# 2010–11 Ligue 1

The 2010–11 Ligue 1 season was the 73rd since its establishment. Entering the season, Marseille were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 21 May 2010 and the season began on 7 August and ended on 29 May 2011. The winter break was in effect between 23 December and 15 January 2011. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated from Ligue 1 following the 2009–10 season. A total of 20 teams currently competes 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. In addition, German sportswear company Puma, whom the Ligue de Football Professionnel share a partnership with, provided a brand new match ball for the new season.
Lille clinched the league title on 21 May 2011 with one match to spare after drawing 2–2 with Paris Saint-Germain away at the Parc des Princes. The title was the club's third overall and its first in over 57 years. As a result of Lille also winning the Coupe de France during the season, the club became the third different club in three consecutive seasons to win some form of the double in France. In 2009, Bordeaux captured the league and league cup double and, in the following season, Marseille did the same.

## Teams

On 19 April, Caen drew 0–0 with Nîmes. The draw assured Caen a return to Ligue 1 after falling down to Ligue 2 the previous season. On 30 April, Brest secured promotion to Ligue 1, for the first time since being administratively relegated in 1991, following stalemates in matches involving Metz and Clermont. Brest capped the promotion by defeating Tours 2–0 on the same day. On 14 May, on the final day of the Ligue 2 season, Arles-Avignon became the last Ligue 2 club to achieve promotion to the first division. The club defeated fourth-place club Clermont 1–0 at home to earn promotion. The club had achieved promotion to Ligue 2 from the third-tier Championnat National the previous season meaning the club has jumped two divisions in just two seasons.
Grenoble was the first club to suffer relegation to Ligue 2. The club's impending drop occurred on 10 April 2010 following the team's 4–0 defeat to Toulouse. On 3 May 2010, both Boulogne and Le Mans were relegated to Ligue 2 following defeats. Le Mans relegation was confirmed following their 3–2 loss away to Nancy, while Boulogne suffered relegation after losing 1–0 to Saint-Étienne, who both Boulogne and Le Mans were trailing. Having earned promotion to Ligue 1 the previous season, Boulogne's return to Ligue 2 meant a short-lived stay in the highest division.

### Stadia and locations

On 17 May 2010, the Ligue de Football Professionnel announced that, for the first time in French football history, two clubs, Lorient and Nancy, would switch the surface of their football pitch from grass to artificial turf. This type of surface is common in North America and Eastern Europe, but is considered rare in Western Europe. Both clubs attributed the switch to weather and ecological problems with severe cold fronts affecting their regions every winter. The switch would, in turn, reduce energy costs and also avoid cancellations of matches due to a frozen pitch. Also, in Lorient's case, a constant proliferation of earthworms onto their pitch over the past two seasons had led to a rapid deterioration of the ground, which has forced the club to spend as much as €2 million to replace it. Both clubs previously toured Russia, Austria, and Norway to become better acclimated with the surface.
| Club | Location | Venue | Capacity | Average Attendance$^1$ |
| Arles-Avignon | Avignon | Parc des Sports | 17,518 | 9,314 |
| Auxerre | Auxerre | Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps | 24,493 | 11,113 |
| Bordeaux | Bordeaux | Stade Chaban-Delmas | 34,462 | 25,221 |
| Brest | Brest | Stade Francis-Le Blé | 16,000 | 13,379 |
| Caen | Caen | Stade Michel d'Ornano | 21,500 | 15,487 |
| Lens | Lens | Stade Félix-Bollaert | 41,233 | 31,820 |
| Lille | Villeneuve d'Ascq | Stadium Nord Lille Métropole | 18,185 | 16,237 |
| Lorient | Lorient | Stade du Moustoir | 18,890 | 15,540 |
| Lyon | Lyon | Stade de Gerland | 41,842 | 34,914 |
| Marseille | Marseille | Stade Vélodrome | 60,013 | 51,210 |
| Monaco | Fontvieille | Stade Louis II | 18,500 | 6,517 |
| Montpellier | Montpellier | Stade de la Mosson | 32,900 | 16,706 |
| Nancy | Tomblaine | Stade Marcel Picot | 20,085 | 16,696 |
| Nice | Nice | Stade du Ray | 17,415 | 8,428 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Paris | Parc des Princes | 48,712 | 28,736 |
| Rennes | Rennes | Stade de la Route de Lorient | 31,127 | 23,641 |
| Saint-Étienne | Saint-Étienne | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | 35,616 | 25,503 |
| Sochaux | Montbéliard | Stade Auguste Bonal | 20,005 | 11,976 |
| Toulouse | Toulouse | Stadium Municipal | 35,470 | 19,961 |
| Valenciennes | Valenciennes | Stade Nungesser | 16,547 | 11,432 |
$^1$Source: As of 26 April 2011

