The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England. The Premier League started on 16 August 2008, while the Championship, League One, and League Two matches started on 9 August 2008. The regular season of the Football League ended on 3 May 2009, while the Premier League ended on 24 May 2009.
The Premier League title was won by Manchester United, capturing their 18th top-division title and third in a row. Three teams, Newcastle United, Middlesbrough, and West Bromwich Albion were relegated at the end of the season. They were replaced by three teams from the Championship, being the champion Wolverhampton Wanderers alongside regular season runner up Birmingham City, and Burnley, which won a four-team playoff for the third promotion spot. Relegated from Championship to League One were Norwich City, Southampton, and Charlton Athletic. The League One teams promoted to the Championship include champions Leicester City, runners up Peterborough United, and playoff winners Scunthorpe United. Relegated from League One to League Two were Northampton Town, Crewe Alexandra, Cheltenham Town and Hereford United. Promoted from League Two were the champions Brentford, runners up Exeter City, third-place finishers Wycombe Wanderers, and playoff winners Scunthorpe United. Relegated to Conference were Chester City and Luton Town
The England national football team played in four friendlies, winning two, losing one, and playing to a draw in the other. During the season, England played seven of its ten Group 6 matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, winning all seven.
The FA Cup was won by Chelsea who defeated Everton 2–1 in the final.
Managerial changes
In-season managerial changes Name Club Date of departure Replacement Date of appointment Kevin Bond Bournemouth 1 September 2008Bond sacked as Bournemouth boss BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2 September 2008 Jimmy Quinn 2 September 2008Bournemouth name Quinn as manager BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2 September 2008 Alan Curbishley West Ham United 3 September 2008Curbishley quits as West Ham boss BBC Sport. Retrieved on 3 September 2008 Gianfranco Zola 11 September 2008West Ham unveil Zola as new boss BBC Sport. Retrieved on 11 September 2008 Kevin Keegan Newcastle United 4 September 2008Keegan resigns as Newcastle boss BBC Sport. Retrieved on 4 September 2008 Joe Kinnear1 26 September 2008Magpies name Kinnear interim boss BBC Sport. Retrieved on 29 December 2008 Keith Downing Cheltenham Town 13 September 2008Manager Downing leaves Cheltenham BBC Sport. Retrieved on 13 September 2008 Martin Allen 15 September 2008Allen named new Cheltenham boss BBC Sport. Retrieved on 15 September 2008 Alan Buckley Grimsby Town 15 September 2008Grimsby dismiss manager Buckley BBC Sport. Retrieved on 15 September 2008 Mike Newell 6 October 2008Newell takes over as Grimsby boss BBC Sport. Retrieved on 6 October 2008 Geraint Williams Colchester United 22 September 2008Boss Williams departs Colchester BBC Sport. Retrieved on 22 September 2008 Paul Lambert 9 October 2008Lambert named as Colchester boss BBC Sport. Retrieved on 9 October 2008 Lee Sinnott Port Vale 22 September 2008Sinnott parts company with Vale BBC Sport. Retrieved on 22 September 2008 Dean Glover2 6 October 2008Glover named new Port Vale boss BBC Sport. Retrieved on 6 October 2008 Iain Dowie Queens Park Rangers 24 October 2008QPR part company with boss Dowie BBC Sport. Retrieved on 24 October 2008 Paulo Sousa 19 November 2008Sousa is new QPR first-team coach BBC Sport. Retrieved on 20 November 2008 Juande Ramos Tottenham Hotspur 25 October 2008Tottenham sack Ramos for Redknapp BBC Sport. Retrieved on 25 October 2008 Harry Redknapp 26 October 2008 Harry Redknapp Portsmouth 26 October 2008 Tony Adams3 28 October 2008Adams named new Portsmouth boss BBC Sport. Retrieved on 28 October 2008 John Ward Carlisle