2008 in association football
In this article, we will explore the impact that 2008 in association football has had in different areas of society. 2008 in association football is a topic of great relevance today, which has captured the attention of academics, experts and public opinion in general. Throughout history, 2008 in association football has played a pivotal role in shaping our lives and the way we see the world around us. Through detailed analysis, we will examine how 2008 in association football has influenced culture, politics, economics, and other aspects of society, as well as the implications this has had for the future. By exploring different perspectives and evidence, we hope to shed light on this relevant topic and encourage critical reflection on its present and future impact.
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The following are the association football events of the year 2008 throughout the world.
News
January
- 3 – Argentine midfielder Éver Banega leaves Boca Juniors and joins the Spanish club Valencia for an estimated fee of €18 million.
- 5 – Everton are knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Oldham Athletic, a team from Football League One (third division) as Huddersfield Town from the same division beat Birmingham City.
- 6 – Toulouse are eliminated from the Coupe de France by Paris FC, a team from the Championnat National (third division).
- 9 – Sam Allardyce leaves the manager's position at Newcastle United by mutual agreement.
- 11 – Jürgen Klinsmann is unveiled as the new coach of Bayern Munich, effective July.
- 20 – The Africa Cup of Nations begins in Ghana with the hosts beating Guinea 2–1.
- 23 – Tottenham Hotspur defeat Arsenal 5–1 in the semi-final second-leg of the League Cup. This was the first time they had beaten their local rivals since 1999.
- 24 – George Burley is announced as the new coach of the Scotland national football team.
- 28 – Mohamed Sissoko leaves Liverpool to sign for Juventus, costing the Italian team €13 million.
February
- 2 – Frédéric Kanouté is named 2007 African Footballer of the Year
- 4 – Víctor Muñoz is sacked from the managers job of Spanish team Recreativo Huelva; Manolo Zambrano is immediately installed as the new coach of the La Liga team.
- 10 – Egypt win the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Cameroon in the final 1–0.
- 13 – Giovanni Trapattoni is announced as the new coach of the Republic of Ireland. He will officially take up this role in May.
- 23 – South Korean men's team won East Asian Cup 2008.
- 23 – Japanese J. League Cup winner Gamba Osaka defeated MLS champion Houston Dynamo at the final game of Pan-Pacific Championship 2008 by 6–1, won the champion title of inaugural tournament. The Los Angeles Galaxy won the third place match against Sydney FC from A-league by 2–1.
- 24 – Japan won the Women's East Asian Cup 2008 with three straight wins over South Korea, North Korea, and China.
- 24 – Tottenham Hotspur win the Football League Cup after beating Chelsea 2–1 after extra time at Wembley Stadium.
- 24 – Newcastle Jets win the Hyundai A-League Grand Final by defeating the Central Coast Mariners by 1–0 at the Sydney Football Stadium.
March
- 11 – Newport County win the FAW Premier Cup beating Llanelli 1–0 in the final.
- 12 – The United States women's national soccer team wins the 2008 Algarve Cup for the sixth time, beating Denmark 2–1 in the final.
- 16 – Rangers win the Scottish League Cup by beating Dundee United 3–2 in a penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw at Hampden Park.
May
- 5 – Real Madrid wins the 31st La Liga title after beating Osasuna 2–1.
- 8 – Announced that Frank Rijkaard would leave his managerial post at Barcelona at the end of the season, to be replaced by Barcelona B coach Pep Guardiola.
- 11 – Manchester United wins its tenth Premier League title after beating Wigan Athletic 2–0 away.
- 17 – Portsmouth wins the 127th FA Cup after beating Cardiff City 1–0 at Wembley Stadium
- 21 – Manchester United won the UEFA Champions League after beating Chelsea 6–5 on penalties after a 1–1 draw after 90 minutes in Moscow
- 22 – Celtic win the SPL title for the third successive season by three points from Rangers on the final day.
- 24 – Avram Grant is sacked as Chelsea manager after just eight months in charge of the Premier League club.
June
- 2 – José Mourinho replaces Roberto Mancini as manager of Inter Milan
- 25 – LDU Quito won the first leg of the Copa Libertadores final beating Fluminense 4–2.
- 29 – Spain wins UEFA Euro 2008 after beating Germany 1–0 in the final.
July
- 1 – Luiz Felipe Scolari becomes the new manager of Chelsea.
- 2 – LDU Quito wins the Copa Libertadores beating Fluminense in penalties 3–1 after a 5–5 aggregate draw.
August
- 8 – Scottish Premier League team Gretna are formally liquidated.
- 21 – United States women's team win gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- 23 – Argentina's men's team win gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics
September
- 1 – Manchester City sign Robinho from Real Madrid for a British record fee of £32.5 million
- 1 – Manchester United sign Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur for £30.75 million.
