2011–12 Ligue 1 Explained
The 2011–12 Ligue 1 season was the 74th since its establishment.[6] Lille were the defending champions. The league schedule was announced on 31 March 2011 and the fixtures were determined on 10 June.[7] [8] The season began on 6 August 2011 and ended on 20 May 2012.[9] The winter break was in effect from 22 December 2011 to 14 January 2012.[10]
On 20 May 2012, the final day of the league season, Montpellier clinched its first-ever league title after defeating Auxerre 2–1 at the Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps.[11] Montpellier was the fifth different club to win Ligue 1 since the 2006–07 season and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history. Paris Saint-Germain and Lille were the country's other Champions League participants, while Lyon, Bordeaux, and Marseille represented France in the UEFA Europa League. Lyon did not participate in UEFA's top football club competition for the first time in 12 years.
Auxerre, Dijon, and Caen were relegated to Ligue 2.[12] Auxerre returned to the second division after 32 consecutive years playing in Ligue 1.[13] Prior to the 2011–12 season, the club had never suffered relegation from the country's top division. Dijon returned to the second division after only one season in Ligue 1, while Caen fell to the second tier after two years in the first division.
Teams
There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated from Ligue 1 following the 2010–11 season. A total of 20 teams competed in the league with three clubs suffering relegation to the second division, Ligue 2. All clubs that secured Ligue 1 status for the season were subject to approval by the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate.[14]
Arles-Avignon was the first club to suffer relegation from the first division to Ligue 2. The club's impending drop occurred on 17 April 2011 following the team's 2–0 defeat to AS Monaco. The negative result made it mathematically impossible for Arles to seize the 17th position in the table, which would have allowed the club to remain in Ligue 1. Arles-Avignon made its return to Ligue 2 after only a year's spell in the top division of French football.[15] On 15 May, Lens were relegated from the first division to Ligue 2 after its 1–1 draw with Monaco. Lens returned to Ligue 2 for the first time since the 2008–09 season when the club finished as champions of the league.[16] On the final day of the Ligue 1 season, Monaco suffered relegation to the second division after losing 2–0 to Lyon. The club's appearance in Ligue 2 was its first since 1976.[17]
Evian became the first club from Ligue 2 to achieve promotion to Ligue 1 after its 2–1 victory over Reims on 20 May 2011.[18] Evian made its debut in the first division and, similar to Arles-Avignon the previous season, the club's ascension to the first division is notable due in part to the fact that it has achieved successive promotions in four straight seasons. On the final day of the Ligue 2 season, both Dijon and Ajaccio earned berths in the first division after posting positive results in their respective matches.[19] Dijon was promoted despite losing on the match day and, similar to Évian, made its debut in the top division of French football. Ajaccio returned to Ligue 1 after five seasons in the second division.
Stadia and locations
| Club | Location | Venue | Capacity | Average Attendance |
|---|
| Ajaccio | Stade François Coty | 10,660 | 6,338 |
| Auxerre | Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps | 24,493 | 11,879 |
| Bordeaux | Stade Chaban-Delmas | 34,462 | 20,712 |
| Brest | Stade Francis-Le Blé | 16,000 | 13,542 |
| Caen | Stade Michel d'Ornano | 21,500 | 15,280 |
| Dijon | Stade Gaston Gérard | 15,998 | 13,597 |
| Annecy | Parc des Sports | 15,600 | 11,855 |
| | Stadium Nord Lille Métropole | 18,185 | 16,969 |
| Lorient | Stade du Moustoir | 18,890 | 15,594 |
| Lyon | Stade de Gerland | 41,842 | 33,108 |
| Marseille | Stade Vélodrome1 | 42,000 | 40,455 |
| Montpellier | Stade de la Mosson | 32,900 | 17,492 |
