The 2011–12 Ligue 1 season was the 74th since its establishment. Lille were the defending champions. The league schedule was announced on 31 March 2011 and the fixtures were determined on 10 June. The season began on 6 August 2011 and ended on 20 May 2012. The winter break was in effect from 22 December 2011 to 14 January 2012.
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. Montpellier was the fifth different club to win Ligue 1 since the 2007–08 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. Auxerre returned to the second division after 32 consecutive years playing in Ligue 1. 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.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.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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 attendanceAjaccioStade François Coty 10,660 6,338AuxerreStade de l'Abbé-Deschamps 24,493 11,879BordeauxStade Chaban-Delmas 34,462 20,712BrestStade Francis-Le Blé 16,000 13,542CaenStade Michel d'Ornano 21,500 15,280DijonStade Gaston Gérard 15,998 13,597AnnecyParc des Sports 15,600 11,855Villeneuve-d'Ascq Stadium Nord Lille Métropole 18,185 16,969LorientStade du Moustoir 18,890 15,594LyonStade de Gerland 41,842 33,108MarseilleStade Vélodrome1 42,000 40,455MontpellierStade de la Mosson 32,900 17,492TomblaineStade Marcel Picot 20,085 15,328NiceStade du Ray 17,415 9,133ParisParc des Princes 48,712 42,892RennesStade de la Route de Lorient 31,127 20,725Saint-ÉtienneStade Geoffroy-Guichard2 26,747 21,409MontbéliardStade Auguste Bonal 20,005 13,826ToulouseStadium Municipal 35,470 22,033ValenciennesStade 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 sponsorsAjaccio DuarigRestaurants du Cœur, Collectivité Territoriale de Corse, Conseil Général Corse du SudEuropcarGéant CasinoMocchi Travaux PublicsAuxerre AirnessMaisons Pierre, Conseil général de l'YonneGroupamaConseil général de l'YonneBesson ChaussuresBordeaux PumaKiaGroupamaPichet ImmobilierCdiscountBrest (interim) NikeQuéguiner Matériaux (H)/Yaourt Malo (A & 3)/La Potagère (A & 3), Geodis Calberson, Breizh ColaCasino SupermarchésGUYOT EnvironnementIDPCaen NikeGDE Recyclage (H)/Campagne de France (A & 3), Thebault Ingenierie (H)/GDE Recyclage (A & 3)Petit ForestierNoneNoneDijon Abdoulaye MéïtéNikeDoras Matériaux (H)/INEO (A), Veolia Propreté (H)/Pentax (A), Dijonnaise de Voies FerréesPentax (H)/Veolia Propreté (A)Leader IntérimIncendie Protection SécuritéEvian KappaEvian, Danette, Geodis Calberson, Sword GroupSamsicAgence de Voyages SATVEKALille UmbroPartouchePartoucheNord-Pas-de-CalaisNoneLorient MacronLa Trinitaine, Armor-Lux, B&B HotelsSalaun HolidaysNoneCap l'Orient AgglomérationLyon CrisAdidasEverest Poker/Veolia Environnement (H in UEFA matches)/Renault Trucks (A in UEFA matches), MDA Electroménager (H)/LG (A)GroupamaRenault Trucks/Veolia EnvironnementRenault Trucks/KeolisMarseille AdidasBetclicIntersportNoneGroupamaMontpellier NikeSud de France, Dyneff, Montpellier AgglomérationLa Région Languedoc-RoussillonRenault TrucksSystème UNancy UmbroTriangle Intérim/Groupe DLSI, Geodis Calberson, Sopalin, Grand NancyFMT Divoux/Crea Flock/Factum/Fort Aventure/ComarchSopalin/Mougdon Menuisier/As2FootCaisse d'EpargneNice BurrdaMutuelles du Soleil, Métropole Nice Côte d'AzurPizzorno EnvironnementNoneMétropole Nice Côte d'AzurParis Saint-Germain Carlo Ancelotti NikeFly EmiratesWinamax PokerIndesitElior GroupRennes PumaSamsic, rennes.frBlot ImmobilierAssociation ELABreizh ColaSaint-Étienne AdidasWinamax, Mister-Auto, Conseil général de la Loire en Rhône-AlpesFunaiNoneSaint-Étienne Métropole, LoireSochaux Éric Hély LottoMobil 1, Franche-ComtéPays de Montbéliard AgglomérationPeugeot Occasions Du LionNoneToulouse KappaGroupe IDEC, JD Patrimoine, JD PromotionNewrestNoneNoneValenciennes UhlsportToyota (H)/SITA (A), PartoucheSITA (H)Nord-Pas-de-CalaisKonica Minolta
