The 2011–12 Czech First League, known as the Gambrinus liga for sponsorship reasons, was the 19th season of the Czech Republic's top-tier football league. It began on 29 July 2011 and was originally due to end on 26 May 2012, although due to the Czech Republic's qualification for the UEFA Euro 2012, the end of the season was brought forward to 12 May 2012. Viktoria Plzeň were the defending champions, having won their first Czech Republic championship the previous season.
Sparta Prague started the season with eight consecutive wins, the first such occurrence in league history. Sparta broke their own record when they won their ninth straight league match and opened up a 10-point lead at the top of the table.
The title was decided on the last day of the season, with Liberec hosting Viktoria Plzeň in the knowledge that a win for either team would seal the title, with a draw being enough for Liberec to retain first place. In front of a sold-out stadium at Stadion u Nisy, Liberec held the visitors to a goalless draw, winning the league for the third time since 2002.
Teams Ústí nad Labem and Zbrojovka Brno were relegated to the 2011–12 Czech 2. Liga after finishing last and second to last, respectively, in the 2010–11 season. Ústi nad Labem therefore immediately returned to the second tier, while Brno completed a nineteen-year tenure in the top flight.
The relegated terms were replaced by 2010–11 2. Liga champions Dukla Prague and Viktoria Žižkov. Viktoria Žižkov returned after a two-year absence, while Dukla Prague made their debut in the league; however, the Dukla Prague name returned to the league after seventeen seasons, with a club of the same name having played in the top Czech football division until then. The newly promoted clubs were granted licenses to play top-division football on 13 June 2011.
Viktoria Žižkov became the first team to be relegated on 5 May 2012 after Ostrava beat Příbram.
Stadia and locations
Club Location Stadium Capacity 2010–11 position Ostrava Bazaly 17,372 14th Bohemians 1905 Prague Synot Tip Arena Note 1 21,000 6th Dukla Prague Prague Stadion Juliska Note 2 4,560 2L, 1st Dynamo České Budějovice E-On Stadion 6,681 11th Všesportovní stadion 7,220 8th Jablonec Stadion Střelnice 6,280 3rd Městský stadion (Mladá Boleslav) 5,000 5th Na Litavce 9,100 12th Sigma Olomouc Olomouc Andrův stadion 12,566 4th Slavia Prague Prague Synot Tip Arena 21,000 9th Městský fotbalový stadion Miroslava Valenty 8,121 13th Slovan Liberec Liberec Stadion u Nisy 9,900 7th Sparta Prague Prague Generali Arena 20,558 2nd Teplice Na Stínadlech 18,221 10th Viktoria Plzeň Stadion města Plzně 13,000 1st Viktoria Žižkov Prague FK Viktoria Stadion 5,600 2L, 2nd
Notes: Ďolíček stadion does not meet the football association criteria, therefore Bohemians are forced to play at Synot Tip Arena. FK Dukla Prague played one home match at Stadion Evžena Rošického due to the implementation of under-soil heating at Juliska.
Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Team Manager1 Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorBaník Ostrava NikeFortunaBohemians 1905 AdidasFortunaDukla Prague AdidasBwin then StaegDynamo České Budějovice AdidasAVEHradec Králové JakoCity of Hradec KrálovéJablonec UmbroBaumitMladá Boleslav NikeŠkodaPříbram AdidasStartipSigma Olomouc AdidasTipsportSlavia Prague UmbroSynot TipSlovácko KappaZ-GROUP Steel holdingSlovan Liberec NikeFortunaSparta Prague NikeFortunaTeplice UmbroAGCViktoria Plzeň PumaDoosan GroupViktoria Žižkov AdidasNone 1 According to current revision of List of Czech Football League managers
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyTableIncoming managerDate of appointmentBaník Ostrava Karol MarkoSacked30 July 201114th (10–11) Pavel Malura31 July 2011České Budějovice Jiří KotrbaRemoved from position7 September 201115th František Cipro7 September 2011Slavia Prague Michal PetroušSacked2 October 201113th František Straka2 October 2011Viktoria Žižkov Martin PulpitSacked23 November 201115th Roman Nádvorník23 November 2011Sigma Olomouc Zdeněk PsotkaSacked27 November 201116th Petr Uličný8 December 2011Bohemians 1905 Pavel MedynskýSacked6 March 201212th Jozef Weber7 March 2012Slavia Prague František StrakaResigned8 March 201211th Martin Poustka14 March 2012Baník Ostrava Pavel MaluraSacked26 March 201215th Radoslav Látal26 March 2012
Slavia manager František Straka resigned on 8 March. Assistant manager Martin Poustka was appointed to serve as caretaker manager for the next match against Jablonec, which was just three days later.
League table
Results
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 David LafataJablonec252 Marek BakošPlzeň163 Jiří ŠtajnerLiberec154 Michal BreznaníkLiberec125 Léonard KweukeSparta Prague11 Ivan LietavaDukla Prague Michael RabušicLiberec
Attendances
Rank Club Average Highest 1 Sparta Praha 10,322 18,299 2 Viktoria Plzeň 7,009 11,412 3 Baník Ostrava 5,968 13,127 4 Slovan Liberec 5,787 10,000 5 Slavia Praha 5,745 16,516 6 Sigma Olomouc 5,493 8,094 7 Slovácko 5,274 7,638 8 Hradec Králové 4,727 7,220 9 Teplice 3,876 8,586 10 Jablonec 3,591 6,040 11 Mladá Boleslav 3,355 4,596 12 České Budějovice 3,144 6,029 13 Příbram 3,138 6,621 14 Bohemians 2,924 7,545 15 Viktoria Žižkov 2,649 5,200 16 Dukla Praha 2,434 4,590Source:
See also 2011–12 Czech Cup 2011–12 Czech 2. Liga
References
External links Official website