When Florian Kohfeldt arrived in Darmstadt on Sunday morning, a small marathon began. Combined with a wave of new impressions. The Merck Stadium including the adjacent functional building, training pitches and rooms. The 41-year-old got to know his workplace quickly, gave his first interview and had numerous conversations with the members of the staff. On Monday there were discussions with players, the first official press conference and, in particular, the premiere training session with the team. Start-up time? Doesn't exist. The time until the first game against Braunschweig is too short for that. So it's important to use every single minute. And Kohfeldt does this in an impressive way.
I hope that on Saturday we can see the basics of what this team is supposed to stand for
„I hope that on Saturday we will see the basics of what this team should stand for,“ explained the new head coach with a view to the upcoming encounter and, when asked, also clarified his game idea in succinct sentences: „Target-oriented, dominant possession football. Look for high tempo actions and with the aim of getting the ball back as quickly as possible.“
The first impression: Kohfeldt has precise ideas and concrete approaches to how he would like to implement them. “It quickly became clear to me that Florian is very structured and has a lot of clarity,” said Paul Fernie, who gave insights into the discussions with the trainer on Monday. He knew that with his style of play, Kohfeldt “could basically fit in in Darmstadt.” The sports director then gained his final conviction in a personal exchange: “Florian impressed me.”
With all the Lilies these days you can feel that you are only looking forward. Kohfeldt has also completely internalised this. “From now on it doesn’t matter what happened yesterday or five years ago. From now on, what counts is what we bring to the pitch with the team on Saturday.”
They are words that were followed by actions on Monday afternoon. Kohfeldt coached his first session with the team loudly and very communicatively, repeatedly taking players aside and talking explicitly about details. “Little things” was a phrase that the Siegen native used increasingly. Body position, running routes, pass sharpness. Kohfeldt and his team want to convey their game idea without neglecting any topics just to save time.
How important the minutes on the pitch are to the new coach became very clear in the first session. The Lilies had already trained for almost 70 minutes when a violent thunderstorm with thunder and lightning caused Kohfeldt to send the team to the annex building for safety reasons. An early end to the session? Not at all. Almost 15 minutes later, SV 98 returned to the pitch and the remaining 20 minutes of the original program were still completed. This also reinforced the impression: Kohfeldt does not allow resistance to disrupt his structure.
The coach himself had perceived “a great desire to win” in the first conversations, felt “no desperation at all” and also experienced the Lilies as a “familial, harmonious but at the same time very professional club”.
First impressions are important. He fits. For everyone who is now experiencing Kohfeldt at work for the first time. And vice versa also for the head coach himself, who sees his initial feeling confirmed that he could harmonise well with Darmstadt 98. But one thing is also clear: the first positive impressions help, but they don’t get you any points. These will be awarded on Saturday in the home game against Eintracht Braunschweig. A win would be the best solution to leave a lasting impression.
The second consecutive away game, and the last of the season, is upon us. Once again on a Sunday (May 10th, 1:30pm), Darmstadt will be playing away – this time against SC Preußen Münster. Everything you need to know for your final away trip of the season to the LVM-Preußenstadion, about three and a half hours away, can be found here in the usual fan information section.
There's a lot going on at the Bölle. The 98th Darmstadt baby of 2026, along with their family, visited the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, and they weren't the only ones. Where else the Bölle gang has ended up, and many more news items about the club, can be found here in our "Lilies Across the Board" section, as every Wednesday.
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.