See main article: History of Aston Villa F.C. (1961–present).
| Club: | Aston Villa |
| Stadium: | Villa Park |
| Season: | 2011–12 |
| Manager: | Alex McLeish |
| Chairman: | Randy Lerner |
| League: | Premier League |
| League Result: | 16th |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Fourth round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Third round |
| League Topscorer: | Darren Bent (9) |
| Season Topscorer: | Darren Bent (10) |
| Highest Attendance: | 40,053 v Manchester United (3 December 2011) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 21,058 v Hereford United (23 August 2011) |
| Average Attendance: | 32,643 |
| Prevseason: | 2010–11 |
| Nextseason: | 2012–13 |
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The 2011–12 Premier League season was Aston Villa's 137th season in English football. It was the club's 101st season in the top-flight; and their 24th consecutive season in the top flight of English football, the Premier League. The club was managed by former Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, following Gérard Houllier's departure on 1 June 2011 after less than a year in charge. An extremely disappointing season for the club, saw them finish in 16th place and only two points off relegation. Numerous records were broken during the season including: the lowest points total in the Premier League (38 from 38 games), fewest wins in a season (7) and worst home record in Villa's 138-year history (19 points from 57 available). As well as poor performances in both domestic cups – being knocked out in the third round of the League Cup and the fourth round of the FA Cup – this season eventually culminated in the sacking of McLeish on 14 May 2012, a day after the season had concluded.[1]
As Villa finished 9th in the previous season, this term was the first since 2007–08 without the club participating in European competition. There was also no Second City derby in the Premier League as local arch-rivals Birmingham City were relegated to the Football League Championship at the end of the 2010–11 season. Derbies with Villa's other West Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers were played in the Premier League.
During the season club captain Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukaemia. The news was a shock to the Villa faithful and the footballing world alike; clubs all around the world have united donning T-shirts with Petrov's name and words of support written across them. The game on 31 March 2012 against Chelsea was the first game played since the diagnosis and fans of both teams gave him a standing ovation in the 19th minute, the significance being Petrov's squad number is 19. He was at the game with his wife and two children, and you could see the emotion of the event was getting to him as he acknowledged the fans.[2] [3]
An under-19 Aston Villa team also took part in the inaugural season of the NextGen Series, a tournament similar to the UEFA Champions League for young European footballers to compete in.[4] The team reached the Quarter-finals, before being knocked out by Marseille.[5]
Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: Genting Casinos
The home kit featured a subtle checkerboard print on the shirt and was very worn with black socks, last seen between the mid-1920s and 1957. The away kit was unsurprisingly white with claret shorts and white socks – and had the same design as the home kit. Claret and sky blue shorts/socks were worn in several away games to prevent kit mix-ups. The three goalkeeper kits were blue, black, and grey and were based on Nike's 2011 template which featured stunning details on the sleeves and the side of the shirt.
In the 2010–11 season the Premier League introduced new rules on squad lists. The rules included a cap on the number of players at 25; players under the age of 21 on 1 January of the year in which the season starts are exempt from the list of 25. A "home-grown rule" also requires clubs to name at least eight players in their squad of 25 players that have been registered domestically for a minimum of three seasons prior to their 21st birthday.[6]
Players under 21 do not need to be named and can still be used.[7]
Correct as of 12 January 2012.1
Following the exit of Ashley Young to Manchester United, Stephen Ireland was given the #7 which was held by the former winger. With Ireland having worn the #9 shirt last season, him taking the #7 allowed Darren Bent to wear the #9 this season.[8] Also, after Stewart Downing's departure to Liverpool, James Collins took over the #6 meaning his old #29 shirt could be given to January signing Enda Stevens.[9] [10]
New signings goalkeeper Shay Given and winger Charles N'Zogbia were given the #1 (vacated by the departed Brad Friedel) and #10 (vacated by the departed John Carew) shirts, respectively.
