What about Fabian Holland's availability? What makes number 32 a true Darmstadt legend? How does Florian Kohfeldt view Sunday afternoon's match (May 17th, 3:30pm) against SC Paderborn? And what grade would he give the 2025/26 season? Many questions, detailed answers. We've compiled the most important statements from Darmstadt's head coach at Friday's (May 15th) press conference for you.
Personnel update: Luca Marseiler, Merveille Papela, Fraser Hornby, Fabian Nürnberger, Matthias Bader and Patric Pfeiffer are unavailable (all injured).
We’re fully in the spotlight again on Sunday. SC Paderborn is fighting for direct promotion to the Bundesliga or a possible relegation play-off spot. Anything is still possible for them. Accordingly, we’ll do what’s fairest of all: we absolutely want to win this game and we’ll do everything we can to achieve it. And that’s exactly what I sense in the team.
With Fabi, we’ll have to wait and see how tomorrow’s training session goes. He participated in large parts of the last two sessions. He’ll almost certainly get some playing time. The only question is how long it will be. We as a club and as a coaching staff, together with the team, want to do everything we can to give Fabi the right send-off. We’re saying goodbye to a Darmstadt legend who made over 300 competitive appearances for one club in professional football. That’s something extraordinary, something very few professionals achieve in their careers. We want to do everything for a worthy farewell – with the appropriate setting in the stadium, with the right performance and result, and with the timing of his appearance. He should get the send-off he more than deserves. If Fabi starts, he’ll also captain the side. The conversation between me and Schuh about it lasted three seconds (laughs). That alone shows what Fabi meant to the club and in the locker room, and what an exceptional footballer and person he was and always will be.
I had the privilege of getting to know Fabi in all facets of a professional footballer. When I first arrived, he was injured and in rehab. And I was often at the Bölle (Böllenen Stadium) when not many other players were there yet. We had many good conversations about the team and the team spirit, which was always incredibly important to him. But we also talked a lot about football and what it takes to be successful. Furthermore, our two families live quite close to each other. Fabi’s son has become a good friend of my son’s. During Fabi’s injury, the relationship was more intense than with a player whose starting position is always a question of whether or not he plays. In the second part of our working relationship, Fabi was fit to play again and demonstrated to a great extent that he lived by his values even when it wasn’t to his advantage. An outstanding quality in a player and as a person is to show character traits and values not only when things are going well, but also when things aren’t going his way. I truly appreciate that about Fabi.
We’re taking a self-critical look at our recent performance. Regarding player availability, we’ve had far too few players consistently available since March. This severely limited our options. Despite this, we’ve had opportunities to win every match in recent weeks. My impression of the team is that, in addition to Fabi’s departure, they have the extra motivation to absolutely win this game. The lads have demonstrated this in recent weeks, despite the difficult circumstances. I can’t fault this team’s will and passion.
I’d give us a 2+ – based on our playing style, our game plan, and the overall experience. The experience with this team was truly outstanding this year, as was the team spirit, cohesion, and internal dynamic. Our results were only outstanding until March; after that, they were poor. Therefore, I’d give it a 2, indicating room for improvement – especially regarding consistency towards the end of the season and player availability. When we all take a step back and reflect on the season, we’ll realise that there were many truly great experiences. A lot of positive things happened this season, and we want to build on that.
We’re in good talks with Fabian Nürnberger. Everyone knows how much I value him. We’re glad that discussions are taking place between Paul and the player’s representatives. I hope we can avoid a formal farewell for him.
We have a clear intention to continue working with Grayson Dettoni. He’s a player with a strong character and an enormous work ethic. He’s shown that he’s capable of learning and making progress. In both matches, he demonstrated that he can hold his own and compete at this level. Of course, there are still several areas where he can improve. We want to continue working with him on these and believe he can develop further with us.
A season like this lasts ten and a half months, during which you see each other every day. No matter who’s being said goodbye on Sunday, a farewell always hurts because you’ve built a relationship. I’ve enjoyed working with every single player immensely. The human and personal connection with each of them was and remains very strong. Sometimes, as a player, you have to change to get more playing time. Sometimes, we as a club make our own decisions. I’ll be embracing each of these guys on Sunday with a great deal of sadness. I can only wish each of them all the very best.
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
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: