The 2008-09 season was Aston Villa's 17th season in the Premier League. The 2008–09 Premier League season was 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.

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.7th December 2008 Everton 2–3 Aston Villa

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. 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.

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Matches

Pre-season friendlies

DateOpponentsH/AResultScorersVenue10 July 2008FC Wil 1900 A6–0Harewood (2), Carew, Delfouneso, Maloney, RoutledgeSportpark Bergholz12 July 2008FC Zürich A1–2AgbonlahorLetzigrund15 July 2008Lincoln CityA1–3CarewSincil Bank22 July 2008WalsallA3–2Maloney (2), RoutledgeBescot Stadium2 August 2008ReadingA1–1AgbonlahorMadejski Stadium6 August 2008Real Balompédica Linense A1–1CarewEstadio Municipal de La Línea de la Concepción8 August 2008UD Marbella A2–0Delfouneso, GardnerEstadio Municipal de Marbella

Premier League DateOpponentsH/AResultScorersVenueAttendance17 August 2008Manchester CityH4–2Carew, Agbonlahor (3)Villa Park39,95523 August 2008Stoke CityA2–3Carew, LaursenBritannia Stadium27,50031 August 2008LiverpoolH0–0Villa Park41,64715 September 2008Tottenham HotspurA2–1Reo-Coker, A.YoungWhite Hart Lane36,07621 September 2008West Bromwich AlbionA2–1Carew, AgbonlahorThe Hawthorns26,01127 September 2008SunderlandH2–1A.Young, CarewVilla Park38,7065 October 2008ChelseaA0–2Stamford Bridge41,59318 October 2008PortsmouthH0–0Villa Park37,66026 October 2008Wigan AthleticA4–0Barry, Agbonlahor, Carew, SidwellJJB Stadium20,24929 October 2008Blackburn RoversH3–2L.Young, Barry, AgbonlahorVilla Park35,9853 November 2008Newcastle UnitedA0–2St James' Park44,5679 November 2008MiddlesbroughH1–2SidwellVilla Park36,672 15 November 2008ArsenalA2–0Clichy (OG), AgbonlahorEmirates Stadium60,04722 November 2008Manchester UnitedH0–0Villa Park42,58529 November 2008FulhamH0–0Villa Park36,6257 December 2008EvertonA3–2Sidwell, A.Young (2)Goodison Park31,92213 December 2008Bolton WanderersH4–2Agbonlahor (2), Davies (OG), A.YoungVilla Park35,13420 December 2008West Ham UnitedA1–0Neill (OG)Boleyn Ground31,35326 December 2008ArsenalH2–2Barry (pen), KnightVilla Park42,585 30 December 2008Hull CityA1–0Zayatte (OG)KC Stadium24,72710 January 2009West Bromwich AlbionH2–1Davies, AgbonlahorVilla Park41,75717 January 2009SunderlandA2–1Milner, Barry (pen)Stadium of Light40,35027 January 2009PortsmouthA1–0HeskeyFratton Park19,07331 January 2009Wigan AthleticH0–0Villa Park41,7667 February 2009Blackburn RoversA2–0Milner, AgbonlahorEwood Park24,26721 February 2009ChelseaH0–1Villa Park42,5851 March 2009Stoke CityH2–2Petrov, CarewVilla Park39,6414 March 2009Manchester CityA0–2City of Manchester Stadium40,13715 March 2009Tottenham HotspurH1–2CarewVilla Park41,20522 March 2009LiverpoolA0–5Anfield44,1315 April 2009Manchester UnitedA2–3Carew, AgbonlahorOld Trafford75,40912 April 2009EvertonH3–3Carew, Milner, Barry (PEN)Villa Park40,18818 April 2009West Ham UnitedH1–1HeskeyVilla Park39,53425 April 2009Bolton WanderersA1–1A.YoungReebok Stadium21,7094 May 2009Hull CityH1–0CarewVilla Park39,6079 May 2009FulhamA1–3A.YoungCraven Cottage25,660 16 May 2009MiddlesbroughA1–1CarewRiverside Stadium27,26124 May 2009Newcastle UnitedH1–0Duff (OG)Villa Park42,585

FA Cup RoundDateOpponentsH/AResultScorersVenueAttendanceThird round4 January 2009GillinghamA2–1Milner (2)Priestfield Stadium10,107Fourth round24 January 2009Doncaster RoversA0–0Keepmoat Stadium13,517Fourth round replay4 February 2009Doncaster RoversH3–1Sidwell, Carew, DelfounesoVilla Park24,203Fifth round15 February 2009EvertonA1–3MilnerGoodison Park35,439

