The 2009-10 campaign was a glorious return to form for Werder Bremen as Die Werderaner surged to a crucial 3rd-place finish in the Bundesliga, securing a coveted spot in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. The legendary Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro, freshly signed permanently, led the line with 16 Bundesliga goals and was the joint top scorer of the inaugural UEFA Europa League with nine. This successful season was also defined by the spectacular emergence of the young midfield maestro Mesut Özil, who had a breakout year as the team's chief architect, providing a league-leading 16 assists and driving the team to the DFB-Pokal Final.