2008 in association football

The following are the association football events of the year 2008 throughout the world.

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.

Men

 * 20 January – 10 February: 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in 🇬🇭
 * : 🇪🇬 egypt
 * : 🇨🇲 cameroon
 * : 🇬🇭 ghana
 * 4th: 🇨🇮 côte d'ivoire
 * 17 – 23 February: Men's East Asian Cup 2008 final in Chongqing, 🇨🇳
 * : 🇰🇷 south korea
 * : 🇯🇵 japan
 * : 🇨🇳 china
 * 4th: 🇰🇵 north korea
 * 11 – 23 March: 2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament in Nashville, 🇺🇸
 * : 🇺🇸 united states
 * : 🇨🇦 canada
 * 4th:
 * 4 – 16 May: 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship in 🇹🇷
 * : 🇪🇸 spain
 * : 🇫🇷 france
 * : 🇹🇷 turkey and
 * 7 – 29 June: UEFA Euro 2008 in 🇦🇹 and
 * : 🇪🇸 spain
 * : 🇩🇪 germany
 * : 🇹🇷 turkey and 🇷🇺 russia
 * 30 May – 1 June: Baltic Cup in Riga,
 * : 🇱🇹 lithuania
 * : 🇪🇪 estonia
 * 3 – 14 June: 2008 SAFF Championship in 🇲🇻 and
 * : 🇲🇻 maldives
 * : 🇮🇳 india
 * 30 July – 13 August: AFC Challenge Cup, 🇮🇳
 * : 🇮🇳 india
 * : 🇹🇯 tajikistan
 * : 🇰🇵 north korea
 * 4th: 🇲🇲 myanmar
 * 7 – 23 August: 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament in Beijing, 🇨🇳
 * : 🇦🇷 argentina
 * : 🇳🇬 nigeria
 * : 🇧🇷 brazil
 * 5 – 28 December: 2008 AFF Championship in and 🇹🇭
 * : 🇹🇭 thailand
 * : 🇮🇩 indonesia,
 * : 🇹🇭 thailand
 * : 🇮🇩 indonesia,
 * : 🇮🇩 indonesia,

Women

 * 18 – 24 February: Women's East Asian Cup 2008 final in Chongqing, 🇨🇳
 * 4th:
 * 5 – 12 March: 2008 Algarve Cup in Algarve,
 * 4th:
 * 6 – 21 August: 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament in Beijing, 🇨🇳
 * : 🇺🇸 united states
 * : 🇧🇷 brazil
 * : 🇩🇪 germany
 * 30 October – 16 November: 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 🇳🇿
 * 4th:
 * 20 November – 7 December: 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in
 * 4th:
 * : 🇧🇷 brazil
 * : 🇩🇪 germany
 * 30 October – 16 November: 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 🇳🇿
 * 4th:
 * 20 November – 7 December: 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in
 * 4th:
 * 4th:
 * 20 November – 7 December: 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in
 * 4th:
 * 4th:
 * 4th:
 * 4th:

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
( A = Apertura, C= Clausura )
 * 🇦🇷 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

CONCACAF nations
( A = Apertura, C= Clausura )
 * 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

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

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
 * 4 March – Jocelyne Henry (54), French 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