| Season | 2011–12 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 6 August 2011 – 20 May 2012 |
| Champions | Montpellier 1st Ligue 1 title 1stFrench title |
| Relegated | Caen Dijon Auxerre |
| Champions League | Montpellier Paris Saint-Germain Lille |
| Europa League | Lyon Bordeaux Marseille |
| Matches | 380 |
| Goals | 956 (2.52 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Olivier Giroud Nenê (21 goals each) |
| Biggest home win | Paris Saint-Germain 6–1Sochaux (22 April 2012)[1] |
| Biggest away win | Dijon 1–5Rennes (7 August 2011)[2] Sochaux 2–6Rennes (21 September 2011)[2] |
| Highest scoring | Lille 4–5Bordeaux (12 February 2012)[3] |
| Longest winning run | 6 games[4] Paris Saint-Germain (21 September – 29 October) Bordeaux (21 April - 20 May) |
| Longest unbeaten run | 17 games[4] Lille (20 August – 21 December) |
| Longest winless run | 13 games[4] Sochaux (20 November – 3 March) Marseille (5 February - 27 April) |
| Longest losing run | 5 games[4] Marseille (26 February – 17 March) Dijon (7 April - 3 May) |
| Highest attendance | 46,252 –Paris Saint-Germain 2–1Marseille (8 April 2012)[4] |
| Lowest attendance | 5,125 –Ajaccio 2–2Caen (10 September 2011)[4] |
| Average attendance | 18,554[5] |
2012–13 → | |
The2011–12 Ligue 1 season was the 74th since its establishment.[6]Lille were thedefending champions. The league schedule was announced on 31 March 2011 and the fixtures were determined on 10 June.[7][8] The season began on 6 August 2011 and ended on 20 May 2012.[9] The winter break was in effect from 22 December 2011 to 14 January 2012.[10]
On 20 May 2012, the final day of the league season,Montpellier clinched its first-ever league title after defeatingAuxerre 2–1 at theStade de l'Abbé-Deschamps.[11] Montpellier was the fifth different club to win Ligue 1 since the2007–08 season and qualified for theUEFA Champions League for the first time in its history.Paris Saint-Germain andLille were the country's other Champions League participants, whileLyon,Bordeaux, andMarseille represented France in theUEFA Europa League. Lyon did not participate inUEFA's top football club competition for the first time in 12 years.
Auxerre,Dijon, andCaen were relegated toLigue 2.[12] Auxerre returned to the second division after 32 consecutive years playing in Ligue 1.[13] 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 inLigue 1, while Caen fell to the second tier after two years in the first division.
There were three promoted teams fromLigue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated from Ligue 1 following the2010–11 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 theDNCG before becoming eligible to participate.[14]
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 toAS 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.[15] 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 the2008–09 season when the club finished as champions of the league.[16] On the final day of the Ligue 1 season, Monaco suffered relegation to the second division after losing 2–0 toLyon. The club's appearance in Ligue 2 was its first since 1976.[17]
Evian became the first club from Ligue 2 to achieve promotion to Ligue 1 after its 2–1 victory overReims on 20 May 2011.[18] 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, bothDijon andAjaccio earned berths in the first division after posting positive results in their respective matches.[19] 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.
| Club | Location | Venue | Capacity | Average attendance[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajaccio | Ajaccio | Stade François Coty | 10,660 | 6,338 |
| Auxerre | Auxerre | Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps | 24,493 | 11,879 |
| Bordeaux | Bordeaux | Stade Chaban-Delmas | 34,462 | 20,712 |
| Brest | Brest | Stade Francis-Le Blé | 16,000 | 13,542 |
| Caen | Caen | Stade Michel d'Ornano | 21,500 | 15,280 |
| Dijon | Dijon | Stade Gaston Gérard | 15,998 | 13,597 |
| Evian | Annecy | Parc des Sports | 15,600 | 11,855 |
| Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq | Stadium Nord Lille Métropole | 18,185 | 16,969 |
| Lorient | Lorient | Stade du Moustoir | 18,890 | 15,594 |
| Lyon | Lyon | Stade de Gerland | 41,842 | 33,108 |
| Marseille | Marseille | Stade Vélodrome1 | 42,000 | 40,455 |
| Montpellier | Montpellier | Stade de la Mosson | 32,900 | 17,492 |
| Nancy | Tomblaine | Stade Marcel Picot | 20,085 | 15,328 |
| Nice | Nice | Stade du Ray | 17,415 | 9,133 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Paris | Parc des Princes | 48,712 | 42,892 |
| Rennes | Rennes | Stade de la Route de Lorient | 31,127 | 20,725 |
| Saint-Étienne | Saint-Étienne | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard2 | 26,747 | 21,409 |
| Sochaux | Montbéliard | Stade Auguste Bonal | 20,005 | 13,826 |
| Toulouse | Toulouse | Stadium Municipal | 35,470 | 22,033 |
| Valenciennes | Valenciennes | Stade du Hainaut | 25,000 | 15,226 |
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined underFIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Outgoing head coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming head coach | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auxerre | End of contract | 2 June 2011[22] | Off-season | 8 June 2011[23] | Off-season | ||
| Valenciennes | JoinedReal Sociedad | 4 June 2011[24] | 8 June 2011[25] | ||||
| Nancy | Resigned | 5 June 2011 | 5 June 2011[26] | ||||
| Sochaux | 5 June 2011 | 10 June 2011[27] | |||||
| Bordeaux | Mutual consent | 6 June 2011 | 6 June 2011[28] | ||||
| Lyon | Sacked | 20 June 2011[29] | 21 June 2011[30] | ||||
