A timely change on the touchline helped Mainz secure their Bundesliga status for another season after spending much of the campaign stuck in the bottom three of the league table.
The season got off to the worst possible start for Mainz who losing their opening six games to quickly drop into the relegation zone and despite a brief revival in form that followed Achim Beierlorzer's sacking and Jan-Moritz Lichte's appointment as the interim coach, relegation looked a certainty for the club.
However, Bo Svensson's appointment as the permanent successor at the start of the year proved to be the turning point as the former Mainz player steadied the ship and helped them hit an excellent run of form that saw them lose just once between February and May that pulled them out of the bottom three, ensuring a comfortable finish to the campaign.
There were no stand out performers for Mainz who relied on a solid defense at the back that proved to be crucial in their push towards safety. Stefan Bell missed the first half of the season but was the most consistent performer since the turn of the year and along with St Juste and Niakhate provided a solid foundation for the team to build on.
Mainz will need to resolve their attacking problems though, with Robin Quaison ending the campaign as the top scorer with just six goals, and the club will need to bring in a reliable striker if they are to ensure a far more comfortable campaign next season.