United 3 November 2008 Greg Abbott4 5 December 2008 Aidy Boothroyd Watford 3 November 2008 Brendan Rodgers 24 November 2008 Stan Ternent Huddersfield Town 4 November 2008 Lee Clark 11 December 2008 Simon Davies Chester City 11 November 2008 Mark Wright 14 November 2008 Maurice Malpas Swindon Town 14 November 2008 Danny Wilson 26 December 2008 Steve Holland Crewe Alexandra 18 November 2008 Gudjon Thordarson 24 December 2008 Alan Pardew Charlton Athletic 22 November 2008 Phil Parkinson5 31 December 2008 Roy Keane Sunderland 4 December 2008 Ricky Sbragia6 27 December 2008 Danny Wilson Hartlepool United 15 December 2008 Chris Turner 15 December 2008 Gary McAllister Leeds United 21 December 2008 Simon Grayson 23 December 2008 Simon Grayson Blackpool 23 December 2008 Ian Holloway 21 May 2009 Colin Calderwood Nottingham Forest 26 December 2008 Billy Davies 1 January 2009 Paul Fairclough Barnet 28 December 2008 Ian Hendon9 21 April 2009 Paul Jewell Derby County 29 December 2008 Nigel Clough 6 January 2009 Jimmy Quinn Bournemouth 31 December 2008 Eddie Howe7 19 January 2009 Jimmy Mullen Walsall 10 January 2009 Chris Hutchings 20 January 2009 Glenn Roeder Norwich City 14 January 2009 Bryan Gunn8 21 January 2009 Martin Ling Leyton Orient 18 January 2009 Geraint Williams 5 February 2009 Jan Poortvliet Southampton 23 January 2009 Mark Wotte 23 January 2009 Tony Adams Portsmouth 9 February 2009 Paul Hart 3 March 2009 Luiz Felipe Scolari Chelsea 9 February 2009 Guus Hiddink 11 February 2009 Russell Slade Yeovil Town 16 February 2009 Terry Skiverton 18 February 2009 Micky Adams Brighton & Hove Albion 21 February 2009 Russell Slade 6 March 2009 John Sheridan Oldham Athletic 15 March 2009 Joe Royle 15 March 2009 Paulo Sousa Queens Park Rangers 9 April 2009 Jim Magilton 3 June 2009 Jim Magilton Ipswich Town 21 April 2009 Roy Keane 22 April 2009 Graham Turner Hereford United 24 April 2009 John Trewick 24 April 2009 Joe Royle Oldham Athletic 30 April 2009 Dave Penney 30 April 2009 Dave Penney Darlington 30 April 2009 Colin Todd 20 May 2009
End-of-season managerial changes Name Club Date of departure Replacement Date of appointment Dean Glover Port Vale 2 May 2009 Micky Adams 1 June 2009 Jim Gannon Stockport County 6 May 2009 Gary Ablett 8 July 2009 Lee Richardson Chesterfield 6 May 2009 John Sheridan 9 June 2009 Steve Coppell Reading 12 May 2009 Brendan Rodgers 5 June 2009 Ricky Sbragia Sunderland 24 May 2009 Steve Bruce 2 June 2009 Guus Hiddink Chelsea 30 May 2009 Carlo Ancelotti 1 June 2009 Steve Bruce Wigan Athletic 2 June 2009 Roberto Martínez 16 June 2009 Brendan Rodgers Watford 5 June 2009 Malky Mackay 15 June 2009 Ronnie Moore Tranmere Rovers 5 June 2009 John Barnes 15 June 2009 Roberto Martínez Swansea City 16 June 2009 Paulo Sousa 29 June 2009 Tony Mowbray West Bromwich Albion 17 June 2009 Roberto Di Matteo 1 July 2009 Mark Wright Chester City 22 June 2009 Mick Wadsworth 29 June 2009 Roberto Di Matteo Milton Keynes Dons 1 July 2009 Paul Ince 3 July 2009 Mark Wotte Southampton 9 July 2009 Alan Pardew 17 July 2009
Notes 1 Joe Kinnear was named interim manager on 26 September, and signed as permanent manager on 28 November. 2 Dean Glover had previously been caretaker manager at Port Vale since Sinnott's departure. 3 Tony Adams had previously been caretaker manager at Portsmouth since Redknapp's departure. 4 Greg Abbott had previously been caretaker manager at Carlisle United since Ward's departure. 5 Phil Parkinson had previously been caretaker manager at Charlton Athletic since Pardew's departure. 6 Ricky Sbragia had previously been caretaker manager at Sunderland since Keane's departure. 7 Eddie Howe had previously been caretaker manager at Bournemouth since Quinn's departure. 8 Bryan Gunn had previously been caretaker manager at Norwich City since Roeder's departure. 9 Ian Hendon had previously been caretaker manager at Barnet since Fairclough's departure.
