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.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.
