Football Season Guide

Mainz will be hoping that a change in coach will not have any impact on their upward trend in the Bundesliga over the last few seasons as they look to begin life under Kasper Hjulmand on a positive note. Mainz enjoyed a fairly successful period under Thomas Tuchel, who has turned the club into genuine European challengers. Having enjoyed a successful season last time around, Tuchel confirmed that he was leaving the club at the end of the season and Mainz acted quickly to replace him with FC Nordsjaelland coach Kasper Hjulmand. Changes have happened on the field as well with Mainz spending a busy summer following a number of high profile departures. Nicolai Muller enjoyed an excellent season for Mainz but has since departed to Hamburger SV while Shawn Parker and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting have also left the club. Bo Svensson has retired from football while the club decided not to renew contracts of Zdenek Pospech, Malik Fathi, Christian Wetklo and Dario Kresic. Stefanos Kapino has been signed from Panathinaikos but Loris Karius is expected to remain the first choice keeper, at least in the opening months of the season. Gonzalo Jara has been signed on a free transfer from Nottingham Forest and the Chilean defender will be competing against another new arrival in Daniel Brosinski for the right back position while Filip Djuricic has been signed on loan from Galatasaray to provide some creativity up front. Mainz had a successful pre-season but have since been knocked out of the Europa League by Greek side Asteras Tripolis. With just the domestic campaign to focus on, Hjulmand will be optimistic that his side can once again challenge for a Europa League spot, though a top half finish looks to be a more realistic possibility