National team The home team is on the left column; the away team is on the right column.
Friendly matches
World Cup qualifiers England is currently in Group 6 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification process.Groups and standings FIFA Retrieved 2008-05-31
Honours CompetitionWinnerDetailsMatch ReportFA CupChelseaFA Cup 2008–09Beat Everton 2–1ReportLeague CupManchester UnitedFootball League Cup 2008–09Beat Tottenham Hotspur 4–1 on penalties (0–0 final score)ReportPremier LeagueManchester UnitedPremier League 2008–09ReportFootball League ChampionshipWolverhampton WanderersFootball League Championship 2008–09ReportFootball League OneLeicester CityFootball League One 2008–09ReportFootball League TwoBrentfordFootball League Two 2008–09ReportFA Community ShieldManchester United2008 FA Community ShieldBeat Portsmouth 3–1 on penalties (0–0 final score)ReportFootball League TrophyLuton TownFootball League Trophy 2008–09Beat Scunthorpe United 3–2 a.e.tReportFA TrophyStevenage BoroughFA Trophy 2008–09Beat York City 2–0ReportConference League CupA.F.C. Telford UnitedConference League Cup 2008–09Beat Forest Green Rovers 3–0 on penalties. (0–0 final score)Report
League tables Premier League
Manchester United won their 18th league title, drawing level with Liverpool for the record of most league titles. Liverpool pushed them all the way; they actually had a superior goal difference and completed the double over United, even winning 4–1 at Old Trafford in March, but also suffered 11 draws which enabled United to overtake and win the title. Chelsea broke records for all the wrong reasons as their 86-game unbeaten home record finally came to an end, with several surprise away losses effectively ending their title challenge (as well as resulting in manager Luiz Felipe Scolari being sacked), though they did win the FA Cup under caretaker manager Guus Hiddink. Arsenal finished fourth to claim the final Champions League spot, which meant that last season's top 4 all qualified for Europe's elite for the fifth time in six seasons.
Aston Villa had looked like breaking into the Champions League spots for most of the season, but a late collapse that saw them win just twice in their last 13 league games saw them join FA Cup finalists Everton in qualifying for the newly formed UEFA Europa League (which replaced the UEFA Cup). Fulham were the other team to qualify for Europe, marking a remarkable turnaround since Roy Hodgson had taken over 18 months earlier when relegation from the Premier League looked a certainty. This was not only the first time they had qualified for Europe via their league position, but in finishing 7th in the first tier, this was also the highest ever league finish in the club's history. Stoke City, despite being pre-season relegation favourites for many, defied their critics and finishing comfortably in mid-table.
West Bromwich Albion made an immediate return to the Championship after propping up the table for most of the season. Joining them on the final day were Middlesbrough and Newcastle United, ending 11 and 16-year spells in the top flight respectively, the latter going through four managers in Kevin Keegan, Joe Kinnear, Chris Hughton and even former striker Alan Shearer during the campaign. Sunderland survived relegation, thanks to the efforts of caretaker manager Ricky Sbragia after Roy Keane's surprise resignation in December; meaning next season they would be the only North-East team in top flight football. Despite a brilliant start to the season (Which included victories at Arsenal and Tottenham, a draw at Liverpool and a narrow 4–3 loss at Manchester United, and climbing as high as third place in October), Hull City won just one league game after the new year, but avoided relegation by a single point.
Leading goalscorer: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) – 19
Football League Championship