Football Season Guide

Darmstadt returned to the top flight for the first time since 2017 after a successful last campaign. The glory of promotion was tainted slightly after they failed to win the title on the final day, despite leading the table from matchday 12 onwards. Head coach Torsten Lieberknecht has taken the club to the next level since his appointment in 2021 and has changed the mentality of the playing staff. There was a drop-off towards the end of the last campaign so he will need to get the players focused again, however, they shouldn’t need much motivation playing in the Bundesliga. You feel Darmstadt still have work to do in the transfer market if they are to compete at this level. Five new players have joined so far but the loss of key men Tietz and Pfeiffer to Augsburg will be felt. The former was the top scorer in both of the last two seasons. The new boys all have potential but are untested at this level. Nurnberger, Muller, and Klarer have all come from the second tier so it could take them time to adjust. Striker Hornby is a hard worker but a gamble, having not settled properly at his previous clubs. Defender Maglica is the club’s other signing on loan from Stuttgart. The Croatian youth international has a big physical presence and should improve with more games under his belt. Lieberknecht’s only other experience of managing in the top division ended in relegation with Eintracht Braunschweig so he will have a point to prove. They should continue to play positively under his guidance but their inexperience at this level could leave them vulnerable, especially on the road.