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing head coachManner ofdepartureDate ofvacancyPositionin tableIncoming head coachDate ofappointmentPositionin table Auxerre Jean Fernandez End of contract Off-season Laurent Fournier Off-season Valenciennes Philippe Montanier Joined Real Sociedad Daniel Sanchez Nancy Pablo CorreaResigned Jean Fernandez Sochaux Francis Gillot Mehmed Baždarević Bordeaux Éric Bédouet Mutual consent Francis Gillot Lyon Claude Puel Sacked Rémi Garde Nice Eric Roy Sacked 17th René Marsiglia 17th Paris Saint-Germain Antoine Kombouaré Mutual consent 1st Carlo Ancelotti 1st Evian Bernard Casoni Sacked 11th Pablo Correa 11th Sochaux Mehmed Baždarević Sacked 20th Éric Hély 20th Auxerre Laurent Fournier Sacked 20th Jean-Guy Wallemme 20th Brest Alex Dupont Sacked 18th Corentin Martins 18th
Ownership changes
Club New owner Previous owner Date Paris Saint-Germain Qatar Investment Authority Colony Capital and Butler Capital PartnersColony Capital and Butler Capital Partners still maintain a minority stake in the club.
League table
Results
Statistics
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Olivier GiroudMontpellier21 NenêParis Saint-Germain3 Eden HazardLille204 Pierre-Emerick AubameyangSaint-Étienne16 Lisandro LópezLyon6 Bafétimbi GomisLyon14 Yoan GouffranBordeaux8 Javier PastoreParis Saint-Germain139 Loïc RémyMarseille12 Younès BelhandaMontpellier
Last updated: 20 May 2012 Source: Official Goalscorers' Standings
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Auxerre Sochaux 4–1 Montpellier Dijon 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) Fastest goal of the season: 18 seconds – Jaroslav Plašil for Bordeaux against Nancy (4 December 2011) 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) Widest winning margin: 5 goals Paris Saint-Germain 6–1 Sochaux (22 April 2012) Highest scoring game: 9 goals Lille 4–5 Bordeaux Most goals scored in a match by a single team: 6 goals 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 Ajaccio (92 yellow & 9 red cards) Best overall disciplinary record: 66 points Sochaux (60 yellow & 2 red cards) Most yellow cards (club): 92 Ajaccio Most yellow cards (player): 13 Mehdi Mostefa (Ajaccio) Most red cards (club): 9 Ajaccio Most red cards (player): 3 Jean-Pascal Mignot (Saint-Étienne)
Awards
Monthly awards MonthPlayer of the MonthPlayerClubSeptember Javier PastoreParis Saint-GermainOctober NenêParis Saint-GermainNovember Younès BelhandaMontpellierDecember Salvatore SiriguParis Saint-GermainJanuary Milan BiševacParis Saint-GermainFebruary P. E. AubameyangSaint-ÉtienneMarch Eden HazardLille
Annual awards
UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year
The UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year was awarded to Eden Hazard.
UNFP Young Player of the Year
The UNFP Young Player of the Year was awarded to Younès Belhanda.
UNFP Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year
The UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year was awarded to Hugo Lloris.
UNFP Team of the Year
Team of the YearGoalkeeper Hugo Lloris (Lyon)Defenders Mathieu Debuchy (Lille) Vitorino Hilton (Montpellier) Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille) Henri Bedimo (Montpellier)Midfielders Rio Mavuba (Lille) Étienne Capoue (Toulouse) Younès Belhanda (Montpellier) Eden Hazard (Lille)Forwards 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.
List of 2011–12 transfers
References
External links
Official site