See main article: History of Aston Villa F.C. (1961–present).
| Season: | 2008–09 |
| League Topscorer: | Gabriel Agbonlahor (12) |
| Season Topscorer: | John Carew (15) |
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| Nextseason: | 2009–10 |
The 2008–09 Premier League season was Aston Villa's 134th season in English football. It was the club's 98th season in the top-flight and their 21st consecutive season in the top flight. They were managed by Martin O'Neill – in his third season since replacing David O'Leary. The 2008–09 season was the first spell in European competition for O'Neill, and the first for Villa, in 6 seasons.
The club's first summer signing was the permanent capture of on-loan West Brom centre-back, Curtis Davies, in July, while their first sale was made in May, as Luke Moore completed a move to West Brom in an initial £3 million deal, after he had spent the second half of the 2007–08 season there on loan.
The fixtures for the 2008–09 season were announced on Monday 16 June 2008, with Aston Villa beginning at home against Manchester City and finishing the season at home to Newcastle. Due to Birmingham's relegation at the end of the 2007–08 season, there was no Second City derby, however they faced local rivals West Brom on 20 September 2008 at The Hawthorns and on 10 January 2009 at home.[1]
In December 2008, Everton player and boyhood Villa fan, Joleon Lescott put two past Villa and still lost the match following Ashley Young's "brilliant" equalizer.[2]
After 25 games, having qualified for the UEFA Cup as joint winners of the Intertoto Cup, the club were third in the table on 51 points, 2 points above Chelsea on level games and 7 points above Arsenal in 5th place and on course for a place in the Champions League for the first time since 1983. O'Neill decided to prioritise Champions League qualification above all else, fielding a virtual reserve side for a UEFA Cup game against CSKA Moscow which was subsequently lost.[3] Following this, Villa failed to win any of the next 8 league games and improving form for Arsenal & Chelsea meant that Villa failed to reach the top 4.
| Date | Pos | Player | From | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 July 2008 | £8,000,000 | ||||
| 10 July 2008 | £5,000,000 | ||||
| 26 July 2008 | £2,500,000 | ||||
| 1 August 2008 | £600,000 | ||||
| 7 August 2008 | £2,000,000 | ||||
| 8 August 2008 | £6,000,000 | ||||
| 12 August 2008 | £7,800,000 | ||||
| 30 August 2008 | £12,000,000 | ||||
| 23 January 2009 | £3,500,000 | ||||
| £45,400,000 |
| Date | Pos | Player | To | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 May 2008 | £3,000,000 | ||||
| 1 July 2008 | Free transfer | ||||
| 1 July 2008 |  Juventus | Free transfer | |||
| 1 July 2008 | Stoke City | Free transfer | |||
| 22 August 2008 | £3,000,000 | ||||
| 3 January 2009 | £600,000 | ||||
| £6,600,000 |
| Date | Pos | Player | To | Loan End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 September 2008 | 20 December 2008 | ||||
| 3 November 2008 | 30 November 2008 | ||||
| 5 November 2008 | 1 January 2009 | ||||
| 20 November 2008 | 2 January 2009 | ||||
| 30 January 2009 | 15 February 2009 | ||||
| 3 March 2009 | 31 May 2009 | ||||
| 9 March 2009 | 31 May 2009 | ||||
| 13 March 2009 | 31 May 2009 | ||||
| 13 March 2009 | 31 May 2009 | ||||
| 23 March 2009 | 31 May 2009 | ||||
£45,400,000
£6,600,000
£38,800,000
Squad at end of season
The following players made most of their appearances for the reserve team this season, and did not appear for the first team.
The following players made most of their appearances for the youth team this season, but may have also appeared for the reserves.
The following players did not appear for any squad this season.
Sixth
Third round (knocked out by Q.P.R.)
