The 2008–09 season saw Dynamo Dresden return to national football, in the inaugural season of the 3. Liga. A new coach was appointed, veteran Eduard Geyer was replaced by Ruud Kaiser. The squad saw many changes too, with several experienced players leaving or retiring and a number of new players brought on. Dynamo's reserve team had a very successful season. Coached by Dynamo's former Bundesliga player Matthias Maucksch, they won the Landesliga Sachsen (and promotion to the NOFV-Oberliga Süd and the Saxony Cup, a competition which the first-team were eliminated from in the first round.