- 4 – Kevin Keegan resigns as manager of Newcastle United.
International tournaments
Men
- 20 January – 10 February: 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in
Ghana
: 
Egypt
: 
Cameroon
: Ghana- 4th:
Ivory Coast
- 17 – 23 February: Men's East Asian Cup 2008 final in Chongqing,
China
- :
South Korea - :
Japan - : China
- 4th:
North Korea
- 11 – 23 March: 2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament in Nashville,
United States
- :
Honduras - :
United States - :
Canada - 4th:
Guatemala
- 4 – 16 May: 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship in
Turkey
- :
Spain - :
France - : Turkey and
Netherlands
- 7 – 29 June: UEFA Euro 2008 in
Austria and 
Switzerland
- 30 May – 1 June: Baltic Cup in Riga,
Latvia
- 3 – 14 June: 2008 SAFF Championship in
Maldives and 
Sri Lanka
- 30 July – 13 August: AFC Challenge Cup,
India
- : India
- :
Tajikistan - : North Korea
- 4th:
Myanmar
- 7 – 23 August: 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament in Beijing, China
- 5 – 28 December: 2008 AFF Championship in
Indonesia and 
Thailand
Women
- 18 – 24 February: Women's East Asian Cup 2008 final in Chongqing, China
- : Japan
- : North Korea
- : China
- 4th: South Korea
- 5 – 12 March: 2008 Algarve Cup in Algarve,
Portugal
- : United States
- :
Denmark - :
Norway - 4th:
Germany
- 6 – 21 August: 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament in Beijing, China
- : United States
- :
Brazil - : Germany
- 30 October – 16 November: 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in
New Zealand
- : North Korea
- : United States
- : Germany
- 4th:
England
- 20 November – 7 December: 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in
Chile
- : United States
- : North Korea
- : Germany
- 4th: France
National champions
AFC nations
A-League: Newcastle Jets
Bahraini Premier League: Muharraq Club- Chinese Super League: Shandong Luneng
Hong Kong First Division League: South China- I-League: Dempo SC
- Liga Indonesia Premier Division: Sriwijaya
Persian Gulf Cup: Persepolis F.C.- J. League: Kashima Antlers
- K-League: Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Lebanese Premier League: Al Ahed
Saudi Premier League: Al-Hilal
Filipino Premier League: Philippine Army F.C.
Malaysian Super League: Kedah FA
Qatar Stars League: Al-Gharafa Sports Club
S-League: Singapore Armed Forces Football Club- Thailand Premier League: Provincial Electricity Authority FC
Turkmenistan Higher League: FC Aşgabat
Enterprise Football League: Taipower
UAE Football League: Al-Shabab
Uzbek League: Bunyodkor
V-League: Becamex Bình Dương
UEFA nations
Albanian Superliga: Dinamo Tirana
Campionat de Lliga: Santa Coloma
Armenian Premier League: Pyunik- Austrian Bundesliga: Rapid Wien
Azerbaijan Premier League: Inter Baku
Belarusian Premier League: BATE Borisov
Belgian Pro League: Standard Liège
Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Modriča
Bulgarian A PFG: CSKA Sofia
Prva HNL: Dinamo Zagreb
Cypriot First Division: Anorthosis Famagusta
Gambrinus Liga: Slavia Prague- Danish Superliga: Aalborg BK
- Premier League: Manchester United
Meistriliiga: Levadia Tallinn
Formuladeildin: EB/Streymur
Veikkausliiga: Inter Turku- Ligue 1: Lyon
Umaglesi Liga: Dinamo Tbilisi- Bundesliga: Bayern Munich
Superleague Greece: Olympiacos
Hungarian National Championship I: MTK Budapest
Úrvalsdeild: FH Hafnarfjörður
League of Ireland Premier Division: Bohemian
Ligat ha'Al: Beitar Jerusalem
Serie A: Inter Milan
Kazakhstan Premier League: Aktobe- Latvian Higher League: Ventspils
A Lyga: Ekranas
Luxembourg National Division: F91 Dudelange
Macedonian Prva Liga: Rabotnički
Maltese Premier League: Valletta
Moldovan National Division: Sheriff Tiraspol
Montenegrin First League: Budućnost Podgorica- Eredivisie: PSV
Irish Premier League: Linfield- Norwegian Premier League: Stabæk
Ekstraklasa: Wisła Kraków- Primeira Liga: Porto
Liga I: CFR Cluj
Russian Premier League: Rubin Kazan
Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio: Murata
Scottish Premier League: Celtic
Serbian Superliga: Partizan
Slovak Superliga: Artmedia Bratislava
Slovenian PrvaLiga: NK Domžale- La Liga: Real Madrid
Allsvenskan: Kalmar
Swiss Super League: Basel- Süper Lig: Galatasaray
Ukrainian Premier League: Shakhtar Donetsk
Welsh Premier League: Llanelli
CAF nations