Fifth round (knocked out by Everton)
Joint-winner, qualified for UEFA Cup
Round of 32 (knocked out by CSKA Moscow)
See main article: 2008–09 Premier League.
| Date | Opponents | H/A | Result | Scorers | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 July 2008 | A | 6 – 0 | Harewood (2), Carew, Delfouneso, Maloney, Routledge | Sportpark Bergholz | ||
| 12 July 2008 | A | 1 – 2 | Agbonlahor | Letzigrund | ||
| 15 July 2008 | Lincoln City | A | 1 – 3 | Carew | Sincil Bank | |
| 22 July 2008 | Walsall | A | 3 – 2 | Maloney (2), Routledge | Bescot Stadium | |
| 2 August 2008 | Reading | A | 1 – 1 | Agbonlahor | Madejski Stadium | |
| 6 August 2008 | A | 1 – 1 | Carew | Estadio Municipal de La Línea de la Concepción | ||
| 8 August 2008 | A | 2 – 0 | Delfouneso, Gardner | Estadio Municipal de Marbella |
| Date | Opponents | H/A | Result | Scorers | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 September 2008 | Stoke City | A | 2 – 1 | Delfouneso, Osbourne | Britannia Stadium | |
| 8 September 2008 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1 – 0 | Herd | Villa Park | |
| 29 September 2008 | Arsenal | A | 4 – 1 | Albrighton (2), Stieber (2) | Underhill Stadium | |
| 13 October 2008 | Chelsea | A | 1 – 0 | Sidwell | Griffin Park | |
| 20 October 2008 | Portsmouth | A | 0 – 2 | West Leigh Park | ||
| 10 November 2008 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2 – 1 | Bannan (2) | The Hawthorns | |
| 25 November 2008 | Fulham | A | 1 – 1 | Bannan | Motspur Park | |
| 13 January 2009 | West Ham United | H | 0 – 0 | De Montfort Park | ||
| 16 February 2009 | Arsenal | H | 0 – 0 | De Montfort Park | ||
| 2 March 2009 | Chelsea | H | 4 – 3 | Delfouneso (2), Hogg, Clark | Villa Park | |
| 10 March 2009 | Portsmouth | H | 6 – 1 | Hogg (2), Lowry, Weimann, Lichaj, G.Gardner | Villa Park | |
| 17 March 2009 | West Ham United | A | 2 – 0 | Weimann, Hofbauer | Woodside Park | |
| 23 March 2009 | Stoke City | H | 1 – 0 | Collins | Villa Park |
| Date | Opponents | H/A | Result | Scorers | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 July 2008 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 6 – 1 | A.Stieber (2), Forrester (2), Weimann (2) | Friendly | |
| 2 August 2008 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 6 – 0 | R.Simmonds (2), G.Gardner, Poyser, Berry, Chapman | Friendly | |
| 9 August 2008 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 4 – 0 | R.Simmonds, G.Gardner, Forrester, Ja.Collins | Friendly | |
| 23 August 2008 | Sheffield United | A | 1 – 1 | Ja.Collins | Premier Academy League | |
| 30 August 2008 | Barnsley | H | 3 – 0 | Ja.Collins (2), Grocott | Premier Academy League | |
| 6 September 2008 | Chelsea | H | 2 – 0 | Weimann, Ja.Collins | Premier Academy League | |
| 13 September 2008 | West Ham United | A | 0 – 3 | Premier Academy League | ||
| 20 September 2008 | Norwich City | A | 1 – 1 | Ja.Collins | Premier Academy League | |
| 27 September 2008 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0 – 2 | Premier Academy League | ||
| 4 October 2008 | Cardiff City | A | 4 – 2 | Hofbauer, Ja.Collins, Grocott, Forrester | Premier Academy League | |
| 11 October 2008 | Coventry City | H | 5 – 0 | Ja.Collins (3), Poyser, Grocott | Premier Academy League | |
| 19 October 2008 | Birmingham City | A | 5 – 0 | Poyser (3), Clark, Berry | Premier Academy League | |
| 8 November 2008 | Reading | A | 3 – 1 | Ja.Collins, Weimann, Forrester | Premier Academy League | |
| 15 November 2008 | Watford | H | 3 – 2 | Forrester, Ja.Collins (2) | Premier Academy League | |
| 22 November 2008 | Bristol City | H | 4 – 2 | Berry, Weimann (2), Hofbauer | Premier Academy League | |
| 6 December 2008 | MK Dons | A | 3 – 0 | Ja.Collins, Blythe, A.Stieber | Premier Academy League | |
| 10 December 2008 | Arsenal | H | 2 – 3 | Ja.Collins (2) | FA Youth Cup | |
| 17 January 2009 | Leicester City | A | 0 – 2 | Premier Academy League | ||
| 24 January 2009 | Reading | H | 2 – 1 | A.Stieber, Ja.Collins | Premier Academy League | |
| 31 January 2009 | Watford | H | 3 – 1 | Grocott, Bradley, Ja.Collins | Premier Academy League | |
| 14 February 2009 | MK Dons | H | 4 – 0 | Ja.Collins, G.Gardner (2), Moore | Premier Academy League | |
| 21 February 2009 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 4 – 4 | Ja.Collins (2), Weimann, A.Stieber | Premier Academy League | |
| 28 February 2009 | Birmingham City | H | 2 – 2 | Forrester, Ja.Collins | Premier Academy League | |
| 7 March 2009 | Cardiff City | H | 3 – 2 | Forrester, Ja.Collins (2) | Premier Academy League | |
| 14 March 2009 | Coventry City | A | 0 – 0 | Premier Academy League | ||
| 21 March 2009 | Ipswich Town | H | 4 – 2 | Weimann (2), Ja.Collins, A.Stieber | Premier Academy League |
| No. | Pos. | Nationality | Player | Apps | Goals | Assists | YC | RC | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 0 | |||
