2008–09 AaB Fodbold season

Bruce Rioch managed to guide AaB to the Champions League group stage, but was sacked after only two wins from the first 10 league games and a single point won from their first three Champions League games, with the team 11th in the Superliga. Interim manager Allan Kuhn went undefeated in his seven league games and three Champions League games, seeing the club rise to 6th and qualify for the UEFA Cup knockout stages. However, sporting director Lynge Jakobsen was wary of promoting Kuhn from assistant coach to head coach and instead opted to appoint Magnus Pehrsson as permanent head coach. Although Pehrsson only won 3 of his 16 league matches in charge, resulting in a final 7th-place finish (their lowest in 11 years), he achieved famous victories against Deportivo and Manchester City to take AaB to the round of 16 before elimination at the hands of the Mancunian team on penalties. He also took the team to the Danish Cup final; although they were defeated by F.C. Copenhagen, Copenhagen's title victory saw AaB qualify for the second qualifying round of the inaugural season of the UEFA Europe League.

Squad at end of season[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  MAR Karim Zaza[notes 2] 2 DF  DEN Michael Jakobsen 4 DF  AUS Michael Beauchamp 5 DF  NOR Kjetil Wæhler 6 DF  NED Steve Olfers 7 MF  DEN Anders Due 8 MF  SWE Andreas Johansson 9 MF  DEN Thomas Augustinussen 11 FW  JAM Luton Shelton (on loan from Vålerenga) 14 FW  DEN Jeppe Curth 15 FW  RSA Siyabonga Nomvethe 16 DF  DEN Kasper Bøgelund 18 MF  BRA Cacá

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 FW  USA Marcus Tracy 20 MF  DEN Henrik Dalsgaard 21 MF  DEN Kasper Risgård 23 MF  DEN Thomas Enevoldsen 24 DF  DEN Jens-Kristian Sørensen 27 MF  DEN Patrick Kristensen 28 DF  DEN Emil Haucke 30 GK  DEN Kenneth Stenild 31 DF  DEN Lasse Nielsen 32 FW  DEN Ronnie Schwartz 36 DF  DEN Daniel Christensen 37 GK  DEN Simon Sloth

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 3 DF  DEN Martin Pedersen (to Vejle Boldklub) 10 FW  POL Marek Saganowski (on loan from Southampton) 17 MF  RSA Benedict Vilakazi (to Mamelodi Sundowns)

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 FW  DEN Simon Bræmer (to Akademisk Boldklub) 25 DF  DEN Casper Nordstrøm (to Thisted FC) 26 FW  DEN Jacob Nordstrøm (released)