Deadline day capture Alan Hutton, took the #2 shirt left free after Luke Young's transfer to Queens Park Rangers and loan signing Jermaine Jenas had been given the #8 shirt for the season, last worn by Robert Pires. It was again vacated, however, when Jenas returned to Tottenham Hotspur in December.[11]
Young striker Graham Burke was added to the first-team squad ahead of the League Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers on 20 September, being handed the #36 shirt.[12]
January loan signing Robbie Keane was given the #20 shirt for his short spell at Villa, left vacated since Nigel Reo-Coker's summer departure[13]
Youngsters Derrick Williams, Samir Carruthers and Jack Grealish were also given squad numbers (#37, #40, #41, respectively) at different points during the season, when called up for first team action.
Aston Villa had a new club sponsor for this season, after the deal with previous partner FxPro was terminated in February 2011.[14] On 22 June 2011, Aston Villa announced via their official website that the club's new sponsor until the end of the 2012–13 season would be Malaysian-based Genting Casinos.[15]
Manager Gérard Houllier missed the final five games of Villa's 2010–11 campaign due to health issues. He had previously faced similar problems during his time at Liverpool.
On 1 June 2011, the club confirmed that Houllier had parted ways with the club by mutual consent due to the Frenchman's ill health.[16]
He was replaced by Scottish former Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish on 17 June 2011, despite protests from some Villa fans outside Villa Park.[17] [18]
Summer
| Date | Position | Player name | Previous club | League | Transfer fee | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 July 2011 | GK | Shay Given[19] | Manchester City | Premier League | £3.5m | ||
| 29 July 2011 | MF |  Charles N'Zogbia[20] | Wigan Athletic | Premier League | £9.5m | ||
| 31 August 2011 | DF | Alan Hutton[21] | Tottenham Hotspur | Premier League | £3m |
Winter
Summer
| Date | Position | Player name | New club | League | Transfer fee | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May 2011 | MF | Nigel Reo-Coker[23] | Bolton Wanderers | Premier League | Released | Joined Bolton Wanderers following release from Villa | |
| 27 May 2011 | FW | John Carew | West Ham United | Championship | Released | Joined West Ham United following release from Villa | |
| 27 May 2011 | MF | Isaiah Osbourne | Hibernian | Scottish Premier League | Released | Joined Hibernian following release from Villa | |
| 27 May 2011 | MF | Moustapha Salifou | Saarbrücken | 3. Liga | Released | Joined Saarbrücken following release from Villa | |
| 27 May 2011 | MF | Robert Pires | Unattached | Released | |||
| 27 May 2011 | MF | Harry Forrester | Brentford | League 1 | Released | Youth player; joined Brentford following release from Villa | |
| 27 May 2011 | DF/FW | Arsenio Halfhuid | HBS Craeyenhout | Topklasse Sunday | Released | Youth player; joined HBS following release from Villa | |
| 27 May 2011 | DF | Durrell Berry | Plymouth Argyle | League 2 | Released | Youth player; joined Plymouth Argyle following release from Villa | |
| 27 May 2011 | DF | Ellis Deeney | Kettering Town | Conference National | Released | Youth player; joined Kettering Town following release from Villa | |
| 27 May 2011 | DF | Calum Flanagan | Hinckley United | Conference North | Released | Youth player; joined Hinckley United following release from Villa | |
| 3 June 2011 | GK | Brad Friedel[24] | Tottenham Hotspur | Premier League | Free Transfer | ||
| 23 June 2011 | MF | Ashley Young[25] | Manchester United | Premier League | £17m | ||
| 15 July 2011 | MF | Stewart Downing[26] | Liverpool | Premier League | £20m | ||
| 27 August 2011 | MF | Jonathan Hogg[27] | Watford | Championship | Undisclosed | ||
| 27 August 2011 | DF | Luke Young[28] | Queens Park Rangers | Premier League | Undisclosed |
| Date | Position | Player name | New club | League | Transfer fee | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 January 2012 | GK | Elliot Parish[29] | Cardiff City | Championship | Undisclosed | ||
| 27 January 2012 | DF | Shane Lowry[30] | Millwall | Championship | Undisclosed | ||
| 2 February 2012 | DF | Habib Beye[31] | Doncaster Rovers | Championship | Released | Contract was cancelled by mutual consent. Joined Doncaster Rovers following release from Villa. |
Summer
Winter
Summer
| Date | Position | Player name | New club | League | Duration | Return Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 August 2011 | FW |  Andreas Weimann[35] | Watford | Championship | 1 month | 23 September 2011 | Initially a 5-month loan but Villa recalled player in late September.[36] |
| 29 August 2011 | MF |  Jean Makoun[37] | Olymipacos | Super League | Season-long | June 2012 | |
| 24 September 2011 | GK | Elliot Parish[38] | Cardiff City | Championship | 2 months | 10 November 2011 | |
Winter
