2011–12 Ligue 2

Teams

There were three promoted teams from the Championnat National, the third division of French football, replacing the three teams that were relegated from Ligue 2 following the 2010–11 season. A total of 20 teams competed in the league with three clubs suffering relegation to the Championnat National. All clubs that secured Ligue 2 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.

Bastia became the first team to achieve promotion to Ligue 2 from the Championnat National after drawing 1–1 with Fréjus Saint-Raphaël on 22 April. Coupled with fourth-place Strasbourg's draw with Luzenac on the same day, the results made it mathematically impossible for the Alsatians to catch Bastia in the standings. Amiens achieved promotion from National to Ligue 2 on 13 May following its 2–1 home win against Guingamp. Amiens made its return to the second division after spending two seasons in the Championnat National. Guingamp became the final club to earn promotion to National after its 2–0 away win over Rouen. Similar to Bastia, Guingamp made its return to Ligue 2 after only one season in the third division.

Teams relegated to Ligue 2

• AS Monaco
• Lens
• Arles-Avignon

Teams promoted to Ligue 2

• Bastia
• Amiens
• Guingamp

DNCG rulings

On 1 July 2011, following a preliminary review of each club's administrative and financial accounts in Ligue 2, the DNCG ruled that Tours would be relegated to the Championnat National. Tours president, Frédéric Sebag, confirmed the demotion was as a result of the club's failure to "balance its books". Sebag also confirmed that the club would be appealing the ruling. On 13 July, Tours successfully appealed to the DNCG and was subsequently reinstated into Ligue 2.

Stadia and locations

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.

1Subject to change during the season.

Managerial changes

Ownership changes

League table

Results

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Last updated: 18 May 2012

Source: Official Goalscorers' Standings

Assists table

Last updated: 18 May 2012

Source: Official Assists' Table

Scoring

• First goal of the season: Yoann Tougzhar for Amiens against Troyes (29 July 2011)
• First own goal of the season: Nicolas Pallois for Clermont against Laval (29 July 2011)
• Highest scoring game: 7 goals
  • Metz 2–5 Guingamp (4 May 2012)
• Widest winning margin: 5 goals
  • Nantes 5–0 Amiens (27 April 2012)
• Most goals scored in a match by a single team: 5 goals
  • Tours 5–1 Guingamp (16 December 2011)
  • Arles-Avignon 1–5 Istres (20 December 2011)
  • Bastia 5–1 Troyes (4 February 2012)
  • Laval 5–1 Sedan (6 April 2012)
  • Nantes 5–0 Amiens (27 April 2012)
  • Metz 2–5 Guingamp (4 May 2012)

Discipline

• Worst overall disciplinary record (1 pt per yellow card, 3 pts per red card):
  • Arles-Avignon – 59 points (44 yellow & 5 red cards)
• Best overall disciplinary record: 33 points
  • Boulogne (30 yellow & 1 red cards)
• Most yellow cards (club): 46
  • Amiens
• Most red cards (club): 7
  • Istres

Awards

Annual awards

UNFP Player of the Year

The nominees for the UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Year award was awarded to Bastia midfielder Jérôme Rothen.

UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year

The UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year award was awarded to Macedo Novaes of Bastia.

UNFP Manager of the Year

The UNFP Manager of the Year award went to Frédéric Hantz of Bastia.

UNFP Team of the Year

The UNFP selected the following 11 players for the Ligue 2 Team of the Year: ;Goalkeeper

• BRA Macedo Novaes (Bastia) ;Defenders
• COM Kassim Abdallah (Sedan)
• FRA Anthony Weber (Reims)
• FRA Mickaël Tacalfred (Reims)
• ALG Féthi Harek (Bastia) ;Midfielders
• GUI Sadio Diallo (Bastia)
• TUN Wahbi Khazri (Bastia)
• FRA Romain Alessandrini (Clermont)
• FRA Jérôme Rothen (Bastia) ;Forwards
• CPV Ryan Mendes (Le Havre)
• ALG Kamel Ghilas (Reims)

List of 2011–12 transfers

Main article: List of French football transfers summer 2011, List of French football transfers winter 2012

References

References

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2. (20 December 2011). "Arles-Avignon v. Istres Match Report". [[Ligue de Football Professionnel]].
3. (4 May 2012). "Metz v. Guingamp Report". [[Ligue de Football Professionnel]].
4. (20 December 2011). "Lens v. Châteauroux Report". [[Ligue de Football Professionnel]].
5. (20 September 2011). "Istres v. Châteauroux Report". [[Ligue de Football Professionnel]].
6. "Palmarès: Les champions de France depuis 1934/1935". [[Ligue de Football Professionnel]].
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15. The DNCG is responsible for overseeing the legal and financial accounts of professional football clubs in France. If clubs operating in [[French football]] don't meet the DNCG's expectations, they can face sanctions, such as relegation.
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37. (22 December 2011). "Le Mans limoge Cormier". Le Figaro.
38. (28 December 2011). "Le Mans privilégie la solution interne". Sports.fr.
39. AS Monaco will still maintain 33% of the club representing the interests of the [[Principality of Monaco]].
40. (23 December 2011). "Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev completes takeover of Monaco’s soccer club". [[The Washington Post]].
41. "Classement du Fair-Play". [[Ligue de Football Professionnel]].
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