Darmstadt Olympian Football Club (abbreviated as "Darmstadt", English name: SV Darmstadt 98) was founded on May 22, 1898, and is a professional football club based in Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany.
The club was originally named Olympia Darmstadt Football Club, and in 1919 it merged with another local sports club, changing its name to Darmstadt 98 Sports Club. In addition to football, the club also engages in various sports including athletics, basketball, judo, and table tennis, with approximately 1,200 members.
Darmstadt has briefly competed in the Bundesliga twice in its history, specifically in the 1978-1979 and 1981-1982 seasons, but both times failed to avoid relegation. In recent years, the team has experienced significant ups and downs: in the 2012-2013 season, they were originally set to be relegated from the 3. Liga, but unexpectedly retained their status due to financial violations by a competitor. Subsequently, in the 2013-2014 season, they secured promotion to the 2. Bundesliga by finishing third in the 3. Liga through the playoffs, and then miraculously ascended to the Bundesliga as runners-up in the 2014-2015 season, achieving a "two-tier jump."
In the 2022-2023 season, the team again finished as runners-up in the 2. Bundesliga, returning to the Bundesliga, but in the 2023-2024 season, they were confirmed to be relegated three rounds early, returning to the 2. Bundesliga.