Season: | 2008–09 |
League Result: | 1st |
League Topscorer: | Dieumerci Mbokani (16) |
Cup1 Result: | Final Qualifying Round |
Cup2 Result: | Round of 32 |
Cup3 Result: | Round of 32 |
Nextseason: | 2009–10 |
Standard Liège won their tenth ever league title thanks to a playoff victory against Anderlecht. They finished on the same point as them with the same number of games won. Following 1-1 away from home in Brussels, Standard won 1-0 at home thanks to a penalty scored by Axel Witsel.
The season also saw the club nearly qualifying for the Champions League, following two 0-0 draws against Liverpool. In the extra time, however, Dirk Kuyt scored a decisive late goal. In the UEFA Cup, where Standard dropped down to, they beat Everton in the qualifying phase, which caused Everton to pay £15 million for playmaker Marouane Fellaini, the highest ever fee paid for a Belgian player. In the UEFA Cup proper, Standard reached the Round of 32, where they were knocked out of the competition by Braga of Portugal.