The 2008-09 campaign delivered a tense, dramatic fight for survival for Borussia Mönchengladbach, with Die Fohlen successfully securing a crucial 15th-place finish in their first season back in the Bundesliga. The campaign was defined by managerial turmoil which saw Jos Luhukay sacked, before the veteran coach Hans Meyer returned to ultimately steer the club to safety, avoiding the relegation play-offs by a single point on the final day. Leading the line with his characteristic drive was the Canadian striker Rob Friend, whose 7 goals proved vital in the desperate battle against the drop. It was a nervy, unforgettable year built on grit and the experience of players like Meyer and Oliver Neuville, marking a pivotal chapter in the club's hard-fought re-establishment in the German top flight.