Football League Cup RoundDateOpponentsH/AResultScorersVenueAttendanceThird round24 September 2008Queens Park RangersH0–1Villa Park21,541 UEFA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsH/AResultScorersVenueAttendanceUEFA Intertoto Cup – 3rd round19 July 2008Odense Boldklub A2–2Carew, LaursenFionia Park12,000 UEFA Intertoto Cup – 3rd round26 July 2008Odense Boldklub H1–0A.YoungVilla Park34,394UEFA Cup – Second qualifying round14 August 2008Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar A4–1Barry, A.Young, Agbonlahor, LaursenLaugardalsvöllur2,200UEFA Cup – Second qualifying round28 August 2008Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar H1–1GardnerVilla Park25,415UEFA Cup – First round18 September 2008PFC Litex Lovech A3–1Reo-Coker, Barry, PetrovLovech Stadium7,000UEFA Cup – First round2 October 2008PFC Litex Lovech H1–1HarewoodVilla Park27,230UEFA Cup – Group Stage23 October 2008Ajax H2–1Laursen, BarryVilla Park36,657UEFA Cup – Group Stage6 November 2008Slavia Prague A1–0CarewSynot Tip Arena22,322UEFA Cup – Group Stage4 December 2008MŠK Žilina H1–2DelfounesoVilla Park28,797UEFA Cup – Group Stage17 December 2008Hamburger SV A1–3DelfounesoHSH Nordbank Arena49,121UEFA Cup – Round of 3218 February 2009CSKA Moscow H1–1CarewVilla Park38,038UEFA Cup – Round of 3226 February 2009CSKA Moscow A0–2Luzhniki Stadium25,650

Transfers

Transferred in DatePosPlayerFromFee 3 July 2008 CB Curtis Davies West Bromwich Albion £8,000,000 10 July 2008 CM Steve Sidwell Chelsea £5,000,000 26 July 2008 GK Brad Friedel Blackburn Rovers £2,500,000 1 August 2008 GK Brad Guzan Chivas USA £600,000 7 August 2008 LB Nicky Shorey Reading £2,000,000 8 August 2008 RB Luke Young Middlesbrough £6,000,000 12 August 2008 CB Carlos Cuéllar Rangers £7,800,000 30 August 2008 RM James Milner Newcastle United £12,000,000 23 January 2009 CF Emile Heskey Wigan Athletic £3,500,000£45,400,000

Loaned in DatePosPlayerFromLoan End

Transferred out DatePosPlayerToFee 28 May 2008 CF Luke Moore West Bromwich Albion £3,000,000 1 July 2008 AM Patrik Berger Sparta Prague Free transfer 1 July 2008 CB Olof Mellberg JuventusFree transfer 1 July 2008 GK Thomas Sørensen Stoke CityFree transfer 22 August 2008 AM Shaun Maloney Celtic £3,000,000 3 January 2009 LM Wayne Routledge Queens Park Rangers £600,000£6,600,000

Loaned out DatePosPlayerToLoan End 23 September 2008 GK David Bevan Tamworth 20 December 2008 3 November 2008 CF Sam Williams Colchester United 30 November 2008 5 November 2008 LB Stephen O'Halloran Swansea City 1 January 2009 20 November 2008 LM Wayne Routledge Cardiff City 2 January 2009 30 January 2009 CF Sam Williams Walsall 15 February 2009 3 March 2009 CM Isaiah Osbourne Nottingham Forest 31 May 2009 9 March 2009 CF Sam Williams Brentford 31 May 2009 13 March 2009 CM Barry Bannan Derby County 31 May 2009 13 March 2009 GK Stuart Taylor Cardiff City 31 May 2009 23 March 2009 CF Marlon Harewood Wolverhampton Wanderers 31 May 2009

Overall transfer activity

Expenditure £45,400,000

Income £6,600,000

Balance £38,800,000

Players First-team squad

Squad at end of season

Left club during season

Reserve squad The following players made most of their appearances for the reserve team this season, and did not appear for the first team.

Youth squad The following players made most of their appearances for the youth team this season, but may have also appeared for the reserves.

Other players The following players did not appear for any squad this season.

