The 2011–12 Primeira Liga (also known as Liga ZON Sagres for sponsorship reasons) was the 78th season of the Primeira Liga, the top professional league for Portuguese association football clubs. It began on 14 August 2011 and ended on 13 May 2012. A total of 16 teams contested the league, 14 of which already took part in the previous season and two of which were promoted from the Liga de Honra. Porto were the defending champions and secured their 26th and second consecutive league title. Óscar Cardozo and Lima, respectively Benfica's and Braga's strikers, were the joint top scorers with 20 goals.
Teams Sixteen teams contested the league, fourteen of which already contested in the 2010–11 season and two of which were promoted from the 2010–11 Liga de Honra. The two teams relegated following the 2010–11 season were Portimonense, which returned to the Liga de Honra just a year after promotion, and Naval, returning to the second tier after a six-year stay. Replacing them in the top flight were Liga de Honra champions Gil Vicente, competing in their 14th Liga season after returning from a five-year absence, and Feirense, who were in the top division for the fourth time and the first since the 1989–90 season.
Stadia and locations
Team Home city Stadium Capacity 2010–11 CurrentSpell Académica Coimbra Estádio Cidade de Coimbra 30,210 14th 2002–03 Beira-Mar Aveiro Estádio Municipal de Aveiro 30,127 13th 2010–11 Benfica Lisbon Estádio da Luz 65,467 Runner-up 1934–35 Braga Estádio Municipal de Braga 30,152 3rd 1974–75 Feirense Santa Maria da Feira Estádio Marcolino de Castro 4,667 Liga de Honra Runner-up 2011–12 Gil Vicente Barcelos Estádio Cidade de Barcelos 12,374 Liga de Honra Champion 2011–12 Marítimo Funchal Estádio dos Barreiros 8,922 9th 1985–86 Nacional Funchal Estádio da Madeira 5,132 6th 2002–03 Olhanense Olhão Estádio José Arcanjo 11,622 11th 2009–10 Paços de Ferreira Estádio da Mata Real 5,255 7th 2005–06 Porto Estádio do Dragão 50,399 Champion 1934–35 Rio Ave Vila do Conde Estádio dos Arcos 12,815 8th 2008–09 Sporting CP Lisbon Estádio José Alvalade 50,080 4th 1934–35 União de Leiria Leiria Estádio Municipal da Marinha Grande 8,378 10th 2009–10 Vitória de Guimarães Guimarães Estádio D. Afonso Henriques 30,165 5th 2007–08 Vitória de Setúbal Setúbal Estádio do Bonfim 18,692 12th 2004–05
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 Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorAcadémica Pedro Emanuel Orlando Lacatoni EFAPELBeira-Mar Rui Bento Hugo Vieira Joma DiatostaBenfica Jorge Jesus Luisão Adidas TMN (H) / MEO (A) Braga Leonardo Jardim Alan Macron AXAFeirense Quim Machado Luciano Adidas E.Leclerc / BetClicGil Vicente Paulo Alves Paulo Arantes Madsport GIVEC / Águas de Barcelos / GlassdriveMarítimo Pedro Martins João Guilherme Lacatoni BanifNacional Pedro Caixinha Felipe Lopes Joma BanifOlhanense Sérgio Conceição Rui Duarte Lacatoni Ria ShoppingPaços de Ferreira Henrique Calisto Filipe Anunciação Lacatoni Capital do MóvelPorto Vítor Pereira Helton Nike MEO (H) / TMN (A)Rio Ave Carlos Brito José Gaspar Lacatoni NassicaSporting CP Ricardo Sá Pinto Daniel Carriço Puma TMN (H) / MEO (A)União de Leiria José Dominguez Marco Soares Joma KiaVitória de Guimarães Rui Vitória João Alves Lacatoni FinibancoVitória de Setúbal Bruno Ribeiro Ricardo SilvaLacatoniKia
