"You have to fight!" – These words are inextricably linked to Jonathan Heimes and still stand for courage, unity, and unwavering faith. Johnny's message lives on – in the stadium, in the team, and throughout the entire Darmstadt 98 family. This is also reflected, to some extent, in the mentality of the current Darmstadt professionals. Week after week, SV Darmstadt 98 shows that it never gives up. In our "Lilies Across the Board" section, we provide you with the most important news from the world of SV Darmstadt 98 every week.
15 points after coming from behind – the best record in the league. Darmstadt are the best comeback team in the league, demonstrating true mental fortitude. Just two weeks ago, the team overcame a two-goal deficit against Hertha Berlin, showing tremendous fighting spirit. A similar picture emerged last weekend against Braunschweig. It seems to be almost a specialty of Darmstadt to remain mentally clear and confident despite setbacks.
Kai Klefisch also emphasised this strength in a media briefing on Tuesday (February 17th): „That’s what characterises our team this season. We never give up, even when there are setbacks. For us, it’s clear that we can still achieve anything at any time during the game.“ However, in addition to the setbacks in terms of results during some matches, the team has also recently had to cope with personnel losses. Fraser Hornby and Isac Lidberg, two players with a combined 26 points, were absent in Braunschweig. „Of course, you miss the quality of such players; they are very important guys for us,“ said Klefisch. He added: „But we have internalised what we want and what we stand for. If someone else steps in, we know they will do just as well.“
„YOU MUST FIGHT!“ – These words are far more than just a phrase at SV Darmstadt 98. They stand for unity, courage, and unwavering faith – values inextricably linked to Jonathan Heimes. Johnny wasn’t just a fan of SV 98, but also an inspiration. Despite his serious illness, he gave the team and everyone around the club strength and confidence. His message lives on – on the pitch, in the stands, and deep within the Lilies family. On Thursday (February 19th), Johnny would have celebrated his 36th birthday. We pause to remember this special person and say: You are missed at the Böllenfalltor.
To kick off last weekend, SV Darmstadt 98 fans impressively demonstrated their team spirit at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor – this time not just in the stands, but also on cots, showing solidarity. Last Friday (February 13th), a total of 150 Darmstadt fans visited the Merck Stadium to donate blood. In cooperation with the German Red Cross Blood Donation Service Baden-Württemberg – Hesse, the ENTEGA VIP Lounge was transformed into a place of genuine compassion. The event at the stadium was a resounding success and proved once again that a football stadium can be much more than just a venue for sporting competitions – it can be a meeting place for social engagement.
In the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL), SV Darmstadt 98 had an intense matchday this week, playing three games. The eLilies kicked things off with a commanding 9-2 aggregate victory against Dynamo Dresden. This was followed by a narrow 7-10 defeat against VfL Bochum on the virtual pitch. Finally, the SV 98 eFootballers suffered another loss, falling 7-13 aggregate to Werder Bremen.
This coming Sunday (February 22nd) sees the big offline showdown. The eDerby against Eintracht Frankfurt awaits at 3:15pm. A victory would allow the eLilies to draw level with Eintracht in the standings and make a real statement. Accordingly, the motivation is high not only to win the derby in this direct encounter but also to gain ground in the league table.
The youth teams of SV Darmstadt 98 experienced contrasting outcomes last weekend:
The Lilies‘ U19 team got off to a successful start in the second half of the season. The Blue-Whites took a 1-0 lead after just ten minutes. However, FSV Frankfurt responded immediately, equalising just a minute later. Playing at home, the U19s showed great resilience: In a hard-fought match, the young Lilies scored their second goal in the 36th minute and added another immediately after the break, subsequently making it 4-1 and underlining their strong performance. Frankfurt managed to pull one back, but the final score was 4-2.
This coming weekend, the U19 team travels to Köln, where they will face FC Viktoria Köln on Saturday (February 21st) at 2pm.
The weekend was less successful for SV 98’s U17 team. In their away match against SSV Jahn Regensburg, the Lilies suffered a clear 4-0 defeat. However, the next opportunity is just around the corner: On Wednesday evening (February 18th, 7pm), the Blue-Whites will travel to JSG Flieden/Schweben for a Hessen Cup match, aiming to secure their place in the next round. Additionally, the U17 team will host TSV 1860 Munich on Sunday (February 22nd) in a regular youth league match. Kick-off is at 11am on the grass pitch in Pfungstadt.
Last Monday (February 16th), SV Darmstadt 98 President Markus Pfitzner celebrated his 54th birthday. He has been a Darmstadt 98 supporter since childhood. For decades, he has been closely associated with the sports club, serving for many years as Vice President and, since the 2025 Annual General Meeting, as President of SV Darmstadt 98. Thank you for your many years of dedication and commitment to our club! Dear Markus, we extend our warmest belated birthday wishes!
Luca Marseiler celebrates his 29th birthday on Wednesday, February 18th. The Munich native has worn the Darmstadt 98 jersey since 2024 and has already made 54 appearances for the club. This season, Marseiler has impressed with two goals and four assists in the league and cup competitions. Dear Luca, we congratulate you most sincerely on your birthday and look forward to many more successful moments with you!
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.