Last Season: 9th
Coach: Bo Svensson
Squad Valuation: €120.95m
Stadium: Mewa Arena (33,305)
The fact that Mainz were disappointed not to have qualified for the Conference League tells you a lot about the season they had last time out. There was no dalliance with the relegation scrap for the Nullfünfer as they involved themselves in the fight for a top seven finish. A late season collapse however saw their ambitions thwarted, but Bo Svensson will be looking to launch another successful season in a couple of weeks.
Mainz have finished eighth and ninth in past two seasons under Svensson so another top ten finish would be seen as success. The Dane however is ambitious and he will have his sights set even higher, despite Mainz largely punching above their weight.
The summer has seen two arrivals, who look ideal for the club. Midfielder Tom Krauß was probably the stand-out player for Schalke last season. His contribution to the fight against relegation was in vain, but it did attract a host of admirers with Mainz persuading him to join their project. Young Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg also spent last season on loan at Schalke, but saw his season disrupted by injury. When fit however, he showed plenty of talent and potential and Liverpool have loaned him out for a second season in the Bundesliga so that he can gain more experience.
The winter arrivals last season were a great success with defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen and striker Ludovic Ajorque instantly becoming key first-teamers. The spine of the side remains intact with Robin Zentner and Stefan Bell at the back, Silvan Widmer, Anton Stach and Jae-Sung Lee in the midfield and Karim Onisiwo up front. The club have plenty of young players coming through with the U-19 being crowned champions last season.
Major signings: Tom Krauß (Schalke), Sepp van den Berg (Liverpool loan)
Major departures: Angelo Fulgini (Lens), Marcus Ingvartsen (Nordsjaelland),, Marlon Mustapha (Como), Aaron Martin (Genoa), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg)
Possible line-up:
Youngster to watch: Nelson Weiper
In 18-year-old striker Nelson Weiper Mainz have one of the most highly-rated young talents in the country and after making a scoring debut last season, he’ll be looking to kick on this season. He made nine brief substitute appearances last season and grabbed two goals (v Mönchengladbach and Werder)and helped fire the U-19 to the league title. The Mainz-born teenager will have to compete with Ajorque and Onisiwo for a place up front, but expect him to grab his chances when they come.