| 2 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 43 | 1 | |||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 1 | |||
| 4 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 25 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 91 | 11 | |||
| 6 | 48 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 440 | 52 | |||
| 7 | 48 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 100 | 19 | |||
| 8 | 43 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 79 | 9 | |||
| 9 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 7 | |||
| 10 | 34 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 78 | 31 | |||
| 11 | 48 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 139 | 35 | |||
| 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |||
| 14 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 3 | |||
| 15 | 45 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 59 | 2 | |||
| 16 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 2 | |||
| 17 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |||
| 18 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | |||
| 19 | 47 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 112 | 5 | |||
| 20 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 75 | 3 | |||
| 21 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |||
| 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |||
| 24 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |||
| 26 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 77 | 6 | |||
| 27 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |||
| 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 45 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 46 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| No. | Pos. | Nationality | Player | Reserve Apps | Reserve Goals | Academy Apps | Academy Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 2 | ||||
| 48 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||||
| 46 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 3 | ||||
| – | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 | ||||
| – | sortname | Richard Blythe | 1 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 17 | 1 | ||
| – | sortname | Daniel Bradley | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||
| 47 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 21 | 2 | ||||
| – | 10 | 1 | 22 | 24 | 32 | 25 | ||||
| – | sortname | Thomas Dau | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 14 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | ||||
| sortname | Conor Devlin | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| – | sortname | Jack Dyer | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| – | sortname | Calum Flanagan | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 41 | sortname | 3 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 21 | 5 | |||
| – | sortname | 2 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 3 | |||
| – | sortname | Will Grocott | 1 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 19 | 4 | ||
| – | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||
| sortname | Aldi Haxhia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 49 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||||
| 42 | sortname | Dominik Hofbauer | 6 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 23 | 4 | ||
| – | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | ||||
| – | sortname | Jason Lampkin | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 43 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||||
| – | sortname | Ben Love | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 51 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||||
| – | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| – | sortname | Ethan Moore | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 53 | sortname | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |||
| – | sortname | Kofi Poyser | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 4 | ||
| – | sortname | Tomos Roberts | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| – | sortname | Matthew Roome | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||
| – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| – | sortname | Ryan Simmonds | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| – | sortname | Sam Simmonds | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| – | sortname | András Stieber | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 4 | ||
| 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |||||
| – | 10 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 28 | 8 | ||||
| – | sortname | Derrick Williams | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| – | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
