The 2008-09 campaign delivered a competitive season for Club Brugge as Zwart, under manager Jacky Mathijssen, secured a solid 3rd-place finish in the Belgian First Division, ensuring a coveted spot in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds. The attack was anchored by the arrival of Nigerian striker Joseph Akpala, nicknamed 'Akpagoal', who netted 15 crucial league goals in his first season with the club. The team fought through the UEFA Cup qualifiers to reach the Group Stage, marking a pivotal year of transition and consolidation that kept Club Brugge firmly among the Belgian elite.