| Tomblaine | Stade Marcel Picot | 20,085 | 15,328 |
| Nice | Stade du Ray | 17,415 | 9,133 |
| Paris | Parc des Princes | 48,712 | 42,892 |
| Rennes | Stade de la Route de Lorient | 31,127 | 20,725 |
| Saint-Étienne | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard2 | 26,747 | 21,409 |
| Montbéliard | Stade Auguste Bonal | 20,005 | 13,826 |
| Toulouse | Stadium Municipal | 35,470 | 22,033 |
| Valenciennes | Stade du Hainaut | 25,000 | 15,226 |
|
Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt sponsors (front) | Shirt sponsors (back) | Shirt sponsors (sleeve) | Shorts sponsors |
|---|
| Ajaccio |  | | Duarig | Restaurants du Cœur, Collectivité Territoriale de Corse, Conseil Général Corse du Sud | Europcar | Géant Casino | Mocchi Travaux Publics |
| Auxerre | | | Airness | Maisons Pierre, Conseil général de l'Yonne | Groupama | Conseil général de l'Yonne | Besson Chaussures |
| Bordeaux | |  | Puma | Kia | Groupama | Pichet Immobilier | Cdiscount |
| Brest | (interim) | | Nike | Quéguiner Matériaux (H)/Yaourt Malo (A & 3)/La Potagère (A & 3), Geodis Calberson, Breizh Cola | Casino Supermarchés | GUYOT Environnement | IDP |
| Caen | | | Nike | GDE Recyclage (H)/Campagne de France (A & 3), Thebault Ingenierie (H)/GDE Recyclage (A & 3) | Petit Forestier | None | None |
| Dijon | |  Abdoulaye Méïté | Nike | Doras Matériaux (H)/INEO (A), Veolia Propreté (H)/Pentax (A), Dijonnaise de Voies Ferrées | Pentax (H)/Veolia Propreté (A) | Leader Intérim | Incendie Protection Sécurité |
| Evian | | | Kappa | Evian, Danette, Geodis Calberson, Sword Group | Samsic | Agence de Voyages SAT | VEKA |
| Lille | | | Umbro | Partouche | Partouche | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | None |
| Lorient | | | Macron | La Trinitaine, Armor-Lux, B&B Hotels | Salaun Holidays | None | Cap l'Orient Agglomération |
| Lyon | |  | Adidas | Everest Poker/Veolia Environnement (H in UEFA matches)/Renault Trucks (A in UEFA matches), MDA Electroménager (H)/LG (A) | Groupama | Renault Trucks/Veolia Environnement | Renault Trucks/Keolis |
| Marseille | | | Adidas | Betclic | Intersport | None | Groupama |
| Montpellier | | | Nike | Sud de France, Dyneff, Montpellier Agglomération | La Région Languedoc-Roussillon | Renault Trucks | Système U |
| Nancy | | | Umbro | Triangle Intérim/Groupe DLSI, Geodis Calberson, Sopalin, Grand Nancy | FMT Divoux/Crea Flock/Factum/Fort Aventure/Comarch | Sopalin/Mougdon Menuisier/As2Foot | Caisse d'Epargne |
| Nice | | | Burrda | Mutuelles du Soleil, Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur | Pizzorno Environnement | None | Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur |
| Paris Saint-Germain |  Carlo Ancelotti | | Nike | Fly Emirates | Winamax Poker | Indesit | Elior Group |
| Rennes | |  | Puma | Samsic, rennes.fr | Blot Immobilier | Association ELA | Breizh Cola |
| Saint-Étienne | | | Adidas | Winamax, Mister-Auto, Conseil général de la Loire en Rhône-Alpes | Funai | None | Saint-Étienne Métropole, Loire |
| Sochaux | Éric Hély | | Lotto | Mobil 1, Franche-Comté | Pays de Montbéliard Agglomération | Peugeot Occasions Du Lion | None |
| Toulouse | | | Kappa | Groupe IDEC, JD Patrimoine, JD Promotion | Newrest | None | None |
| Valenciennes | | | Uhlsport | Toyota (H)/SITA (A), Partouche | SITA (H) | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | Konica Minolta |
|
Managerial changes
Ownership changes
League table
Statistics
Top goalscorers
Last updated: 20 May 2012
Source: Official Goalscorers' Standings
Hat-tricks
| Player | For ! | Against | Result | Date |
|---|
 | Auxerre | Sochaux | 4–1 | |
| | Montpellier | Dijon | 5–3 | |
| | Paris Saint-Germain | Ajaccio | 1–3 | |
| | Montpellier | Sochaux | 1–3 | |
 | Saint-Étienne | Lorient | 4–2 | |
| | Paris Saint-Germain | Rennes | 3–0 | |
 | Lille | Nancy | 4–1 | | |
Scoring
- First goal of the season: Anthony Mounier for Nice against Lyon (6 August 2011)[40]
- Fastest goal of the season: 18 seconds – Jaroslav Plašil for Bordeaux against Nancy (4 December 2011)[41] [42]