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in tablePorto André Villas-BoasResigned/Signed by Chelsea21 June 2011 Vítor Pereira22 June 2011Pre-seasonVitória de Guimarães Manuel MachadoResigned26 August 2011 Rui Vitória30 August 201116thPaços de Ferreira Rui VitóriaSigned by Vitória de Guimarães30 August 2011 Luís Miguel30 August 20119thUnião de Leiria Pedro CaixinhaSacked6 September 2011 Vítor Pontes 8 September 201116thUnião de Leiria Vítor PontesResigned26 September 2011 Manuel Cajuda 26 September 201116thNacional Ivo VieiraResigned31 October 2011 Pedro Caixinha31 October 201112thPaços de Ferreira Luís MiguelSacked 27 November 2011 Henrique Calisto 30 November 201116thOlhanense Daúto FaquiráResigned 30 December 2011 Sérgio Conceição 1 January 201210thSporting CP Domingos PaciênciaSacked 13 February 2012 Ricardo Sá Pinto 13 February 20124thBeira-Mar Rui BentoResigned 26 February 2012 Ulisses Morais 27 February 201213thFeirense Quim MachadoSacked 2 April 2012 Henrique Nunes 2 April 201216th
League table
Positions by round
Results
Season statistics
Top goalscorers Rank Player Club Goals1 Óscar Cardozo Benfica20 Lima Braga203 Hulk Porto164 Ricky van Wolfswinkel Sporting CP145 James Rodríguez Porto136 João Tomás Rio Ave11 Edgar Vitória de Guimarães11 Nolito Benfica119 Baba Diawara Marítimo10 Claudemir Nacional10 Bruno César Benfica10 Lorenzo Melgarejo Paços de Ferreira10 Mario Rondón Nacional10 Last updated: 13 May 2012, 00:25 UTC
Assists table Rank Player Club Assists1 Hulk Porto102 Pablo Aimar Benfica9 Danilo Dias Marítimo94 James Rodríguez Porto85 Nicolás Gaitán Benfica7 Nolito Benfica7 Alan Braga7 Wilson Eduardo Olhanense7 Lima Braga7 Last updated: 7 May 2012, 12:48 UTC
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Edgar Vitória de Guimarães Paços de Ferreira 5–1 Lima Braga Gil Vicente 3–0 Kléber Porto Rio Ave 5-2 Ricky van Wolfswinkel Sporting CP Braga 3-2
Awards
Monthly awards
SJPF Player of the Month
MonthPlayerClubSeptember Ricky van Wolfswinkel Sporting CPOctober Diego Capel Sporting CPNovember Toscano Vitória de GuimarãesDecemberBuval wins Best Player Award December Bédi Buval FeirenseJanuary Óscar Cardozo BenficaFebruary Lima BragaMarch Mossoró BragaApril Hulk Porto
SJPF Young Player of the Month MonthPlayerClubSeptember Wilson Eduardo OlhanenseOctober Vítor Gomes Rio AveNovember[sjpf.sapo.pt/default.aspx?ctrl=noticiasdetalhe&id=7530&inter=0 Pinto wins Best Young Player Award November] André Pinto OlhanenseDecemberAdrien wins Best Young Player Award December Adrien Silva AcadémicaJanuary Daniel Candeias NacionalFebruary Daniel Candeias NacionalMarch Salvador Agra OlhanenseApril Daniel Candeias Nacional
Annual awards Portuguese Golden Ball The Portuguese Golden Ball was given to James Rodríguez, the youngest player (21) to ever receive the award.
LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year The LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year was awarded to Hulk. He became the first player to win the award twice.
LPFP Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year The LPFP Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year was awarded to James Rodríguez.
LPFP Primeira Liga Goalkeeper of the Year The LPFP Primeira Liga Goalkeeper of the Year was awarded to Rui Patrício.
LPFP Primeira Liga Manager of the Year The LPFP Primeira Liga Coach of the Year was awarded to Vítor Pereira.
LPFP Primeira Liga Fairplay Award The LPFP Primeira Liga Fairplay Award was awarded to Rio Ave.
Transfers
Attendances
# Club Average Highest 1 Benfica 42,464 63,146 2 Porto 35,177 50,212 3 Sporting 34,490 48,855 4 Braga 15,169 25,791 5 Vitória SC 12,078 19,830 6 Académica 5,491 14,011 7 Gil Vicente 5,046 12,008 8 Beira-Mar 4,335 17,845 9 Marítimo 3,827 4,403 10 Vitória FC 3,194 5,590 11 Feirense 3,138 14,848 12 Rio Ave 2,700 5,454 13 Olhanense 2,225 4,842 14 União de Leiria 2,168 8,378 15 CD Nacional 1,998 3,575 16 Paços de Ferreira 1,811 4,528Source:
Notes Baba moved to Sevilla during the winter transfer window.
References