The 2011–12 Gil Vicente F.C. season was the club's 79th competitive season, 15th in the Primeira Liga, and 87th year in existence as a football club.
Having achieved promotion from the Segunda Liga as winners of the 2010–11 Liga de Honra, the club were looking to retain their place in the Primeira Liga after a six-year absence from the top flight. The Gilistas finished 9th in the league table, ten points above the relegation zone. Despite suffering an early exit in the Taça de Portugal to third division Torreense, the Gilistas reached their first final of a major competition by reaching the final of the Taça da Liga where they lost 2–1 to Benfica at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra.
Key events
July 16: Gil Vicente finish third in the City of Freamunde pre-season tournament behind Moreirense and Desportivo das Aves. 20: The Gilistas win their first pre-season game by defeating Segunda Liga side Oliveirense 1–0, at the Estádio Carlos Osório. Rui Faria scored Gil Vicente's goal. 23: Gil Vicente wins their second consecutive pre-season game after a 1–0 victory over Segunda Liga side Sporting da Covilhã. 26: In Gil Vicente's official presentation to its members of their 2011–12 squad, the Gilistas lose 3–0 to Braga. Zé Luís, who prior to the start of the pre-season campaign signed for Braga from Gil Vicente, scored two of Braga's three goals. 30: Gil Vicente wins their third pre-season game, after a 4–0 victory over Tirsense. A brace from Kalidou Yéro, a free kick from winger Laionel and second half strike from Hugo Vieira sealed Gil's victory.
August 12: Gil Vicente open their 2011–12 league campaign with a 2–2 draw at home to Benfica. Benfica led the game 2–0 with goals from Nolito and Javier Saviola in the first 20 minutes of the game, but the Gilistas recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw the game with a late first-half goal from Hugo Vieira and 73rd-minute strike from Laionel. 19: Gil Vicente suffer their first loss of the season, away to Porto. A third minute João Vilela penalty opened the scoring for the visitors. Porto equalized eight minutes later, and would go on to score a further two goals through Cristian Săpunaru and Hulk to claim a 3–1 home win. 27: Gil Vicente win their first league game of the season after a 2-0 home win over Académica de Coimbra. Captain André Cunha opened the scoring in the 69th minute, and Cláudio converted from the penalty spot on 87 minutes to claim all three points for the home side. 29: Attacking midfielder João Vilela suffers a serious injury in training which would keep him out of action for six months. 30: Gil's chairman António Fiúsa announces that the club rejected a €500,000 bid from Greek side Panathinaikos for Hugo Vieira. 31: Gil Vicente announce the loan signing of Guilherme from Braga.
September 11: Braga inflict on Gil Vicente their second defeat of the league campaign. A brace from Nuno Gomes and a 72nd-minute strike from Hélder Barbosa saw the Bracarenses defeat Os Galos 3–1 at the Estádio Municipal de Braga. 20: Gil Vicente draws third division side Torreense in the third round of the Taça de Portugal.
October 15: Gil Vicente suffer a shock third round exit at the hands of third division side Torreense in the Taça da Portugal.
January 31: Following his release from Benfica, César Peixoto signs a short term deal with Gil Vicente until the end of the season. Gil also announce the loan signing of Cape Verdean striker Zé Luís from Braga.
April 14: Benfica defeat Gil Vicente 2–1 in the Taça da Liga final. In a match which took place at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Benfica opened the scoring on 30 minutes through Spanish forward Rodrigo. Gil Vicente equalized on 78 minutes through Zé Luís. Benfica would regain the lead six minutes later through Javier Saviola. The Encardnados would hold on to secure a fourth league cup in five seasons. 28: The Gilistas 3–1 win over Vitória de Guimarães secures their stay in the Primeira Liga. A brace from João Vilela and a second-half strike from Rodrigo Galo secured the win over the Vimaranenses.
May 12: In their final league game of the season, Gil Vicente comfortably defeat Feirense 3–1 to finish ninth in the Primeira Liga. A first-half strike from Hugo Vieira and a brace from Zé Luís sealed Gil's victory.