- Latest goal of the season: 90+4 minutes – François Clerc for Nice against Lille (21 December 2011)
- First own goal of the season: Abdoulaye Bamba (Dijon) for Lyon (10 September 2011)[43]
- Widest winning margin: 5 goals[4]
- Paris Saint-Germain 6–1 Sochaux (22 April 2012)
- Highest scoring game: 9 goals[4]
- Most goals scored in a match by a single team: 6 goals[4]
- Sochaux 2–6 Rennes (21 September 2011)
- Paris Saint-Germain 6–1 Sochaux (22 April 2012)
Discipline
- Worst overall disciplinary record (1 pt per yellow card, 3 pts per red card): 119 points[44]
- Ajaccio (92 yellow & 9 red cards)
- Best overall disciplinary record: 66 points[44]
- Sochaux (60 yellow & 2 red cards)
- Most yellow cards (club): 92[44]
- Most yellow cards (player): 13[45]
- Most red cards (club): 9[44]
- Most red cards (player): 3[4]
Awards
Monthly awards
Annual awards
UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year
The UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year was awarded to Eden Hazard. [53]
UNFP Young Player of the Year
The UNFP Young Player of the Year was awarded to Younès Belhanda.[53]
UNFP Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year
The UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year was awarded to Hugo Lloris.[53]
UNFP Team of the Year
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
Defence: Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Hilton (Montpellier), Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille), Henri Bedimo (Montpellier)
Midfield: Rio Mavuba (Lille), Étienne Capoue (Toulouse), Younès Belhanda (Montpellier), Eden Hazard (Lille)
Attack: Olivier Giroud (Montpellier), Nenê (Paris Saint-Germain)
UNFP Ligue 1 Manager of the Year
The UNFP Manager of the Year was awarded to René Girard of Montpellier.[53]
List of 2011–12 transfers
See main article: List of French football transfers summer 2011 and List of French football transfers winter 2012.
External links
Notes and References
- News: Paris Saint-Germain v. Sochaux Report . Ligue de Football Professionnel. 22 April 2012 . 22 April 2012 . fr .
- News: Dijon v. Rennes Report . . 7 August 2011 . 7 August 2011 . fr . 4 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304232222/http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74373 . dead .
- News: Lille v. Bordeaux Report . Ligue de Football Professionnel. 12 February 2012 . 12 February 2012 . fr .
- News: French Ligue 1 Stats — 2011–12 . . 9 August 2011 . 26 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121026112230/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/_/league/FRA.1/french-ligue-1?cc=5901 . dead .
- News: Affluences par club . . 9 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101019081246/http://new.lfp.fr/ligue1/affluences/club . 19 October 2010 .
- News: Palmarès: Les champions de France depuis 1932/1933 . . 23 April 2011 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110419073300/http://new.lfp.fr/ligue1/palmares . 19 April 2011 .
- News: Le calendrier dévoilé le 10 juin . . 30 May 2011 . 30 May 2011 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110602131338/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20110530_140030_le-calendrier-devoile-le-10-juin.html . 2 June 2011 .
- News: Les calendriers 2011/2012 . . 10 June 2011 . 21 June 2011 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120119111703/http://new.lfp.fr/corporate/article/les-calendriers-2011-2012.htm . 19 January 2012 .
- News: 2011-2012 : Reprise le 6 août . . 31 March 2011 . 22 April 2011 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110515070006/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20110211_141128_2011-2012-reprise-le-6-aout.html . 15 May 2011 .
- News: Le calendrier général 2011-2012 validé . . 31 March 2011 . 22 April 2011 . fr . https://web.archive.org/web/20110823041848/http://new.lfp.fr/calendriers/2011_2012/calendrier_2011_2012.pdf . 2011-08-23 . dead .
- News: Montpellier wins French title for first time . . 20 May 2012 . 20 May 2012 . fr.
