Comprehensive reform in the youth sector: At the start of the 2024/25 season, SV Darmstadt 98 plans to compete in the Hessenliga with its own team. A corresponding permit was applied for from the Hessian Football Association (HFV). The SV 98 is confident that this application will be approved, similar to that of Eintracht Frankfurt two years ago.
The aim is to give youth players even earlier playing time in the men’s area and thus make the transition to the professionals easier. The team will consist of the most talented players from the U17 and U19 divisions as well as transition players who were trained in the Lilien’s youth performance center (NLZ).
On the initiative of head coach Torsten Lieberknecht and under the leadership of Björn Kopper (NLZ director), Björn Müller (NLZ sporting director) and the transition coordinator Pascal Pellowski, a concept for structural adjustments to the NLZ performance area was developed over the past few weeks. This further development of the existing concept for the transition area includes a comprehensive restructuring of the team structure in the NLZ. Instead of competing with a U16, a U17 and a U19 as before, in the future there will be a U17, a U19 and the above-mentioned top talent team. The U16 will no longer be there; the players from the U15 will instead be integrated directly into the U17 in the future. From summer onwards, like the U19s, they will compete in the youth league organized by the German Football Association. The most talented players from both U teams will train with the top talent team in the future and get playing time in the Hessenliga. With this innovation, the Lilies‘ talents should, on the one hand, be used as early as possible in the strongest junior leagues and, on the other hand, be given the opportunity earlier to get playing time in the senior sector with the top talent team.
Torsten Lieberknecht: „I expressly welcome the fact that the club has developed a viable concept that I have never seen before in German professional football. With this unique Darmstadt approach, we are convinced that we can provide a goal-oriented transition for talented youth players “I would be happy if we could enable even more young players to make the leap into the professional team in the future and also be competitive in talent scouting.”
Uwe Kuhl, appointed presidential representative for the youth training center: „We have dealt intensively with this and given a lot of thought to how we can individually promote our top talents even faster, better and in larger numbers. With the structural adjustment in the NLZ area, we are offering the players now the opportunity to gain a foothold among the seniors at an early stage.“
It is not yet clear where a future top talent team would train and play its competitive games. Initial discussions with potential clubs have already been held.
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.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
In Wednesday's media briefing, Nicolas Verkooijen spoke about his Kickbase team, communication within the squad, and the intensive training in Germany. A former Darmstadt 98 player had the opportunity to compete against the best footballers, and we report on the historic stadium tour as part of the Bundesliga's founding anniversary celebrations. All the latest news from SV Darmstadt 98 can be found, as usual, in "Lilies Across the Board"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.