The 2009-10 campaign saw Die Geißböcke stabilize their position in the Bundesliga under the guidance of new manager Zvonimir Soldo, ultimately securing a safe 13th-place finish in a year of consolidation. The season was defined by the emotional return of club hero Lukas Podolski and a decent run to the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals. Spearheading the attack was the powerful Slovenian striker Milivoje Novaković, whose 6 goals helped anchor the offense in a transitional year for the Billy Goats. Despite Novaković being stripped of the captaincy mid-season due to a dispute with Soldo, the club achieved its primary objective of top-flight survival, setting the stage for future growth.