The 2008–09 season was APOEL's 69th season in the Cypriot First Division and 81st year in existence as a football club. The first training session for the season took take place at the training ground at GSP Stadium on 11 June 2008. APOEL left on 20 June 2008 for Obertraun in Austria to perform the main stage of their pre-season training and returned to Cyprus on 7 July 2008. The team finished 2nd in the league in the previous season so the club participated in the UEFA Cup.