### Personnel and kits

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt sponsors (front) | Shirt sponsors (back) | Shirt sponsors (sleeve) | Shorts sponsors |
| Arles-Avignon | Faruk Hadžibegić | Sébastien Piocelle | Uhlsport | CESP Energie Solaire | CESP Energie Solaire | Marie Blachère | Marie Blachère |
| Auxerre | Jean Fernandez | Benoît Pedretti | Airness | Senoble, Invicta Group | Groupama | Conseil général de l'Yonne | Besson Chaussures |
| Bordeaux | Jean Tigana | Alou Diarra | Puma | Kia | Cdiscount | Pichet Immobilier | Cdiscount |
| Brest | Alex Dupont | 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), GDE Recyclage (A & 3) | Petit Forestier | None | None |
| Lens | László Bölöni | Adil Hermach | Reebok | Invicta Group, Allianz, Optex | France-pari | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | McCain Foods |
| Lille | Rudi Garcia | Rio Mavuba | Umbro | Partouche | Partouche | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | None |
| Lorient | Christian Gourcuff | Fabien Audard | Duarig | La Trinitaine, Armor-Lux, B&B Hotels | Salaun Holidays | None | Cap l'Orient Agglomération |
| Lyon | Claude Puel | Cris | Adidas | Betclic (H)/Everest Poker (A), MDA Electroménager (H)/LG (A) | Groupama | Araldite | Renault Trucks |
| Marseille | Didier Deschamps | Steve Mandanda | Adidas | Betclic | Intersport | None | Groupama |
| Monaco | Laurent Banide | Stéphane Ruffier | Macron | Fedcom, HSBC | HSBC | HSBC | Peace and Sport |
| Montpellier | René Girard | Nenad Džodić | Nike | La Foir'Fouille/NetBet, Dyneff, La Région Languedoc-Roussillon | Montpellier Agglomération | Renault Trucks | Système U |
| Nancy | Pablo Correa | Gennaro Bracigliano | Umbro | Delipapier/Cora Supermarché/Umbro/Sopalin/Nouvelec Connexion Laxou/Ticket Sport/Centre Commercial Saint Sébastien/Kompass/Steve/Rozana/Factum/Pixab/The Fanclub, Geodis Calberson, Sopalin, Grand Nancy | Triangle Intérim | Fort Aventure | Caisse d'Epargne |
| Nice | Eric Roy | Julien Sablé | Lotto | Mad-Croc Energy Drink, Takara Multimédia, Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur | Pizzorno Environnement | None | Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Antoine Kombouaré | Claude Makélélé | Nike | Fly Emirates, UNICEF | Winamax Poker | Poweo | 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 Poker, Invicta Group, Conseil général de la Loire en Rhône-Alpes | Funai | Kaspersky | Saint-Étienne Métropole, Loire |
| Sochaux | Francis Gillot | Jérémie Bréchet | Lotto | Peugeot, Mobil 1, Franche-Comté | Pays de Montbéliard Agglomération | Peugeot Occasions Du Lion | None |
| Toulouse | Alain Casanova | Mauro Cetto | Airness | Groupe IDEC, Fondation TFC, JD Promotion | Newrest | None | None |
| Valenciennes | Philippe Montanier | Rudy Mater | Nike | Toyota (H)/SITA (A), Partouche | SITA (H)/Toyota (A) | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | None |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing head coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming head coach | Date of appointment | Position in table |
| Bordeaux | Laurent Blanc | Mutual consent | 16 May 2010 | Off-season | Jean Tigana | 25 May 2010 | Off-season |