| Date | Position | Player name | New club | League | Duration | Return Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 November 2011 | DF |  Habib Beye[39] | Doncaster Rovers | Championship | 2 months | January 2012 | ||
| 22 November 2011 | DF | Nathan Baker[40] | Millwall | Championship | 1 month | December 2011 | ||
| 23 November 2011 | DF |  Shane Lowry[41] | Millwall | Championship | 1 month | 2 January 2012 | ||
| 24 November 2011 | MF | Gary Gardner[42] | Coventry City | Championship | 1 month | 21 December 2012 | Initially a loan until January but Villa recalled player in late December.[43] | |
| 3 January 2012 | DF | Shane Lowry[44] | Millwall | Championship | 1 month | January 2012 | ||
| 20 January 2012 | MF | Fabian Delph[45] | Leeds United | Championship | 1 month | 20 February 2012 | ||
| 23 January 2012 | FW | Nathan Delfouneso[46] | Leicester City | Championship | 1 month | February 2012 |
See main article: 2011 Premier League Asia Trophy.
See main article: 2011–12 Premier League.
See main article: 2011-12 FA Cup.
See main article: 2011-12 Football League Cup.
| Number | Nation | Position | Name | Premier League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | Notes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=60 style="background: #B0E0E6" | Start | width=60 style="background: #EEAAEE" | Sub | width=60 style="background: #B0E0E6" | Start | width=60 style="background: #EEAAEE" | Sub | width=60 style="background: #B0E0E6" | Start | width=60 style="background: #EEAAEE" | Sub | width=60 style="background: #B0E0E6" | Start | width=60 style="background: #EEAAEE" | Sub | ||
| 1 |  | GK | Given | 32 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 33 | 0 | ||||||
| 22 |  | GK | Guzan | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 8 | 1 | ||||||
| 2 | Young | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | [47] | |||||||
| 23 | | Beye | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | [48] | [49] | |||||
| 2 | Hutton | 28 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 31 | 2 | ||||||||
| 30 | | Lichaj | 9 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 10 | 0 | |||||||
| 24 |  | Cuéllar | 17 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 18 | 1 | |||||||
| 5 | | Dunne | 28 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 31 | 0 | |||||||
| 6 | Collins | 32 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 34 | 1 | ||||||||
| 21 | | Clark | 12 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 15 | 2 | |||||||
| 32 | Baker | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | ||||||||
| 3 | Warnock | 32 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 35 | 1 | ||||||||
| 31 | | Herd | 18 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 19 | 0 | |||||||
| 19 |  | Petrov | 25 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 27 | 1 | |||||||
| 16 | Delph | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | [50] | |||||||
| 38 | Gardner | 5 | 8 | — | 2 | — | — | 5 | 11 | [51] | |||||||
| 7 | | Ireland | 17 | 5 | 2 | — | 2 | — | 21 | 5 | |||||||
| 17 | | Makoun | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | [52] | ||||||
| 25 | Bannan | 10 | 17 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 12 | 19 | ||||||||
| 8 | Jenas | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | [53] | |||||||
| 40 | | Carruthers | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 12 | Albrighton | 14 | 10 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 18 | 9 | ||||||||
| 10 | | N'Zogbia | 26 | 5 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 27 | 6 | |||||||
| 26 | | Weimann | 5 | 9 | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 10 | [54] | ||||||
| 14 | Delfouneso | 1 | 5 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | [55] | |||||||
| 18 | Heskey | 18 | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | 20 | 10 | ||||||||
| 20 | | Keane | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | [56] | ||||||
| 11 | Agbonlahor | 32 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 34 | 2 | ||||||||
| 9 | Bent | 21 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 24 | 1 | ||||||||
| width=60 | Pos. | width=60 | Playing pos. | width=60 | Nation | width=150 | Name | width=80 | Premier League | width=80 | FA Cup | width=80 | League Cup | width=80 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW | Darren Bent | 9 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||
| 2 | FW | Gabriel Agbonlahor | 5 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 3 | MF | Stiliyan Petrov | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 4 | MF | Marc Albrighton | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||
| FW | Robbie Keane | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | DF | Stephen Warnock | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| DF | Richard Dunne | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||
