Foto: T. Wentzell (HBRS / fotografieohneknie) 19.12.2024 / English
“We want to win there too” | Christmas carols is coming soon!
Saturday is finally the day! The big Darmstadt Christmas singing is just around the corner. We will provide you with the latest information here. In addition, the last task awaits the Lilien professionals in Regensburg and the new groups in the DFB youth league have been determined. We can also look forward to birthdays around Christmas and the turn of the year. You can read all this and much more in our weekly section “Lilies across the Board”.
+++ With courage and self-confidence to Regensburg +++
What a phenomenal end to the year it was in the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The Lilies defeated 1. FC Kaiserslautern 5-1. But the second division year 2024 is not over yet. On Sunday (December 22nd/1:30pm) the 98ers will play their last game away at SSV Jahn Regensburg. The Lilies want to say goodbye to 2024 with a win. “We are going to Regensburg with courage and self-confidence and want to win there too,” said Luca Marseiler after the home win against Kaiserslautern in the mixed zone. What’s next for the Lilien professionals after Regensburg? First of all, everyone involved celebrates Christmas with the family. The SV 98 team will not meet again at Böllenfalltor until the new year and then fly to the training camp in Spain (El Saler) from January 5th to 12th. A week later the 2nd Bundesliga continues: with the start of the second half of the season in the away game at Fortuna Düsseldorf (January 17th/6.30pm).
+++ Saturday we finally sing! +++
The long wait will soon be over. On Saturday evening (December 21st) the time has finally come. The big Darmstadt Christmas singing in the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor is just around the corner. Attention Lily fans: If you want to sit, you have to be quick! Secure one of the only around 250 seats available for Christmas singing at Bölle now. Tickets can be purchased online and in the fan and ticket shop at the Merck Stadium and in the City Fan Shop in downtown Darmstadt. Standing room only tickets are available in the city center. A box office will also be open on Saturday for last-minute visitors. All information about our Christmas concert can be found here. Let’s fill the stadium and sing together in the largest Christmas choir in South Hesse!
+++ U17 and U19 start the main round +++
The preliminary rounds of the new DFB youth leagues ended after 14 match days. Unfortunately, the U17 and U19 of SV Darmstadt 98 did not make it into the top three of their league, which is why they will compete in the main round in League B. Nevertheless, interesting duels await the young Lilies. The sporting director of the NLZ, Björn Müller, told sv98.de: “I am happy for the U17 and U19 that they have been divided into attractive groups. There are clubs there that we don’t play against often. It will be interesting comparisons and we’re looking forward to it.”
U17 – League B – Group E
| 1 | SV Darmstadt 98 |
| 2 | SC Freiburg |
| 3 | SpVgg Unterhaching |
| 4 | SSV Ulm 1846 |
| 5 | SV Sandhausen |
| 6 | FC 08 Villingen |
| 7 | SV Gonsenheim |
U19 – League B – Group E
| 1 | SV Darmstadt 98 |
| 2 | FC Augsburg |
| 3 | SSV Ulm 1846 |
| 4 | SC Freiburg |
| 5 | SV Sandhausen |
| 6 | SSV Reutlingen 1905 |
| 7 | SV Gonsenheim |
+++ Soccer camp at Böllenfalltor - inclusion under the sign of the lily with the HBRS soccer school +++
In cooperation with the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS), SV Darmstadt 98 and the HBRS football school invited people to an inclusion match day camp as part of the Lilien’s home game against Preußen Münster. The participants were divided into three groups in which they went through various types of exercises for dribbling, passing and shooting at goal, as well as playing the game form “6-Ball Funino”. As a surprise, professional player Paul Will showed up after the intensive training to sign autographs and fulfill photo requests. Finally, the participants went to the game against SC Preußen Münster, where they gave everything in the stands to motivate the team.
Foto: T. Wentzell (HBRS / fotografieohneknie) 
Foto: T. Wentzell (HBRS / fotografieohneknie) 
Foto: T. Wentzell (HBRS / fotografieohneknie) 
Foto: T. Wentzell (HBRS / fotografieohneknie) 
Foto: T. Wentzell (HBRS / fotografieohneknie) +++ eFootballers narrowly lose +++
In the end it was a narrow and bitter defeat for the eFootball players of SV Darmstadt 98. Unlike on the pitch on Saturday evening (December 14th), they lost on the virtual pitch on the console last Wednesday (December 11th) with 0-2 on aggregate 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Only in the two-on-two and later in the first singles did the eLilien suffer a narrow defeat, only one goal behind. Coach Louis Liberka said afterwards: “We played great games today in both two-on-two and one-on-one. We were concentrated and combined well – but we were plagued by bad luck.” It continues on Thursday evening (December 19th/8.30pm), where we will once again face the same opponent as the professionals. At the end of the year there will also be a game against SSV Jahn Regensburg on the PlayStation. After two bitter defeats, the eFootball players would of course like to get three points again in order to stay in the race for the playoffs.
+++ Success coach celebrates his birthday +++
It all started on December 28, 2012. The ink on the contract with SV Darmstadt 98 was dry and Dirk Schuster took over the third division club from Böllenfalltor. Little by little, the decision to bring the native of Saxony to Darmstadt turned into a real stroke of luck. In his first full season as head coach, Schuster led the 98ers into the 2nd Bundesliga via the „Miracle of Bielefeld“ and finally entered SV 98’s history books with the subsequent promotion to League 1. But that’s not enough. Schuster and the Lilies managed to stay in the top flight in German football. The now 56-year-old was named “Trainer of the Year”. Schuster then left the Darmstadt team to coach FC Augsburg. However, in December 2017 he returned to the Bölle until his time at the Bölle finally ended in 2019. December seems to be a popular month in history between Schuster and Darmstadt. Not only because of the coach’s two-time commitment this season, but also because Schuster celebrates his birthday in December. On December 29th The former Lilien coach can look forward to his 57th anniversary. Happy birthday, Dirk!
+++ Lily birthday greetings +++
The Harr household not only celebrates the Christmas season, but also the 60th birthday of our Vice President. Volker Harr can look forward to a big anniversary on December 25th. And we’ll start the new year with congratulations, because Lilien managing director Michael Weilguny will be 48 years old. We wish you both a happy holiday and from the bottom of our hearts a happy birthday.
Season tickets for the 2026/27 season: All information is available here!
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.
Merck Autograph Session: With Pfeiffer, Klefisch and Lakenmacher
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.
Disappointment & pride
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.
Merx hat trick: U21 deservedly wins at Hünfelder SV
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.
HBRS and SV 98: Cooperation extended indefinitely
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.
„We must take the lead in the first half.“
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.
Lilies lose in Karlsruhe
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.
Team News: Five Changes in the Team
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.
Matchday Guide: All Information before KSC Game
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".
Paul Fernie extends his contract long-term and moves up to a management position.
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.
„You’ve seen horses vomit before.“
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Opposition Check: Karlsruher SC
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.