| Arles-Avignon | Michel Estevan | Sacked | 16 September 2010 | 20th | Faruk Hadžibegić | 2 October 2010 | 20th |
| Lens | Jean-Guy Wallemme | Resigned | 2 January 2011 | 19th | László Bölöni | 2 January 2011 | 19th |
| Monaco | Guy Lacombe | Sacked | 10 January 2011 | 17th | Laurent Banide | 10 January 2011 | 17th |
| Bordeaux | Jean Tigana | Resigned | 7 May 2011 | 9th | Eric Bédouet | 7 May 2011 | 9th |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Lille (C) | 38 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 68 | 36 | +32 | 76 | Qualification to Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Marseille | 38 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 62 | 39 | +23 | 68 | Qualification to Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Lyon | 38 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 61 | 40 | +21 | 64 | Qualification to Champions League play-off round |
| 4 | Paris Saint-Germain | 38 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 56 | 41 | +15 | 60 | Qualification to Europa League play-off round |
| 5 | Sochaux | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 60 | 43 | +17 | 58 | Qualification to Europa League play-off round |
| 6 | Rennes | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 38 | 35 | +3 | 56 | Qualification to Europa League third qualifying round |
| 7 | Bordeaux | 38 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 43 | 42 | +1 | 51 | |
| 8 | Toulouse | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 38 | 36 | +2 | 50 | |
| 9 | Auxerre | 38 | 10 | 19 | 9 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 49 | |
| 10 | Saint-Étienne | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 46 | 47 | −1 | 49 | |
| 11 | Lorient | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 46 | 48 | −2 | 49 | |
| 12 | Valenciennes | 38 | 10 | 18 | 10 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 48 | |
| 13 | Nancy | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 43 | 48 | −5 | 48 | |
| 14 | Montpellier | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 32 | 43 | −11 | 47 | |
| 15 | Caen | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 46 | 51 | −5 | 46 | |
| 16 | Brest | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 36 | 43 | −7 | 46 | |
| 17 | Nice | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 33 | 48 | −15 | 46 | |
| 18 | Monaco (R) | 38 | 9 | 17 | 12 | 36 | 40 | −4 | 44 | Relegation to Ligue 2 |
| 19 | Lens (R) | 38 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 35 | 58 | −23 | 35 | Relegation to Ligue 2 |
| 20 | Arles-Avignon (R) | 38 | 3 | 11 | 24 | 21 | 70 | −49 | 20 | Relegation to Ligue 2 |
* ↑ As 2010–11 Coupe de France winners Lille are qualified for the UEFA Champions League and cup runners-up Paris St. Germain are already ensured of a UEFA Europa League spot via league placement, the play-off round berth reserved for the cup winners was awarded to Sochaux, the fifth-placed team.
* ↑ As Coupe de la Ligue winners Marseille are qualified for the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League third qualification round berth reserved for the league cup winners was awarded to Rennes, the sixth-placed team.

