Football Season Guide

After a disappointing campaign last season Hannover will go into this season with lower expectations as coach Tayfun Korkut looks to rebuild the squad and stabilise their league position. Three years of Mirko Slomka at the helm of the club came to an end at Christmas and Korkut has looked to put his stamp on the squad over the summer. A number of the key players of Slomka's reign have left the club, either sold or released. Most importantly their attacking talisman of recent seasons, Mame Diouf has returned to England, but strikers Didier Ya Konan and Artjoms Rudnevs have also left. This leaves just Artur Sobiech from last season's attacking lineup however he has been joined by Spanish striker Joselu from Hoffenheim after he completed a loan spell at Eintracht Frankfurt last year. He has a lot to prove but will be the main striker in a system which will most likely see him playing up front on his own with a five man midfield. The midfield is the area of the pitch which has remained most stable with Szabolcs Huszti the main player to have left as Adrian Nikci was on loan last season as well in any case. In his place comes former Nürnberg playmaker Hiroshi Kiyotake who will run the show for Korkut while Ceyhun Gulselam arrives on a free transfer after being released by Galatasaray in the summer. He is another midfield enforcer who will have the role of protecting the defence and suggests that Salif Sane will leave the club sooner rather than later with it known that the coach is not pleased with his on or off field performances. Loanee Frantisek Rajtoral has returned to Viktoria Plzen and in his place comes highly rated right back Miiko Albornoz from Swedish champions Malmo and he will fight it out with Hiroki Sakai for the right back slot. Club captain Lars Stindl led from the front last season and will again hope to be a big part of their intended progress this year. Goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler will also be crucial to any success they achieve as he returns with a World Cup winners medal and is expected to sign a new contract soon. In past seasons the club were looking at a European finish which is probably out of reach this time around. Had a couple of results not gone their way last year they would have been caught up in the relegation fight so this year a safe mid table finish would allow them time and space to grow next year.