Torsten Lieberknecht resigns as coach in Darmstadt

The 0:4 defeat in Elversberg seems to have been too much for Torsten Lieberknecht. The 51-year-old is stepping down as coach of Darmstadt 98.

After a bad start in the 2nd Bundesliga, Torsten Lieberknecht has resigned as coach of relegated Darmstadt 98. The club confirmed this on Sunday. “After internal analysis and several intensive discussions of all kinds, the 51-year-old has asked for the collaboration to be ended for the good of the club,” it said in a statement. On Saturday, Darmstadt suffered a 0:4 (0:2) defeat at SV Elversberg.

“Everyone knows how much the club means to me. But I have always stressed that no one is above the club. That also applies to me,” said Lieberknecht, who has coached the Darmstadt team since July 1, 2021. The relegated team has only picked up one point from its first four games in the second division and is currently in second-to-last place in the table.

“Until further notice, the existing coaching team around Darius Scholtysik and Ovid Hajou will lead the units,” the club said. “The club will inform about the head coach's successor in due course.”

President Rüdiger Fritsch regretted the coach's departure. It was “not a good day for SV Darmstadt 98,” he said: “Because a person who completely identifies with the Lilies and has made great contributions to the club is no longer our coach.” With some distance, however, “it is not the results of recent times that will be remembered, but above all the great successes that Torsten has brought to SV 98,” stressed Fritsch.

“We value Torsten very much and thank him from the bottom of our hearts for the work he has done over the past few years,” said sporting director Paul Fernie: “However, for the success of Darmstadt 98, it is important to feel the 100 percent energy and conviction for the sporting turnaround.”

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