- News: Dijon et Caen relégués en Ligue 2 . Le Figaro . 20 May 2012. 20 May 2012 . fr.
- News: Ligue 1 : L’AJ Auxerre relégué 42 ans après! . Football.fr . 14 May 2012 . 18 May 2012 . fr . https://web.archive.org/web/20120517004425/http://journal.football.fr/post/2012/05/14/ligue-1-laj-auxerre-relegue-42-ans-apres . 2012-05-17 . dead .
- The DNCG is responsible for overseeing the legal and financial accounts of professional football clubs in France. If clubs operating in French football don't meet the DNCG's expectations, they can face sanctions, such as relegation.
- News: Arles-Avignon relégué en Ligue 2 . . 17 April 2011 . 23 April 2011 . fr .
- News: Marseille lâche prise, Lens relégué en L2 . 20 Minutes . 15 May 2011 . 17 May 2011 . fr.
- News: Monaco relégué en L2 . . 29 May 2011 . 29 May 2011 . fr . https://web.archive.org/web/20110601011648/http://www.eurosport.fr/football/ligue-1/2010-2011/monaco-relegue-en-l2_sto2814211/flashnews.shtml . 2011-06-01 . dead .
- News: L'Evian TG FC en Ligue 1! . . 20 May 2011 . 20 May 2011 . fr . https://web.archive.org/web/20120526094616/http://new.lfp.fr/ligue2/article/l-evian-tg-fc-en-ligue-1.htm . 2012-05-26 . dead .
- News: L'Evian TG FC champion, l'AC Ajaccio et le Dijon FCO en Ligue 1 . . 27 May 2011 . 27 May 2011 . fr . https://web.archive.org/web/20120530002102/http://new.lfp.fr/ligue2/article/l-evian-tg-fc-champion-l-ac-ajaccio-et-le-dijon-fco-en-ligue-1.htm . 2012-05-30 . dead .
- News: Auxerre part company with Fernandez. ESPN. 2 June 2011. 2 June 2011. 28 August 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110828045916/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/925439/auxerre-part-company-with-coach-jean-fernandez?campaign=rss&source=soccernet&cc=5901. dead.
- News: Fournier named Auxerre coach . . 8 June 2011 . 8 June 2011 .
- News: Communiqué de Presse. Valenciennes FC. 4 June 2011 . 4 June 2011 . fr.
- News: D. Sanchez au VAFC pour 2 ans. Valenciennes FC. 8 June 2011 . 8 June 2011 . fr.
- News: J. Fernandez à Nancy (off.). L'Equipe. 5 June 2011. 5 June 2011. fr. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607133723/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20110605_220418_j-fernandez-a-nancy-off.html. 7 June 2011. dead. dmy-all.
- News: Bazdarevic à Sochaux. L'Equipe. 10 June 2011. 10 June 2011. fr. https://web.archive.org/web/20110613042459/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20110610_123506_bazdarevic-a-sochaux.html. 13 June 2011. dead. dmy-all.
- News: Gillot takes over as coach at Bordeaux. https://archive.today/20120904155241/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ivtdkiGA0o-0J92R5fOfcACNki2g?docId=CNG.4089686353aadee570c27cb1d4593484.2a1. dead. September 4, 2012. Agence France Presse. 6 June 2011 . 6 June 2011.
- News: Lyon confirm Puel departure. ESPN. 20 June 2011. 20 June 2011. 26 August 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110826234906/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/929323/lyon-confirm-claude-puel-departure-after-poor-season?cc=5901. dead.
- News: Garde intronisé mercredi. L'Equipe. 21 June 2011. 21 June 2011. fr. https://web.archive.org/web/20110623023042/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20110621_234016_garde-entraineur-officiel.html. 23 June 2011. dead. dmy-all.
- News: Marsiglia remplace Roy. L'Equipe. 15 November 2011. 15 November 2011. fr. https://web.archive.org/web/20111116170610/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20111115_082323_marsiglia-a-la-place-de-roy.html. 2011-11-16. dead.
- News: Communiqué du Club. PSG.fr. 22 December 2011. 13 January 2012.
- News: Ancelotti to take over PSG. Football Italia. 22 December 2011. 13 January 2012.