## Results

| Home \ Away | ACAA | AUX | BOR | BRS | CAE | RCL | LIL | LOR | OL | OM | ASM | MHS | NAL | NIC | PSG | REN | STE | SOC | TFC | VAL |
| Arles-Avignon | | 0–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Auxerre | 1–1 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| Bordeaux | 0–0 | 3–0 | | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| Brest | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | | 1–3 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 |
| Caen | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | | 1–1 | 2–5 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Lens | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| Lille | 5–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | | 6–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Lorient | 2–0 | 1–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| Lyon | 5–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 |
| Marseille | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Monaco | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 |
| Montpellier | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Nancy | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 |
| Nice | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 |
| Paris SG | 4–0 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 |
| Rennes | 4–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 |
| Saint-Étienne | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Sochaux | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 2–1 | | 1–3 | 2–1 |
| Toulouse | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | | 0–0 |
| Valenciennes | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | |

## Season statistics
### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Moussa Sow | Lille | 25 |
| 2 | Kevin Gameiro | Lorient | 22 |
| 3 | Grégory Pujol | Valenciennes | 17 |
| 3 | Youssef El-Arabi | Caen | 17 |
| 3 | Lisandro López | Lyon | 17 |
| 6 | Loïc Rémy | Marseille | 16 |
| 7 | Gervinho | Lille | 15 |
| 7 | Brown Ideye | Sochaux | 15 |
| 7 | Modibo Maïga | Sochaux | 15 |
| 10 | Nenê | Paris Saint-Germain | 14 |
Last updated: 29 May 2011 Source: Official Goalscorers' Standings

### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Mevlüt Erdinç for Paris Saint-Germain against Saint-Étienne (7 August 2010)
* Quickest goal of the season: 58 seconds – Nenê for Paris Saint-Germain against Auxerre (24 October 2010)
* Latest goal in a match in the season: 90+6 minutes – Anthony Modeste for Bordeaux against Nice (12 September 2010)
* Widest winning margin: 5 goals
** Lyon 5–0 Arles-Avignon (6 March 2011)
** Lille 5–0 Arles-Avignon (1 May 2011)
* Highest scoring game: 9 goals
** Lille 6–3 Lorient (5 December 2010)
* Most goals scored in a match by a single team: 6 goals – Lille 6–3 Lorient (5 December 2010)

### Discipline

* Worst overall disciplinary record (1 pt per yellow card, 3 pts per second yellow card/red card):
** Montpellier – 98 points (77 yellow & 7 red cards)
* Best overall disciplinary record:
** Brest – 48 points (48 yellow & 0 red cards)
* Most yellow cards (club):
** Caen – 80
* Most yellow cards (player): 13
** Renato Civelli (Nice)
** Alaixys Romao (Lorient)
** Dennis Oliech (Auxerre)
* Most red cards (club): 8
** Arles-Avignon
** Lyon
* Most red cards (player): 2
** Aly Cissokho (Lyon)
** Renato Civelli (Nice)
** Drissa Diakité (Nice)
** Sambou Yatabaré (Caen)

## Awards
### Monthly awards
#### UNFP Player of the Month

| Month | Player | Club |
| September | Dimitri Payet | Saint-Étienne |
| October | Steeve Elana | Brest |
| November | Clément Chantôme | Paris Saint-Germain |
| December | Nenê | Paris Saint-Germain |
| January | Marvin Martin | Sochaux |
| February | Mickaël Landreau | Lille |
| March | Eden Hazard | Lille |
| April | Mamadou Sakho | Paris Saint-Germain |

### Annual awards

The nominees for the Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Goal of the Year in Ligue 1. The winners were determined at the annual UNFP Awards, which were held on 22 May. The winners will be displayed in bold.

#### Player of the Year

| Player | Nationality | Club |
| Kevin Gameiro | France | Lorient |
| Eden Hazard | Belgium | Lille |
| Nenê | Brazil | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Moussa Sow | Senegal | Lille |

#### Young Player of the Year

| Player | Nationality | Club |
| André Ayew | Ghana | Marseille |
| Marvin Martin | France | Sochaux |
| Yann M'Vila | France | Rennes |
| Mamadou Sakho | France | Paris Saint-Germain |

#### Goalkeeper of the Year

| Player | Nationality | Club |
| Mickaël Landreau | France | Lille |
| Hugo Lloris | France | Lyon |
| Steve Mandanda | France | Marseille |
| Stéphane Ruffier | France | AS Monaco |

#### Manager of the Year

| Manager | Nationality | Club |
| Didier Deschamps | France | Marseille |
| Rudi Garcia | France | Lille |
| Francis Gillot | France | Sochaux |
| Christian Gourcuff | France | Lorient |

#### Team of the Year

| Position | Player | Club |
| Goalkeeper | Steve Mandanda | Marseille |
| Defender | Anthony Réveillère | Lyon |
| Defender | Adil Rami | Lille |
| Defender | Mamadou Sakho | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Defender | Taye Taiwo | Marseille |
| Midfielder | Yann M'Vila | Rennes |
| Midfielder | Gervinho | Lille |
| Midfielder | Eden Hazard | Lille |
| Midfielder | Nenê | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Forward | Kevin Gameiro | Lorient |
| Forward | Moussa Sow | Lille |