Algerian Championnat National: JS Kabylie
Girabola: Petro Atlético Luanda
Mascom Premier League: Centre Chiefs
Burkinabé Premier League: Etoile Filante Ouagadougou
Burundi Premier League: Inter Star- MTN Elite one: Cotonsport Garoua
Cape Verdean football Championships: Sporting Clube da Praia
Chad Premier League: Elect Sport N'Djamena
Comoros Premier League: Etoile d'Or
Congo Premier League: CARA Brazzaville
Linafoot: DC Motema Pembe- Côte d'Ivoire Premier Division: Africa Sports National
Djibouti Premier League: Société Immobilière de Djibouti- Egyptian Premier League: Al-Ahly
Eritrean Premier League: Asmara Brewery
Ethiopian Premier League: Saint-George SA
Gabon Championnat National D1: AS Mangasport
Gambian Championnat National D1: Wallidan- OneTouch Premier League: Asante Kotoko
Guinée Championnat National: Fello Star
Campeonato Nacional da Guiné-Bissau: Sporting Clube de Batafá
Kenyan Premier League: Mathare United
Lesotho Premier League: Lesotho Correctional Services
Liberian Premier League: Black Star
Libyan Premier League: Al Ittihad
THB Champions League: Académie Ny Antsika
Malawi Premier Division: Silver Strikers
Malien Première Division: Djoliba
Mauritanean Premier League: ASAC Concorde
Mauritian League: Curepipe Starlight
Botola: FAR Rabat
Moçambola: Ferroviario de Maputo
Namibia Premier League: Orlando Pirates Windhoek
Niger Premier League: AS Police
Nigerian Premier League: Kano Pillars- Réunion Premier League: JS Saint-Pierroise
Rwandan Premier League: ATRACO
Senegal Premier League: AS Douanes
Seychelles League: Saint-Michel United
Sierra Leone National Premier League: Ports Authority F.C.
Somalia League: Elman FC
Premier Soccer League: SuperSport United
Sudan Premier League: Al-Merrikh
Swazi Premier League: Royal Leopards
Tanzanian Premier League: Young Africans
Tunisian CLP-1: Club Africain
Ugandan Super League: Kampala City Council
Zambian Premier League: ZESCO United
Zanzibar Premier League: Miembeni
Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League: Monomotapa United
CONMEBOL nations
Primera División Argentina: River Plate (C) / Boca Juniors (A)
Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano: Universitario (A) / Aurura (C)- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: São Paulo
- Primera División de Chile: Everton (A) / Colo-Colo (C)
Colombian Professional Football: Boyacá Chicó (A) / América de Cali (C)
Serie A de Ecuador: Deportivo Quito
Primera División de Paraguay: Libertad (A) (C)
Primera División Peruana: U. San Martín
Primera División Uruguaya: Defensor Sporting
Primera División Venezolana: Deportivo Táchira
(A = Apertura, C= Clausura)
CONCACAF nations
BFA Senior League: IM Bears
Digicel Premiere League: Notre Date Sports Club
Belize Premier Football League: Hankook Verdes
Bermudian Premier Division: PHC Zebras
British Virgin Islands Championship: Islanders- Canadian Soccer League: Trois-Rivières Attak
Cayman Islands League: Scholars International
Primera División de Costa Rica: Saprissa (A) (C)
Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba: Cienfuegos
Dominica Championship: Centre Bath Estate
Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador: Firpo (C) / Isidro Metapán (A)- Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala: Comunicaciones (C) (A)
Grenada League: Carib Hurricane
Ligue Haïtienne: Racing Gonaïves (C) / Tempête (A)- Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras: Marathón (C) / Olimpia (A)
National Premier League: Portmore United
Primera División de México: Santos Laguna (C) / Toluca (A)
Nevis Premier Division: SL Horsford Highlights
Primera División de Nicaragua: Real Estelí
Liga Panameña de Fútbol: Árabe Unido (C) / San Francisco (A)
Puerto Rico Soccer League: Sevilla
Saint Kitts Premier Division: Newtown United
Saint Lucia Premier Division: Aux Lyons United
NLA Premier League: Avenues United
Sint Maarten League: D&P Connection
Surinamese Hoofdklasse: Inter Moengotapoe
TT Pro League: San Juan Jabloteh
MFL League: Beaches- Major League Soccer: Columbus Crew
US Virgin Islands Championship: Positive Vibes
(A = Apertura, C= Clausura)
OFC nations
Football Federation American Samoa Soccer League: Pago Youth
Cook Islands Round Cup: Nikao Sokattack
Fijian National Football League: Ba
FSMFA Top League: Yap
Kiribati National Championship: competition canceled