| DF | Ciaran Clark | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||
| DF | Eric Lichaj | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||
| MF | Charles N'Zogbia | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| FW | Andreas Weimann | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | DF | James Collins | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| MF | Stephen Ireland | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| MF | Barry Bannan | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| MF | Chris Herd | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| FW | Nathan Delfouneso | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| FW | Emile Heskey | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Total goals | 37 | 5 | 2 | 44 |
| Number | Nation | Position | Name | Premier League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=60 style="background: #FFEE99" | width=60 style="background: #FF8888" | width=60 style="background: #FFEE99" | width=60 style="background: #FF8888" | width=60 style="background: #FFEE99" | width=60 style="background: #FF8888" | width=60 style="background: #FFEE99" | width=60 style="background: #FF8888" | ||||||||
| 5 | DF | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||||||
| 6 | DF | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||||||
| 19 | MF | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||||||
| 2 | DF | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||||||
| 3 | DF | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||||
| 11 | FW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||||
| 30 | | DF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 10 | | MF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 21 | DF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| 12 | MF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| 16 | MF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| 25 | MF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| 18 | FW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| 24 | | DF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 7 | MF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| 31 | | MF | Chris Herd[57] | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1[58] | ||||
| 1 | GK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 38 | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 40 | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 9 | FW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 26 | | FW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| TOTALS | 70[59] | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 74 | 1 | |||||||
| width=100 | Comp | width=80 | Week/Round | width=120 | Date | width=60 | Score | width=250 class="unsortable" | Opponent | width=150 | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Wk 2 | 20 August 2011 | 3–1 | 32,319 | |||||||
| League Cup | Rd 2 | 23 August 2011 | 2–0 | 21,058 | |||||||
| Premier League | Wk 3 | 27 August 2011 | 0–0 | 30,776 | |||||||
| Premier League | Wk 5 | 17 September 2011 | 1–1 | 34,248 | |||||||
| League Cup | Rd 3 | 20 September 2011 | 0–2 | 22,261 | |||||||
| Premier League | Wk 7 | 1 October 2011 | 2–0 | Wigan Athletic | 30,744 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 9 | 22 October 2011 | 1–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 34,152 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 11 | 5 November 2011 | 3–2 | Norwich City | 35,290 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 14 | 3 December 2011 | 0–1 | Manchester United | 40,053 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 16 | 18 December 2011 | 0–2 | Liverpool | 37,460 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 17 | 21 December 2011 | 1–2 | Arsenal | 35,818 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 20 | 2 January 2012 | 0–2 | Swansea City | 35,642 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 21 | 14 January 2012 | 1–1 | Everton | 31,853 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 23 | 1 February 2012 | 2–2 | Queens Park Rangers | 32,063 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 25 | 12 February 2012 | 0–1 | Manchester City | 35,132 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 28 | 10 March 2012 | 1–0 | Fulham | 32,372 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 30 | 31 March 2012 | 2–4 | Chelsea | 34,740 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 32 | 9 April 2012 | 1–1 | Stoke City | 30,100 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 34 | 21 April 2012 | 0–0 | Sunderland | 32,557 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 35 | 24 April 2012 | 1–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 32,263 | ||||||
| Premier League | Wk 37 | 6 May 2012 | 1–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 36,008 | ||||||
| Total attendance | 686,099 | ||||||||||
| Average league attendance | 33,873[60] | ||||||||||
| Average attendance | 32,643 |