Trialists

Competitions

Overall Premier League: Sixth League Cup: Third round (knocked out by Q.P.R.) FA Cup: Fifth round (knocked out by Everton) UEFA Intertoto Cup: Joint-winner, qualified for UEFA Cup UEFA Cup: Round of 32 (knocked out by CSKA Moscow)

Premier League

Final league table

Results summary

Statistics

Player statistics

First-Team

No.Pos. NationalityPlayerApps Goals Assists YC RCTotal AppsTotal Goals1 GK United States 46 0 0 1 1 46 02 DF England 43 1 0 7 0 43 13 DF Netherlands 2 0 0 0 0 90 14 MF England 25 4 1 6 1 25 45 DF Denmark 24 4 2 1 0 91 116 MF England 48 8 9 10 0 440 527 MF England 48 9 15 8 1 100 198 MF England 43 6 8 7 0 79 99 FW England 15 1 3 1 0 40 710 FW Norway 34 15 4 3 0 78 3111 FW England 48 13 10 4 0 139 3513 GK England 2 0 0 0 0 17 014 FW England 13 3 0 1 0 13 315 DF England 45 1 1 3 0 59 216 DF England 26 1 0 1 0 54 217 MF Togo 9 0 1 0 0 13 018 FW England 14 2 0 0 0 14 219 MF Bulgaria 47 2 4 9 0 112 520 MF England 36 2 1 4 0 75 321 DF England 33 0 2 2 0 33 022 GK United States 8 0 0 1 0 8 024 DF Spain 36 0 0 4 0 36 026 MF England 30 1 2 4 0 77 627 MF England 6 0 0 1 0 29 029 DF Republic of Ireland 0 0 0 0 0 0 043 DF United States Eric Lichaj 0 0 0 0 0 0 045 MF England 1 0 0 1 0 1 046 MF Scotland 2 0 0 1 0 2 047 DF England Ciaran Clark 0 0 0 0 0 0 048 DF England Nathan Baker 0 0 0 0 0 0 049 MF Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 051 MF Ireland Shane Lowry 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Last Update: End of season Data includes all competitive competitions

Reserves/Academy

No.Pos. NationalityPlayerReserve Apps Reserve GoalsAcademy Apps Academy GoalsTotal Apps Total Goals45 MF England 10 2 2 0 12 248 DF England Nathan Baker 4 0 12 0 16 046 MF Scotland 11 3 4 0 15 3– FW England 0 0 9 2 9 2– MF England Richard Blythe 1 0 16 1 17 1– MF England Daniel Bradley 0 0 6 1 6 147 DF England Ciaran Clark 12 1 9 1 21 2– FW England James Collins 10 1 22 24 32 25– GK Austria Thomas Dau 0 0 14 0 14 014 FW England 9 3 1 0 10 3* GK Northern Ireland Conor Devlin 0 0 1 0 1 0– MF England Jack Dyer 1 0 13 0 14 0– DF England Calum Flanagan 1 0 17 0 18 0 41 MF England Harry Forrester 3 0 18 5 21 5– MF England Gary Gardner 2 1 11 2 13 3– MF England Will Grocott 1 0 18 4 19 4– DF Netherlands Arsenio Halfhuid 0 0 5 0 5 0* GK Kosovo Aldi Haxhia 0 0 1 0 1 049 MF Australia 7 1 0 0 7 142 MF Austria Dominik Hofbauer 6 1 17 3 23 4– MF England Jonathan Hogg 5 3 0 0 5 3– MF England Jason Lampkin 0 0 8 0 8 043 DF United States Eric Lichaj 10 1 0 0 10 1– MF England Ben Love 0 0 5 0 5 051 DF Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry 8 1 0 0 8 1– FW Sweden 3 0 0 0 3 0– FW England Ethan Moore 0 0 1 1 1 129 DF Republic of Ireland 2 0 0 0 2 053 GK England Elliott Parish 9 0 3 0 12 0– FW England Kofi Poyser 0 0 13 4 13 4– DF Wales Tomos Roberts 0 0 12 0 12 0– DF England Matthew Roome 5 0 14 0 19 0– GK Switzerland Benjamin Siegrist 0 0 4 0 4 0– MF England Ryan Simmonds 0 0 13 0 13 0– DF England Sam Simmonds 1 0 6 0 7 0– MF Hungary András Stieber 0 0 11 4 11 4* MF Hungary 8 2 0 0 8 2– FW Austria Andreas Weimann 10 2 18 6 28 8– DF Republic of Ireland Derrick Williams 0 0 1 0 1 0– FW England 4 0 0 0 4 0 Last Update: 25 March 2009 Data includes all competitions