The 2008-09 campaign delivered a spectacular resurgence for Toulouse, as Les Pitchouns surged to a magnificent 4th-place finish in Ligue 1. This strong position secured a coveted spot in the new Europa League, a significant achievement under manager Alain Casanova. Leading the charge was the sensational centre-forward André-Pierre Gignac, whose phenomenal 24 goals earned him the league's top scorer award and proved decisive in a campaign built on thrilling attacking football. It was a standout year that marked Gignac's emergence as a top-flight star, earning him a national team call-up, and remains a defining chapter in the club's modern history of returning to European competition.