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Youth performance center restructured
SV Darmstadt 98 has filled the vacant position of Sporting Director at its youth academy. Maximilian Mehring takes over the role, succeeding Björn Müller. The 39-year-old most recently served as interim coach at the Lilies' youth academy.
Björn Kopper, head of the youth academy, praised Mehring's work to date: In recent months, he has initiated and developed numerous projects that fall within the remit of the sporting director. He is familiar with the internal processes and also brings experience from other positions.
Sporting director Paul Fernie also emphasized the collaboration. Mehring had been an important contact person as liaison coach since last summer. Both shared similar ideas regarding the sporting direction in the youth sector and the transition to the senior team.
Experience as a player and coach
Maximilian Mehring played three second-division matches and a total of 110 regional league games during his active career, including 23 for SV Darmstadt 98. After his playing career, the Worms native worked as an assistant and head coach for clubs including Wormatia Worms, Waldhof Mannheim, and SV Sandhausen. He served as interim coach for Darmstadt from July 2025.
Mehring himself emphasizes that he is looking forward to the new task and is grateful for the trust placed in him. The club has clear visions for the further development of its youth academy, and he intends to actively contribute to their implementation.
The interim coach position will be filled again in a reasonable amount of time.
Adjustment of reporting lines in the NLZ
Furthermore, the club has adjusted the reporting lines within the youth academy. Going forward, the youth academy, represented by Björn Kopper, will no longer report directly to the board, but rather on a topic-specific basis to managing director of the professional players division, Tom Eilers, and to sporting director, Paul Fernie.
Eilers is responsible for strategic, organizational, and infrastructural matters, while sporting matters fall under Fernie's purview. Both continue to report directly to the executive board.
(DARMSTADT – RED/SV98)
Featured image: Maximilian Mehring. Photo: SV98
