Martin Jol stepped up as Ajax manager following Marco Van Basten’s resignation.
Jol’s former club Hamburg started the season at a furious pace and was favoured to win either the Bundesliga, UEFA Cup or the German Cup but in the end Werder had their number and they lost three straight times to end up empty handed. They managed 5th position, good enough to get a Europa spot but the season ended disappointingly for many fans who believed the club should have done better.