Football Season Guide

A timely change in management helped Mainz avoid a disastrous campaign as they finished well clear of the relegation zone with eight of their 11 victories coming under Achim Beierlorzer. Beierlorzer will be expected to improve on a 13th place finish from last season but has been offered very little support in the trasfer market with Luca Kilian the only major arrival so far. Dimitri Lavalee has also been signed on a free transfer from Belgian club Standard and, with Mainz having the second worst defense outside the bottom three, Beierlorzer will hope for a vastly improved performance going forward. With regards to departures, Mainz have not lost any of their first choice player barring Jeffrey Bruma who has returned back to Wolfsburg following the end of his loan spell. Gerrit Holtmann was a regular in the match squad last season but has since signed up for Bochum on a free transfer while Maxim and Aaron Seydel have also left at the end of their contracts. Ronael Pierre-Gabriel has been sent out on loan but, with Bote Baku making the rightback position his own in the second half of the season, Mainz are well-stocked in the position ahead of the new campaign. Mainz have so far held on to Jean-Philippe Mateta despite interest from other clubs and his stay will be key to their fortunes in the new season despite the attacker enduring an injury hit campaign last season.