Club Coaching staff {|class="wikitable" |- !Position !Staff |- |Manager|| Paulo Alves |- |Assistant Manager|| Pedro Pinto |- |Technical Director|| Lim Costa |- |Goalkeeper Coach|| Fernando Baptista |- |Fitness Coach|| Ricardo Vaz |- |Physio|| Lino Silva |- |Scout|| Daniel Pacheco |- |Head of Youth Development|| Paulo Oliveira |-Other information
First team squad Stats as of the end of the 2011–12 season. Games played and goals scored only refers to appearances and goals in domestic league campaigns.
Name Nationality Position(s) Since Date of Birth (Age) Signed from Goalkeepers 1 Adriano Facchini GK 2011 União da Madeira 30 0 21 Jorge Baptista GK 2011 Naval 1º de Maio 12 0 79 Vítor Murta GK 2010 Vizela 12 0 Defenders 2 Rodrigo Galo RB 2008 Braga 90 11 3 João Pedro LB 2010 Ethnikos Achna 111 6 4 Sandro Cunha CB / RB 2009 Vizela 61 5 6 Daniel Faria CB / RB 2006 Youth System 67 1 16 Paulão CB 2011 Grêmio Anápolis 9 0 20 Éder Sciola RB 2011 Ituano 12 0 22 Paulo Arantes (VC) LB / RB 2005 Youth System 93 0 44 Cláudio CB 2010 Trofense 49 9 55 Halisson CB 2011 Târgu Mureș 24 0 80 Júnior Caiçara LB / RB 2010 CSA 56 1 Midfielders 5 Rui Faria DM / LB 2011 Youth System 0 0 8 Pedro Moreira CM / DM 2011 Porto 39 0 10 André Cunha (C) CM / LM 2010 Vizela 65 4 11 Sidnei CM 2011 Marítimo 1 0 19 Mauro DM 2011 Atlético Goianiense 8 0 25 César Peixoto AM / LB / LM 2012 Free agent 10 0 40 Guilherme AM / LB / LM 2011 Braga 19 0 66 Luís Manuel CM / DM 2010 Lousada 74 0 77 João Vilela AM / CM 2010 Fátima 114 17 89 Richard Almeida AM / LM / LW 2010 Santo André 57 5 Forwards 7 Laionel RW 2011 Grêmio Anápolis 14 2 9 Tó Barbosa LW 2011 Youth System 8 0 12 Leandrinho CF 2011 Volta Redonda 0 0 13 Kalidou Yéro CF 2011 Porto 6 0 29 Roberto CF 2011 Beijing Guoan 12 1 30 Bruno Filipe CF 2005 Gil Vicente 37 7 50 Luís Carlos AM / LW / RW 2010 Santo André 52 10 70 Hugo Vieira CF / LW / RW 2009 Santa Maria 62 16 99 Zé Luís CF 2012 Braga 39 18
Transfers
In
Summer PlayerTransferred FromDateFee12 Volta RedondaFree1 União da MadeiraFree16 Grêmio AnápolisLoan20 ItuanoFree19 Atlético GoianienseFree80 Santo AndréLoan8 PortoLoan13 PortoFree7 Grêmio AnápolisLoan50 Santo AndréFree55 NoroesteLoan89 Santo AndréLoan29 Beijing GuoanFree40 BragaLoan11 MarítimoFree
Winter PlayerTransferred FromDateFee2 BragaLoan99 BragaLoan25 UnattachedFree
Out
Summer PlayerTransferred FromDateFee20 BragaUndisclosed Fee2 BragaUndisclosed Fee5 Sporting da CovilhãFree17 Sporting da CovilhãFree87 VarzimFree26 PinhalnovenseLoan1 CerveiraLoan TondelaLoan Vitorino de PiãesFree PradoFree MelgacenseFree MelgacenseFree88 VianenseFree MilhazesFree
Winter PlayerTransferred FromDateFee11 Recreativo do LiboloLoan Águias da GraçaLoan12 CRBFree Santa MariaLoan30 GondomarLoan
Source:
Pre-season and friendlies
Legend
Matches
