# 2011–12 Ligue 1

The 2011–12 Ligue 1 season was the 74th since its establishment. Lille were the defending champions. The league schedule was announced on 31 March 2011 and the fixtures were determined on 10 June. The season began on 6 August 2011 and ended on 20 May 2012. The winter break was in effect from 22 December 2011 to 14 January 2012.
On 20 May 2012, the final day of the league season, Montpellier clinched its first-ever league title after defeating Auxerre 2–1 at the Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps. Montpellier was the fifth different club to win Ligue 1 since the 2007–08 season and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history. Paris Saint-Germain and Lille were the country's other Champions League participants, while Lyon, Bordeaux, and Marseille represented France in the UEFA Europa League. Lyon did not participate in UEFA's top football club competition for the first time in 12 years.
Auxerre, Dijon, and Caen were relegated to Ligue 2. Auxerre returned to the second division after 32 consecutive years playing in Ligue 1. 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 in Ligue 1, while Caen fell to the second tier after two years in the first division.

## Teams

There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated from Ligue 1 following the 2010–11 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 the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate.
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 to AS 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. 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 the 2008–09 season when the club finished as champions of the league. On the final day of the Ligue 1 season, Monaco suffered relegation to the second division after losing 2–0 to Lyon. The club's appearance in Ligue 2 was its first since 1976.
Evian became the first club from Ligue 2 to achieve promotion to Ligue 1 after its 2–1 victory over Reims on 20 May 2011. 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, both Dijon and Ajaccio earned berths in the first division after posting positive results in their respective matches. 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.

### Stadia and locations

| Club | Location | Venue | Capacity | Average Attendance |
| 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 Vélodrome$^1$ | 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-Guichard$^2$ | 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 |
* $^1$The Stade Vélodrome is currently undergoing renovations in preparation for UEFA Euro 2016. The current capacity is 42,000, a decrease from the original capacity of 60,031.
* $^2$The Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is currently undergoing renovations in preparation for UEFA Euro 2016. The current capacity is 26,747, a decrease from the original capacity of 35,616.

### 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 | Manager | Captain | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt sponsors (front) | Shirt sponsors (back) | Shirt sponsors (sleeve) | Shorts sponsors |
| Ajaccio | Olivier Pantaloni | Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi | Duarig | Restaurants du Cœur, Collectivité Territoriale de Corse, Conseil Général Corse du Sud | Europcar | Géant Casino | Mocchi Travaux Publics |
| Auxerre | Jean-Guy Wallemme | Olivier Sorin | Airness | Maisons Pierre, Conseil général de l'Yonne | Groupama | Conseil général de l'Yonne | Besson Chaussures |
| Bordeaux | Francis Gillot | Jaroslav Plašil | Puma | Kia | Groupama | Pichet Immobilier | Cdiscount |
| Brest | Corentin Martins (interim) | Oscar Ewolo | Nike | Quéguiner Matériaux (H)/Yaourt Malo (A & 3)/La Potagère (A & 3), Geodis Calberson, Breizh Cola | Casino Supermarchés | GUYOT Environnement | IDP |
| Caen | Franck Dumas | Nicolas Seube | Nike | GDE Recyclage (H)/Campagne de France (A & 3), Thebault Ingenierie (H)/GDE Recyclage (A & 3) | Petit Forestier | None | None |
| Dijon | Patrice Carteron | Abdoulaye Méïté | Nike | Doras Matériaux (H)/INEO (A), Veolia Propreté (H)/Pentax (A) , Dijonnaise de Voies Ferrées | Pentax (H)/Veolia Propreté (A) | Leader Intérim | Incendie Protection Sécurité |
| Evian | Pablo Correa | Cédric Barbosa | Kappa | Evian, Danette, Geodis Calberson, Sword Group | Samsic | Agence de Voyages SAT | VEKA |
| Lille | Rudi Garcia | Rio Mavuba | Umbro | Partouche | Partouche | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | None |
| Lorient | Christian Gourcuff | Fabien Audard | Macron | La Trinitaine, Armor-Lux, B&B Hotels | Salaun Holidays | None | Cap l'Orient Agglomération |
| Lyon | Rémi Garde | Cris | Adidas | Everest Poker/Veolia Environnement (H in UEFA matches)/Renault Trucks (A in UEFA matches), MDA Electroménager (H)/LG (A) | Groupama | Renault Trucks/Veolia Environnement | Renault Trucks/Keolis |
| Marseille | Didier Deschamps | Steve Mandanda | Adidas | Betclic | Intersport | None | Groupama |
| Montpellier | René Girard | Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa | Nike | Sud de France, Dyneff, Montpellier Agglomération | La Région Languedoc-Roussillon | Renault Trucks | Système U |
| Nancy | Jean Fernandez | André Luiz | Umbro | Triangle Intérim/Groupe DLSI, Geodis Calberson, Sopalin, Grand Nancy | FMT Divoux/Crea Flock/Factum/Fort Aventure/Comarch | Sopalin/Mougdon Menuisier/As2Foot | Caisse d'Epargne |
| Nice | René Marsiglia | Didier Digard | Burrda | Mutuelles du Soleil, Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur | Pizzorno Environnement | None | Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Carlo Ancelotti | Mamadou Sakho | Nike | Fly Emirates | Winamax Poker | Indesit | Elior Group |
| Rennes | Frédéric Antonetti | Kader Mangane | Puma | Samsic, rennes.fr | Blot Immobilier | Association ELA | Breizh Cola |
| Saint-Étienne | Christophe Galtier | Loïc Perrin | Adidas | Winamax, Mister-Auto, Conseil général de la Loire en Rhône-Alpes | Funai | None | Saint-Étienne Métropole, Loire |
| Sochaux | Éric Hély | Teddy Richert | Lotto | Mobil 1, Franche-Comté | Pays de Montbéliard Agglomération | Peugeot Occasions Du Lion | None |
| Toulouse | Alain Casanova | Daniel Congré | Kappa | Groupe IDEC, JD Patrimoine, JD Promotion | Newrest | None | None |
| Valenciennes | Daniel Sanchez | Rudy Mater | Uhlsport | Toyota (H)/SITA (A), Partouche | SITA (H) | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | Konica Minolta |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing head coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming head coach | Date of appointment | Position in table |
| Auxerre | Jean Fernandez | End of contract | 2 June 2011 | Off-season | Laurent Fournier | 8 June 2011 | Off-season |
| Valenciennes | Philippe Montanier | Joined Real Sociedad | 4 June 2011 | Off-season | Daniel Sanchez | 8 June 2011 | Off-season |
| Nancy | Pablo Correa | Resigned | 5 June 2011 | Off-season | Jean Fernandez | 5 June 2011 | Off-season |
| Sochaux | Francis Gillot | Resigned | 5 June 2011 | Off-season | Mehmed Baždarević | 10 June 2011 | Off-season |
| Bordeaux | Éric Bédouet | Mutual consent | 6 June 2011 | Off-season | Francis Gillot | 6 June 2011 | Off-season |
| Lyon | Claude Puel | Sacked | 20 June 2011 | Off-season | Rémi Garde | 21 June 2011 | Off-season |
| Nice | Eric Roy | Sacked | 15 November 2011 | 17th | René Marsiglia | 15 November 2011 | 17th |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Antoine Kombouaré | Mutual consent | 30 December 2011 | 1st | Carlo Ancelotti | 30 December 2011 | 1st |
| Evian | Bernard Casoni | Sacked | 1 January 2012 | 11th | Pablo Correa | 2 January 2012 | 11th |
| Sochaux | Mehmed Baždarević | Sacked | 6 March 2012 | 20th | Éric Hély | 6 March 2012 | 20th |
| Auxerre | Laurent Fournier | Sacked | 18 March 2012 | 20th | Jean-Guy Wallemme | 18 March 2012 | 20th |
| Brest | Alex Dupont | Sacked | 26 April 2012 | 18th | Corentin Martins | 26 April 2012 | 18th |

