2008–09 Borussia Mönchengladbach Season

The 2008–09 Borussia Mönchengladbach season was the 108th season in the club's history. They played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football. It was the club's first season in the top tier since their relegation from the Bundesliga in 2007.

They also took part in the DFB Pokal, Germany's top club knockout competition, where they reached the second round before being eliminated 2–0 by fellow Bundesliga side Energie Cottbus, who they ironically played a part in relegating.

Season summary

In the summer transfer window, Jos Luhukay notably sold German under-21 youngsters Eugen Polanski and Robert Fleßers, Danish ''Tor des Jahres'' winner Kasper Bøgelund, and Angolan international Nando Rafael, to Getafe, Mainz 05, Aalborg, and AGS, with all bar the last being free transfers. In replacement, Michael Bradley, Karim Matmour, Gal Alberman and Jean-Sébastien Jaurès signed with ''die Fohlen.''

At the start of the season, Mönchengladbach encountered troubles in the Bundesliga, with several disappointing performances. The worst of it came in a 5–1 defeat to 12th place Hannover 96, saw Manager (association football), manager Jos Luhukay dismissed in October with only 1 win in 7 league matches, and elimination from the 2008–09 DFB-Pokal, DFB-Pokal by Energie Cottbus. Christian Ziege, Christian Ziege's brief one match stint as manager saw Borussia get their 4th point of the season in a 2–2 draw to VfL Bochum, Bochum, with Hans Meyer (footballer), Hans Meyer taking the reigns for the rest of the season.

In the winter transfer window, Meyer signed Belgium, Belgian Goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper Logan Bailly from K.R.C. Genk, Genk, Czech Republic, Czech Czech Republic national football team, national Tomáš Galásek from FC Baník Ostrava, Baník Ostrava, and Canada, Canadian Defender (association football), defender Paul Stalteri from Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Tottenham Hotspur, with Meyer selling fellow Germany, Germans Alexander Voigt to SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Greuther Fürth, and Sascha Rösler to TSV 1860 Munich, 1860 Munich. In a tough final day battle, Mönchengladbach played Borussia Dortmund, Dortmund in the German football rivalries#North Rhine-Westphalia, Borussia derby, while Arminia Bielefeld, Bielefeld faced Hannover 96, Hannover. Cottbus took on Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Leverkusen, and won 3–1, and as Bielefeld finished with a 1–1 draw, they went down to 20th, cementing their place next season in the 2. Bundesliga. Mönchengladbach were able to salvage a 1–1 draw in the derby, which secured Bundesliga status. Meyer escaped the drop with ''die Fohlen'' while being bottom of the league from mid December to early March. Meyer left the club at the season's close, and recently sacked Arminia Bielefeld coach Michael Frontzeck took his place.

Squad

''Squad at end of season''

Transfers

In

Out

Competitions

Overall record

Bundesliga

League table

Results summary

Results by round

Matches

DFB-Pokal

In the first round, Borussia Mönchengladbach were drawn against VfB Fichte Bielefeld, VfB Vichte Bielefeld.

Statistics

Appearances and goals

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! colspan=12 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center, Goalkeepers

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! colspan=12 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center, Defenders

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! colspan=12 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center, Midfielders

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! colspan=12 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center, Forwards

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! colspan=12 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center, Players transferred out during season

Goalscorers

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2008-09 Borussia Monchengladbach season
Borussia Mönchengladbach seasons