Original Diadora football shirt Valenciennes FC 2008/09

The offseason 2008 is marked by a significant renewal of the workforce. VAFC lost goal scorer Steve Savidan and captain Abdeslam Ouaddou. The transfer window is marked by an important exchange of players with RC Lens, which has just descended in Ligue 2.

On August 20, during a training session David Sommeil suffered a heart attack that would put an end to his football career.

The sports results are not good (no victory from 4th to 18th day) and the club points to a disturbing last place on the evening of 17th day. In the fall, under the pressure of results Francis Decourrière created a sports director position, reducing the field of intervention of Antoine Kombouaré, to whom he nonetheless renewed his confidence. This post will only be occupied during the following season and will be entrusted to Henri Zambelli.

The arrival of Jean-Claude Darcheville during the winter transfer window is good for the team. She started to get better results and ended up saving her place in Ligue 1 by finishing at an honorable 12th place.