- News: Antoine Kombouaré quitte le PSG. PSG.fr. 30 December 2011. 13 January 2012.
- News: PSG shows ambition by appointing Carlo Ancelotti as new manager. Sports Illustrated. 30 December 2011 . 30 December 2011 . fr.
- News: Evian: Bernard Casoni va être limogé. https://web.archive.org/web/20120530132110/http://www.chronofoot.com/ligue-1/evian-bernard-casoni-va-etre-limoge_art23862.html. dead. 30 May 2012. Chronofoot. 1 January 2012. 1 January 2012. fr.
- News: Communiqué Officiel . FC Sochaux-Montbéliard . 6 March 2012 . 6 March 2012 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120309120443/http://www.fcsochaux.fr/fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3810&Itemid=106 . 9 March 2012 .
- News: Struggling Auxerre fires coach Laurent Fournier. Sports Illustrated. 18 March 2012 . 18 March 2012 . fr.
- News: Conférence de presse Michel Guyot. Stade Brestois 29. 26 April 2012. 27 April 2012. fr. https://web.archive.org/web/20120428034535/http://www.sb29.com/26-04-12-conference-michel-guyot.php. 2012-04-28. dead.
- Colony Capital and Butler Capital Partners still maintain a minority stake in the club.
- News: PSG: 'We want the new Messi' . . . 1 July 2011 . 5 August 2011 .
- News: Ligue 1: 1ere journée: Lyon est leader, Paris déçoit . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317030541/http://www.chronofoot.com/ligue-1/ligue-1-1ere-journee-lyon-est-leader-paris-decoit_art16917.html . dead . 17 March 2012 . Chronofoot . fr . 6 August 2011 . 9 August 2011 .
- News: Les scores à la pause . . 4 December 2011 . 4 December 2011 . fr .
- News: Bordeaux v. Nancy Match Report . . 4 December 2011 . 4 December 2011 . fr .
- News: Dijon v. Lyon Match Report . . 10 September 2011 . 15 September 2011 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120910021325/http://new.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74412 . 10 September 2012 .
- News: Classement du Fair-Play . . fr . 9 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110419073243/http://new.lfp.fr/ligue1/classement?cat=Fpl . 19 April 2011 .
- News: Joueurs les plus sanctionnés . Comparateur Paris Sportif . fr . 17 August 2011 . 23 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201123004356/http://www.comparateurparisportif.fr/football/ligue-1/statistiques-fairplay/ . dead .
- News: Javier Matías Pastore: L'homme pressé... . . 31 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120115083059/http://www.footballeurspros.fr/ligue1/trophee-du-joueur/trophees-du-mois.html?tx_unfptrophee_pi1%5Buid%5D=129&cHash=b8a210e0db39c11eadc2f6797ec32db5 . 15 January 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
- News: Anderson Luis Nené De Carvalho: Au rendez-vous! . . 7 December 2011 .
- News: Younes Belhanda : En route pour la gloire... . . 13 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120115083904/http://www.footballeurspros.fr/ligue1/trophee-du-joueur/trophees-du-mois.html?tx_unfptrophee_pi1%5Buid%5D=134&cHash=1c6e38237de74c0c4879ef4c96db5027 . 15 January 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
- News: Salvatore Sirigu: Joyeux anniversaire! . . 15 January 2012 .
- News: Milan Bisevac: Tonnerre de... Brest! . . 22 February 2012 .
- News: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Quatre à quatre... . . 17 March 2012 .
- News: Eden Hazard: Trophee du mois . . 16 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140429053105/http://www.footballeurspros.fr/ligue1/trophee-du-joueur/trophees-du-mois.html?tx_unfptrophee_pi1%5Buid%5D=142&cHash=e3863e42a3ddbd09122b195612d8d7b3 . 29 April 2014 . dead . dmy-all .
- News: UNFP: Trophées UNFP du football: Le palmarès complet... . . 14 May 2012 . 14 May 2012 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140303055426/http://www.unfp.org/a-la-une/article/le-palmares-complet-14052012-6476.html . 3 March 2014 .
Mehmed Baždarević
Javier Pastore
Younès Belhanda
Milan Biševac