Football Season Guide

A strong end to last season helped Hannover 96 return back to the Bundesliga at the first time of asking as they finished 2nd in the 2.Bundesliga to clinch automatic promotion to the top flight of German football. Hannover's decision to sack Daniel Stendel and replace him with Andre Breitenreiter in March paid off handsomely for the club as they went unbeaten in their final eleven games of the season, seven of which ended in victories, to finish just one point above Eintracht Braunschweig and claim an automatic promotion spot back to the Bundesliga. Breitenreiter will be pleased at achieving the promotion, having arrived when Hannover were sitting 4th in the table but will be aware that his side will be facing a far tougher challenge as they seek to stay clear of the relegation zone this season. They have been able to hold on to their key players ahead of the new campaign with the likes of Martin Harnik, Edgar Prib, Felix Klaus and Oliver Sorg all staying at the club while Artur Sobiech was used more as an option to rotate and is unlikely to be missed. Hannover have made a couple of solid additions to the squad, especially in the defence as they brought in Darmstadt keeper Michael Esser while Matthias Ostrzolek, Julian Korb and Pirmin Schwegler will all offer the additional experience of playing in the Bundesliga. Breitenreiter has been unbeaten in the nine matches that he was in charge of Hannover at the end of last season and, having seen his side play some good football during the period, the Hannover coach will be hoping for a good start to the new campaign in order to keep his side clear of the relegation zone. Breitenreiter has built up a good squad full of experienced players and, with a couple of other teams carrying over weaker squads into the new campaign, Hannover should easily achieve their minimum aim of surviving in the league for another season.