| Season | 2011–12 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Neftchi (7th title) |
| Champions League | Neftchi |
| Europa League | Baku Khazar Inter Baku |
| Matches | 192 |
| Goals | 448 (2.33 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Bahodir Nasimov (16 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Neftchi 7-1AZAL |
| Biggest away win | Ravan 0-4Gabala |
| Highest scoring | AZAL 6-3Sumgayit |
| Highest attendance | 15,000[1] Kəpəz 3–1AZAL |
| Lowest attendance | 300[2]FK Baku 0–3Kəpəz FK Baku 3–2Ravan |
| Average attendance | 3,581[2] |
2012–13 → | |
The2011–12 Azerbaijan Premier League (known as theUnibank Premyer Liqası for sponsorship reasons) was the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992.Neftchi Baku was the defending champions, having won their second Azerbaijani championship theprevious season.
The twelve teams participating in the league included the ten sides remaining from the2010–11 season, one promoted club from the2010–11 Azerbaijan First Division and a totally new club instead of the defunct First Division championsFC Absheron.[3] The format of the league was the same as in the2010–11 season.
There is only one change in season's regulation as only champion of2011–12 Azerbaijan First Division was directly promoted, while runners up of first division played play-off game with the team that finished 11th inAzerbaijan Premier League.[3]
MOIK Baku were relegated to theAzerbaijan First Division after finishing 12th and last, at the end oflast season. They were replaced by First Division championsFC Absheron and runners-upRavan Baku. However, due sponsorship problems Absheron became defunct and replaced bySumgayit City F.C.[4]
On 31 May 2011, it was announced that FK Ganja changed their name toFC Kəpəz.[5] On 18 July 2011,FK Mughan also ruled out to participate in this season due sponsorship reasons and replaced bySimurq PFC.[6][7]
| Team | Location | Venue | Capacity[8] |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZAL | Baku | AZAL Stadium | 3,000 |
| FK Baku | Baku | Tofig Bahramov Stadium | 30,000 |
| Gabala | Gabala | Gabala City Stadium | 2,000 |
| Inter | Baku | Shafa Stadium | 8,150 |
| Kəpəz | Ganja | Ganja City Stadium | 25,000 |
| Khazar | Lankaran | Lankaran City Stadium | 15,000 |
| Neftchi | Baku | Tofig Bahramov Stadium | 30,000 |
| Qarabağ | Aghdam | Guzanli Olympic Stadium | 2,000 |
| Ravan Baku | Baku | Dalga Arena | 6,500 |
| Simurq | Zaqatala | Zaqatala City Stadium | 3,500 |
| Sumgayit | Sumqayit | Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium | 16,000 |
| Turan | Tovuz | Tovuz City Stadium | 6,800 |
| Team | Manager | Team captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZAL | Umbro | Silk Way | ||
| FC Baku | Macron | |||
| Gabala | Erreà | Hyundai | ||
| Inter | Umbro | IBA | ||
| Kəpəz | Adidas | Nakhchivan Car Factory | ||
| Khazar | Puma | Palmali | ||
| Neftchi | Adidas | SOCAR | ||
| Qarabağ | Kappa | Azersun | ||
| Ravan Baku | Legea | Nissan | ||
| Simurq | Kappa | |||
| Sumgayit | Kappa | Azerkimya | ||
| Turan | Kappa | SivArt TV PLUS |
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Replaced by | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZAL | Resigned | 7 July 2011[9] | Pre-season | 12 July 2011[10] | ||
| Neftchi | Resigned | 29 July 2011[11] | Pre-season | 2 August 2011[12] | ||
| Ravan Baku | Resigned | 20 September 2011[13] | 11th | 20 September 2011[13] | ||
| AZAL | Resigned | 31 October 2011[14] | 10th | 1 November 2011 | ||
| Gabala | Resigned | 16 November 2011[15] | 6th | 16 November 2011[16] | ||
| Kapaz | Resigned | 21 November 2011[17] | 10th | 21 November 2011[18] | ||
| Khazar Lankaran | Sacked | 4 December 2011[19] | 3rd | 5 December 2011[20] | ||
| Kapaz | Resigned | 24 December 2011[21] | 10th | 1 January 2012[22] | ||
| Ravan Baku | Sacked | 5 February 2012[23] | 8th | 6 February 2012[23] | ||
| Simurq | Mutually terminated | 5 March 2012[24] | 10th | 5 March 2012[24] | ||
| Simurq | End of tenure as caretaker | 11 March 2012[25] | 10th | 11 March 2012[25] | ||
| FC Baku | Mutually terminated | 11 March 2012[26] | 5th | 11 March 2012[26] | ||
| Khazar Lankaran | Sacked | 15 March 2012[27] | 4th | 15 March 2012[28] | ||
| AZAL | Mutually terminated | 2 April 2012[29] | 7th | 2 April 2012[29] | ||
| AZAL | End of tenure as caretaker | 6 April 2012[30] | 7th | 6 April 2012[30] |
On 21 August 2011,Inter Baku -FK Baku game was suspended during last minutes due referee scandal, therefore game's fate decided after Professional Football League of Azerbaijan's decision.[31][32] On 23 August 2011, PFL awarded 3-0 technical victory to FK Baku and announced the following punishments were given toInter Baku's individuals:
Furthermore, Inter Baku fined additional 13,000AZN for breaching security regulations.[33][34]
On 6 August 2011, the Disciplinary Committee of AFFA imposed the punishment on the scandal that took place in two matches. Khazar Lankaran fined 10,000AZN after club's fans threw alien objects to the court, injuring the head of Inter Baku's coachKakhaber Tskhadadze. Khazar also must play its next two league home matches in an empty stadium because of its fans' aggressive behavior.[35]
AFFA fined Turan Tovuz 26,000AZN and moved its next two league home matches on a neutral ground for injuring referees, breaking PFL camera as well as for refusing to play at the second half of2011–12 Azerbaijan Cup.[35][36] The club's president Musa Suleymanov has been disqualified for five matches and club received technical defeat of 0-3.[37]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neftçi Baku | 22 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 45 | 17 | +28 | 49 | Qualification forchampionship group |
| 2 | Inter Baku | 22 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 10 | +11 | 45 | |