Competitions
Legend
Overall CompetitionStarted roundFinal position / roundFirst matchLast matchPrimeira Liga9th12 August 201112 May 2012Taça de Portugal3rd round15 October 2011Taça da LigaSecond roundRunners-up27 October 201114 April 2012
Competition record CompetitionRecordGWDLGFGAGDWin % Primeira Liga Taça de Portugal Taça da Liga Total
Primeira Liga
League table
Matches
Taça de Portugal
Matches
Taça da Liga
Second round
Group stage
Knockout phase
Squad
Appearances No.Pos.NameLeagueCupLeague CupTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GK Adriano Facchini3000050350302DF Rodrigo Galo14(2)3104019(2)3213DF João Pedro30002050004DF Sandro Cunha50002070105MF Rui Faria00000000006DF Daniel Faria17(1)00(1)04021(2)0307FW Laionel9(5)2102012(5)2108MF Pedro Moreira11(2)0101013(2)0619FW Tó Barbosa0(8)000202(8)01010MF André Cunha25200503024011MF Sidnei10001(1)02(1)00012FW Leandrinho000000000014FW Kalidou Yéro0(6)00(1)01(1)11(8)10016DF Paulão4(5)0000(2)04(7)01019MF Mauro4(4)0001(3)05(7)04020DF Éder Sciola9(3)0101(1)011(4)02121GK Jorge Baptista001020300022DF Paulo Arantes100010201025MF César Peixoto6(4)000208(4)03029FW Roberto4(8)100307(8)12030FW Bruno Filipe0(1)00(1)0000(2)01040MF Guilherme6(13)0102(4)19(17)15044DF Cláudio268105232108154DF Halisson24010503002058FW Luís Carlos17(5)1103(2)321(7)44066FW Luís Manuel26(1)0106(1)032(2)08070FW Hugo Vieira24(4)6005129(4)73077MF João Vilela7(3)300209(3)32079GK Vítor Murta0(1)000000(1)00080DF Júnior Caiçara280105(1)134(1)110189MF Richard Almeida25(4)0106(1)032(5)05099FW Zé Luís4(9)4000(3)14(12)500—–Own goals–1–0–0–1–– Sources:
Top scorers The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal. PlayerLeagueCupLeague CupTotal1DF44 Cláudio802102FW70 Hugo Vieira6017399 Zé Luís4015458 Luís Carlos10345DF2 Rodrigo Galo3003MF77 João Vilela30037FW7 Laionel2002MF10 André Cunha20029FW14 Kalidou Yéro001129 Roberto1001MF40 Guilherme0011DF80 Júnior Caiçara0011Own goals 1 0 0 1TOTALS3101041
Clean sheets The list is sorted by shirt number when total appearances are equal. PlayerLeagueCupLeague CupTotal1GK1 Adriano Facchini100212221 Jorge Baptista000079 Vítor Murta0000TOTALS100212
Summary Games played 38 (30 Primeira Liga) (1 Taça de Portugal) (8 Taça da Liga)Games won 11 (8 Primeira Liga) (0 Taça de Portugal) (3 Taça da Liga)Games drawn 12 (10 Primeira Liga) (0 Taça de Portugal) (2 Taça da Liga)Games lost 15 (12 Primeira Liga) (1 Taça de Portugal) (2 Taça da Liga)Goals scored 41 (31 Primeira Liga) (0 Taça de Portugal) (10 Taça da Liga)Goals conceded 51 (42 Primeira Liga) (1 Taça de Portugal) (8 Taça da Liga)Goal difference –10 (–11 Primeira Liga) (–1 Taça de Portugal) (+2 Taça da Liga)Clean sheets 12 (10 Primeira Liga) (0 Taça de Portugal) (2 Taça da Liga)Most appearances 37 Richard AlmeidaTop scorer 10 Cláudio
References