### Ownership changes

| Club | New owner | Previous owner | Date |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Qatar Investment Authority | Colony Capital and Butler Capital Partners | 1 July 2011 |

## League table

| 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 to Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Paris Saint-Germain | 38 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 75 | 41 | +34 | 79 | Qualification to Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Lille | 38 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 72 | 39 | +33 | 74 | Qualification to Champions League play-off round |
| 4 | Lyon | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 64 | 51 | +13 | 64 | Qualification to Europa League group stage |
| 5 | Bordeaux | 38 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 53 | 41 | +12 | 61 | Qualification to Europa League play-off round |
| 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 to Europa League third qualifying round |
| 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 to Ligue 2 |
| 19 | Dijon (R) | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 38 | 63 | −25 | 36 | Relegation to Ligue 2 |
| 20 | Auxerre (R) | 38 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 34 | Relegation to Ligue 2 |
* 1 2 Lyon won the 2011–12 Coupe de France and thus qualified for the group stage of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League. Since they finished 4th, the spot for the Europa League play-off round goes to the fifth-placed team.
* ↑ Marseille, as winners of the 2011–12 Coupe de la Ligue, qualified for the third qualifying round of 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.

## Results

| 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 | |

## Statistics
### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Anthony Mounier for Nice against Lyon (6 August 2011)
* Fastest goal of the season: 18 seconds – Jaroslav Plašil for Bordeaux against Nancy (4 December 2011)
* Latest goal of the season: 90+4 minutes – François Clerc for Nice against Lille (21 December 2011)
* First own goal of the season: Abdoulaye Bamba (Dijon) for Lyon (10 September 2011)
* Widest winning margin: 5 goals
** Paris Saint-Germain 6–1 Sochaux (22 April 2012)
* Highest scoring game: 9 goals
** Lille 4–5 Bordeaux
* Most goals scored in a match by a single team: 6 goals
** Sochaux 2–6 Rennes (21 September 2011)
** Paris Saint-Germain 6–1 Sochaux (22 April 2012)

### Discipline

* Worst overall disciplinary record (1 pt per yellow card, 3 pts per red card): 119 points
** Ajaccio (92 yellow & 9 red cards)
* Best overall disciplinary record: 66 points
** Sochaux (60 yellow & 2 red cards)
* Most yellow cards (club): 92
** Ajaccio
* Most yellow cards (player): 13
** Mehdi Mostefa (Ajaccio)
* Most red cards (club): 9
** Ajaccio
* Most red cards (player): 3
** Jean-Pascal Mignot (Saint-Étienne)

## Awards
### Monthly awards

| Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month |
| Month | Player | Club |
| September | Javier Pastore | Paris Saint-Germain |
| October | Nenê | Paris Saint-Germain |
| November | Younès Belhanda | Montpellier |
| December | Salvatore Sirigu | Paris Saint-Germain |
| January | Milan Biševac | Paris Saint-Germain |
| February | P. E. Aubameyang | Saint-Étienne |
| March | Eden Hazard | Lille |

### Annual awards
#### UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year

The UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year was awarded to Eden Hazard.

#### UNFP Young Player of the Year

The UNFP Young Player of the Year was awarded to Younès Belhanda.

#### UNFP Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year

The UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year was awarded to Hugo Lloris.

### UNFP Team of the Year

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)

#### UNFP Ligue 1 Manager of the Year

The UNFP Manager of the Year was awarded to René Girard of Montpellier.