| Nice | Sacked | 15 November 2011 | 17th | 15 November 2011[31] | 17th | ||
| Paris Saint-Germain | Mutual consent[32][33][34] | 30 December 2011 | 1st | 30 December 2011[35] | 1st | ||
| Evian | Sacked[36] | 1 January 2012 | 11th | 2 January 2012 | 11th | ||
| Sochaux | Sacked[37] | 6 March 2012 | 20th | 6 March 2012[37] | 20th | ||
| Auxerre | Sacked[38] | 18 March 2012 | 20th | 18 March 2012[38] | 20th | ||
| Brest | Sacked[39] | 26 April 2012 | 18th | 26 April 2012 | 18th |
| Club | New owner | Previous owner | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | 1 July 2011[41] |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montpellier(C) | 38 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 68 | 34 | +34 | 82 | Qualification toChampions League group stage |
| 2 | Paris Saint-Germain | 38 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 75 | 41 | +34 | 79 | |
| 3 | Lille | 38 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 72 | 39 | +33 | 74 | Qualification toChampions League play-off round |
| 4 | Lyon | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 64 | 51 | +13 | 64 | Qualification toEuropa League group stage[a] |
| 5 | Bordeaux | 38 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 53 | 41 | +12 | 61 | Qualification toEuropa League play-off round[a] |
| 6 | Rennes | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 53 | 44 | +9 | 60 | |
| 7 | Saint-Étienne | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 49 | 45 | +4 | 57 | |
| 8 | Toulouse | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 37 | 34 | +3 | 56 | |
| 9 | Evian | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 54 | 55 | −1 | 50 | |
| 10 | Marseille | 38 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 48 | Qualification toEuropa League third qualifying round[b] |
| 11 | Nancy | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 45 | |
| 12 | Valenciennes | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 40 | 50 | −10 | 43 | |
| 13 | Nice | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 39 | 46 | −7 | 42 | |
| 14 | Sochaux | 38 | 11 | 9 | 18 | 40 | 60 | −20 | 42 | |
| 15 | Brest | 38 | 8 | 17 | 13 | 31 | 38 | −7 | 41 | |
| 16 | Ajaccio | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 40 | 61 | −21 | 41 | |
| 17 | Lorient | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 35 | 49 | −14 | 39 | |
| 18 | Caen(R) | 38 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 39 | 59 | −20 | 38 | Relegation toLigue 2 |
| 19 | Dijon(R) | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 38 | 63 | −25 | 36 | |
| 20 | Auxerre(R) | 38 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 34 |
| Home \ Away | ACA | AUX | BOR | BRS | CAE | DIJ | EVI | LIL | LOR | OL | OM | MHS | NAL | NIC | PSG | REN | STE | SOC | TFC | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajaccio | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | |
| Auxerre | 4–1 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
| Bordeaux | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | |
| Brest | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | |
| Caen | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | |
| Dijon | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–5 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | |
| Evian | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | |
| Lille | 4–1 | 2–2 | 4–5 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 4–4 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | |
| Lorient | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | |
| Lyon | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–4 | 4–4 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | |
| Marseille | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | |
| Montpellier | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 5–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | |
| Nancy | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | |
| Nice | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | |
| Paris SG | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | |
| Rennes | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | |
| Saint-Étienne | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | |
| Sochaux | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–6 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | |
| Toulouse | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
| Valenciennes | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–4 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 |
Top goalscorers[edit]Last updated: 20 May 2012 | Hat-tricks[edit]
|
| Month | Player of the Month | |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | |
| September[48] | Paris Saint-Germain | |
| October[49] | Paris Saint-Germain | |
| November[50] | Montpellier | |
| December[51] | Paris Saint-Germain | |
| January[52] | Paris Saint-Germain | |
| February[53] | Saint-Étienne | |
| March[54] | Lille | |
The UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year was awarded toEden Hazard.[55]
The UNFP Young Player of the Year was awarded toYounès Belhanda.[55]
The UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year was awarded toHugo Lloris.[55]
Goalkeeper:Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
Defence:Mathieu Debuchy (Lille),Hilton (Montpellier),Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille),Henri Bedimo (Montpellier)
Midfield:Rio Mavuba (Lille),Étienne Capoue (Toulouse),Younès Belhanda (Montpellier),Eden Hazard (Lille)
Attack:Olivier Giroud (Montpellier),Nenê (Paris Saint-Germain)
The UNFP Manager of the Year was awarded toRené Girard of Montpellier.[55]