| 3 | Khazar Lankaran | 22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 19 | +14 | 44 | |
| 4 | Qarabağ | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 14 | +13 | 41 | |
| 5 | Baku | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 22 | +5 | 35 | |
| 6 | Gabala | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 23 | +4 | 35 | |
| 7 | AZAL | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 29 | Qualification forrelegation group |
| 8 | Ravan Baku | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 29 | −6 | 25 | |
| 9 | Kapaz | 22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 38 | −12 | 22 | |
| 10 | Simurq | 22 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 18 | 34 | −16 | 19 | |
| 11 | Sumgayit | 22 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 16 | 37 | −21 | 15 | |
| 12 | Turan | 22 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 13 | 33 | −20 | 11 |
| Home \ Away | AZL | BAK | KAP | INT | KHA | SIM | NEF | QAR | GAB | RAV | SUM | TUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZAL | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 6–3 | 3–2 | |
| Baku | 0–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 5–0 | |
| Kapaz | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | |
| Inter Baku | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | |
| Khazar Lankaran | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | |
| Simurq | 0–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | |
| Neftçi Baku | 7–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | |
| Qarabağ | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | |
| Gabala | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | |
| Ravan Baku | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 2–1 | |
| Sumgayit | 2–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | |
| Turan | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 |
The top six teams of the first phase participate in this group, which will decide which team will win the championship. Additionally, teams in this group compete for one2012–13 Champions League and twoEuropa League spots.
The winners will qualify for the Champions LeagueSecond qualifying round, with the runners-up and third place team earning a spot in theEuropa League first qualifying round.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neftçi Baku(C) | 32 | 20 | 3 | 9 | 55 | 30 | +25 | 63 | Qualification forChampions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Khazar Lankaran | 32 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 28 | +16 | 59 | Qualification forEuropa League first qualifying round[a] |
| 3 | Inter Baku | 32 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 21 | +8 | 56 | |
| 4 | Qarabağ | 32 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 37 | 28 | +9 | 53 | |
| 5 | Gabala | 32 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 43 | 32 | +11 | 52 | |
| 6 | Baku | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 42 | 37 | +5 | 50 | Qualification forEuropa League first qualifying round[a] |
| Home \ Away | BAK | INT | KHA | NEF | QAR | GAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baku | 0–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | |
| Inter Baku | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | |
| Khazar Lankaran | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | |
| Neftçi Baku | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | |
| Qarabağ | 2–4 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | |
| Gabala | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 |
The bottom six teams of the first phase will determine the teams to be relegated to the 2012–13Azerbaijan First Division. The bottom team of this group will be directly relegated, while the fifth-placed team will have to compete in relegation/promotion playoffs with the second-placed teams of the2011–12 Azerbaijan First Division. On April 30, due decision ofAssociation of Football Federations of Azerbaijan, no clubs fromAzerbaijan First Division will be promoted which means all clubs from this season will be remaining in the league.[38]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | AZAL | 32 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 44 | |
| 8 | Ravan Baku | 32 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 41 | |
| 9 | Simurq | 32 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 27 | 41 | −14 | 34 | |
| 10 | Kapaz | 32 | 9 | 5 | 18 | 35 | 55 | −20 | 32 | |
| 11 | Turan(R) | 32 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 42 | −16 | 25 | Qualification forrelegation playoffs |
| 12 | Sumgayit(R) | 32 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 27 | 52 | −25 | 24 | Relegation toAzerbaijan First Division |
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Neftchi | |
| 2 | 11 | Kapaz | |
| 3 | 10 | AZAL | |
| 10 | Neftchi | ||
| 10 | AZAL | ||
| 4 | 9 | Gabala | |
| 5 | 8 | Simurq | |
| 8 | Khazar Lankaran | ||
| 8 | Gabala |
Last updated: 11 May 2012
Source:Azerbaijan Premier League
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neftchi Baku | AZAL | 7–1[39] | 11 December 2011 | |
| FK Baku | Khazar Lankaran | 4–1[40] | 14 April 2012 |
| Month | Azerbaijan Professional Football League Awards | |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | |
| August | Kəpəz[48] | |
| September | Neftchi | |
| October | Baku[49] | |
| November | Neftchi[49] | |
| December | Inter Baku | |
| February | Qarabağ | |
| March | Gabala | |
| April | Baku | |
| May | Khazar | |
| Award | PFL Seasonal Awards[50] | |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | |
| Best Goalkeeper | Khazar | |
| Best Defender | Khazar | |
| Best Midfielder | Khazar | |
| Best Forward | Qarabağ | |
| Player of the Year | Neftchi | |
| Young Player of the Year | Baku | |
| Manager of the Year | Neftchi | |