New Caledonia Division Honneur: AS Magenta- ASB Premiership: Waitakere United
Niue Soccer Tournament: Talava
Norfolk Island Soccer League: unknown
Palau Soccer League: Surangel & Sons Company
Papua New Guinea National Soccer League: PRK Hekari United
Samoa National League: Sinamoga
Solomon Islands National Club Championship: Koloale
Tahiti Division Fédérale: AS Manu-Ura
Tonga Major League: Lotoha'apai
Tuvalu A-Division: Nauti
Vanuatu Premia Divisen: Tafea
Deaths
|
January
- 1 January – Božidar Sandić (85), Serbian footballer, Yugoslavia international
- 4 January – Vyacheslav Ambartsumyan (67), Russian footballer, Soviet Union international
- 4 January – Bjørn Odmar Andersen (64), Norwegian international footballer and manager
- 5 January – Louis Hon (83), French international footballer
- 9 January – Paul Aimson (64), English footballer
- 11 January – Frank Loughran (77), Australian international footballer
- 12 January – Leszek Jezierski (78), Polish footballer and manager
- 13 January – Seyran Osipov (46), Russian footballer
- 14 January – Kaj Christiansen (86), Danish international footballer and manager
- 14 January – Johnny Steele (91), English footballer and manager
- 18 January – Wally Fielding (88), English footballer
- 21 January – Billy Elliott (82), English international footballer
- 24 January – Jorge Recio (66), Argentine international footballer
- 26 January – Celestino Celio (82), Italian international footballer and manager
- 27 January – Bengt Lindskog (74), Swedish international footballer
- 28 January – Eleuterio Santos (67), Spanish international footballer
February
- 1 February – Władysław Kawula (70), Polish footballer
- 2 February – Yiu Cheuk Yin (80), Hong Kong footballer
- 9 February – Guy Tchingoma (22), Gabonese footballer
- 10 February – Ove Jørstad (37), Norwegian footballer
- 12 February – Jean Prouff (88), French footballer and manager
- 12 February – Thomas Grosser (42), German footballer
- 14 February – Len Boyd (84), English footballer
- 15 February – Inge Thun (62), Norwegian footballer
- 17 February – Brian Harris (72), English footballer and manager
- 21 February – Emmanuel Sanon (56), Haitian footballer
March
- 2 March – Carl Hoddle (40), English footballer
- 5 March – Derek Dooley (78), English footballer and manager
- 25 March – Thierry Gilardi (49), French commentator
April
- 3 April – Hrvoje Ćustić (24), Croatian footballer
- 5 April – Wang Donglei (23), Chinese footballer
- 18 April – Erminio Favalli (64), Italian footballer
- 19 April – Constant Vanden Stock (93), Belgian footballer, manager, and executive
May
- 8 May – François Sterchele (26), Belgian footballer
- 10 May – Eusebio Ríos (73), Spanish footballer and manager
- 15 May – Tommy Burns (51), Scottish former footballer and manager
- 23 May – Heinrich Kwiatkowski (81), German footballer
June
- 6 June – Victor Wégria (71), Belgian footballer
- 11 June – Adam Ledwoń (34), Polish footballer
- 22 June – Ron Stitfall (82), Welsh footballer
July
- 13 July – Rudolf Nafziger (62), German footballer
- 15 July – Gionata Mingozzi (23), Italian footballer
- 18 July – George Niven (79), Scottish footballer
August
- 3 August – Anton Allemann (72), Swiss footballer
September
- 3 September – Joan Segarra (80), Spanish defender
- 4 September – Tommy Johnston (81), Scottish footballer
- 25 September – Jimmy Sirrel (86), Scottish football player and manager
October
- October 8 - Chicão, Brazilian midfielder, semi-finalist at the 1978 FIFA World Cup. (59)
- October 21 - George Edwards (87), Welsh footballer
- October 25 - Ian McColl (81), Scottish football player and manager
November
- 1 November – Dermot Curtis (76), Irish football player and manager
- 17 November – Peter Aldis (81), English footballer
- 27 November – Gil Heron (87), Jamaican footballer
December
- 8 December – John Cumming (78), Scottish footballer
- 9 December – Dražan Jerković (72), Croatian football player and manager
- 9 December – Ibrahim Dossey (36), Ghanaian footballer
- 12 December – Maksym Pashayev (20), Ukrainian footballer
References
- ^ "Liquidation signals the final nail in Gretna coffin". The Cumberland News. 2008-08-08. Archived from the original on 2009-03-14. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
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