and Rüdiger Fritsch and Michael Weilguny, Presidents of SV Darmstadt 1898 e.V. and Managing Directors of SV Darmstadt 98 Stadion GmbH, respectively, performed the symbolic ceremony of filling the foundation stone capsule and subsequently sealing it. Included in the foundation stone were a Lilies jersey from the 2020/21 season and an edition of the Darmstädter Echo newspaper published on March 1st.
The second phase of construction was long overdue. The old main stand was a wreck in every respect: wet, windy, unusable spaces. I was glad that the new one was finally being built. It had served well for decades, but its time had come.
During the general meeting, Hans Kessler was appointed Honourary President. Kessler had rendered invaluable services during his presidency (2007–2012) and as a member of the Board of Directors (2012–2015).
It was an honour for me to be able to help shape this award for Hans Kessler. There could hardly be a more deserved honour. Absolutely right, considering his contributions to the club.
SV Darmstadt 98’s new main stand at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor was partially commissioned in October 2022 and fully inaugurated in spring 2023. Upon completion, the stadium reached a total capacity of 17,810 spectators. The inauguration marked the completion of the stadium’s modernisation, making it ready for the future.
This was the final construction phase and also the completion of the renovation work. Emotionally different than promotion or staying in the league, but a very important milestone. A foundation on which the club can build in the coming years. And a good feeling that everything worked out so well.
Bundesliga! SV 98 crowned an incredible second-division season with promotion back to the top flight on the penultimate matchday. Head coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team won 1-0 at home against 1. FC Magdeburg – and there was no stopping them after that.
The return of superlatives, another sensational moment! For Darmstadt 98, promotion to the Bundesliga is what international trophies are for other clubs: the greatest realistic honor. It's great to see that the development has continued to bear fruit. Three Bundesliga seasons within ten years – that's an outstanding record.
An era is coming to an end. Fritsch announced in the spring that he would not run for president again. After 17 years on the Executive Board, including 13 as chairman, Fritsch’s last day at work will be on October 21.
Leading the way for 13 years in this always emotional, mostly short-term, and rarely rational business takes a lot of energy and energy, which eventually fades. I'm looking forward to getting up in the morning with less responsibility. And no longer having to completely focus my weekends on the DFL and its schedule.
Darmstadt 98 lost to Hannover 96 while playing with ten men and must continue to wait for their first win of this second division season. Read our analysis to find out what positives remain and why Darmstadt 98 had factored in setbacks on their chosen path.
Around the time of the home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), the Jonathan Heimes Square was officially inaugurated. Before kickoff, club president Markus Pfitzner and Martin Heimes, father of Jonathan Heimes, who died of cancer about ten years ago, gave speeches highlighting "Johnny's" importance and his commitment to people with cancer.
The Lilien Team Marathon is not just about athletic performance and the shared experience around the Böllenfalltor stadium – but also about making a difference together.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team drew 2-2 (0-1) against SV Unter-Flockenbach. After a heated home game, the young Lilies had to settle for a frustrating, but ultimately deserved, draw. In this extremely balanced league, Patrick Kurt's team continues to grow week by week, gaining valuable experience.
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.
