Football Season Guide

Mainz enjoyed a successful campaign last year in that they managed to finish well clear of the relegation zone and in the top half though coach Bo Svensson will be disappointed not to have achieved more after a tapering in form in the second half of the season saw them drop out of the European race. Svensson will be looking to kick on this season but Mainz will be heading into the new campaign slightly weaker than last season after having lost two of their first choice central defenders in St. Juste and Niakhate. Kilian's loan deal to Koln has been made permanent while Nemeth has also left the club which means Mainz now have just three recognized central defenders for a system that deploys a three-man defense. Other departures include Stoger, Boetius and Brosinski, all of whom were released, while Pierre-Gabriel has been loaned out. Mainz have brought in Maxim Leitsch from Bochum and the defender is expected to be the starter but more depth is needed in the central defense. Angelo Fulgini has been their biggest outlay and is expected to provide the creative thrust from the midfield while Danny da Costa, Anthony Caci and Aymen Barkok have been signed on free transfers. Mainz have also converted loan deals for Kohr, Ingvartsen and Burgzorg into permanent deals though the latter two are only expected to provide squad depth. There are still some holes in the squad for Mainz who will need to bring in the bodies, especially in the center of the defense, if they are to improve on a pretty solid campaign from last season.