Ten-year anniversary: ​​Sirigu remembers his derby goal

SV 98: Sandro, ten years ago, you delivered what was perhaps the finest cross of your career against Eintracht Frankfurt, deciding the Hesse derby in the process. You’ve likely heard this question countless times: Did you mean to hit the ball that way?

Sandro Sirigu: That’s a nice way of putting it. I’ve never made a secret of the fact that the ball wasn’t planned that way—though the story does tend to depend a bit on my mood at the time. Sometimes I’d say it was intentional, other times just a cross (laughs). To be honest, I actually wanted to put the ball toward the far post. If I’d been able to score goals like that on purpose, I probably would have played a completely different kind of football (grins). All the better, of course, that it actually went in. At the end of the day, a goal is a goal.

What was going through your mind after that goal?

The match was special for me in several ways. It was my first Bundesliga goal—plus it was a home game, a derby against Eintracht, and the winning goal right near the end. In that moment, I didn’t fully grasp the significance of it all. That only really hit me after the game. The first messages started trickling into the dressing room, and I slowly began to realise what had just happened. I probably didn’t truly understand what that victory and that goal meant to the fans and the city until I was lying in bed that evening. And the more I thought about it, the happier I became.

You played 135 competitive matches for the Lilien and remain connected to the club to this day. What does SV 98 mean to you now?

Darmstadt has completely shaped my life—both in sporting terms and, above all, personally. It’s where I met my wife, experienced the best sporting period of my career, made so many friends, and established my home base in the region. That’s why I’ll always remain connected to the club. SV 98 is the club closest to my heart. Naturally, I still follow every Lilien match and try to watch as many as possible. It’s not always easy on weekends with two kids, especially since my older one plays soccer himself now. But whenever possible, I watch the games. And I’m happy when things are going well, just as I get frustrated when they aren’t.

What does your daily life look like these days?

We live in Fürth now—right in the heart of the Odenwald. My wife and I have a house there. It takes about 40 to 45 minutes to get to the „Bölle,“ so I’m still very much within the greater Darmstadt orbit. I’m busy with work, of course, but football still plays a major role in my daily life. I train with my local club here in Fürth twice a week and play matches on the weekends. On top of that, there are the kids‘ games and the Lilien’s matches. So, there’s still a lot of football involved. But that’s simply my passion. Football has played a huge part in my life all along, so it will likely always remain a part of who I am. I hope it stays that way for a long time to come.

How do you perceive the Lilien’s „Odenwald campaign“ in Fürth?

I certainly notice it. I follow the Lilien on all social media channels and generally keep an eye out for the Lilien crest. And since everyone here knows about my past with SV 98—especially because of my Lilien tattoo—people often bring it up in conversation. I’m happy about the activities in the Odenwald, and I get the impression that they’re well-received in the region. I believe there is still a lot of potential here in the Odenwald, particularly among the younger generation. That’s why it makes me happy when I drive around the area and see Lilien posters or run into people wearing the new jersey. I definitely notice those things, and I’m pleased that the club is becoming increasingly visible here.