2011–12 A Group
Season | 2011–12 |
---|---|
Dates | 6 August 2011 – 23 May 2012 |
Champions | Ludogorets Razgrad (1st title) |
Relegated | Vidima-Rakovski, Kaliakra, Svetkavitsa |
Champions League | Ludogorets Razgrad |
Europa League | CSKA Sofia Levski Sofia Lokomotiv Plovdiv |
Matches played | 240 |
Goals scored | 643 (2.68 per match) |
Top goalscorer | ![]() Ivan Stoyanov (16 goals each) |
Biggest home win | Levski 7–0 Svetkavitsa |
Biggest away win | Minyor 0–7 Ludogorets |
Highest scoring | Cherno More 7–1 Kaliakra Botev 6–2 Kaliakra Litex 6–2 Lokomotiv |
← 2010–11 2012–13 → |
The 2011–12 A Group was the 88th season of the Bulgarian national top football division, and the 64th of A Group as the top tier football league in the country. The season began on 6 August 2011 and ended on 23 May 2012. Ludogorets Razgrad claimed their maiden title in their debut season, after winning the last round clash against CSKA, which were leading by 2 points prior to the match.[1] Vidima-Rakovski, Kaliakra and Svetkavitsa were relegated, after finishing at the bottom three places.
Team information[]
Akademik Sofia and Sliven were directly relegated after finishing in the bottom two places of the table at the end of season 2010/11. Akademik were relegated after one year in the top league of Bulgarian football, while Sliven ended a three-year tenure at the top flight. Furthermore, Pirin (Blagoevgrad) were excluded from A Group due to financial difficulties and demoted to V Group.
The relegated teams were replaced by Botev Vratsa, champions of West B Group, Ludogorets Razgrad, champions of East B Group and promotion play-off winners Svetkavitsa. Botev returned to A Group after twenty-two years, while Ludogorets Razgrad and Svetkavitsa made their debut on the highest level of Bulgarian football.
There was some controversy regarding the relegation/promotion play-offs at the end of season 2010/11. In the original match-up, 14th-placed Vidima-Rakovski lost 3-0 against B Group play-off winners Chernomorets (Pomorie). However, Chernomorets did not receive an A Group licence, so Vidima-Rakovski were spared from relegation. In order to fill the void, a second play-off match was scheduled between Svetkavitsa, 4th-placed team of East B Group, and Etar (Veliko Tarnovo), 3rd-placed team of West B Group. Svetkavitsa won this match by a score of 3-1.
Stadia and locations[]
As in the previous year, the league comprises the best thirteen teams of season 2010/11, the champions of the two B Groups and the winners of the promotion play-offs.
![2011–12 A Group is located in Bulgaria](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Bulgaria_location_map.svg/480px-Bulgaria_location_map.svg.png)
![Sofia Sofia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/8px-Green_pog.svg.png)
![Botev Botev](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Beroe Beroe](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Cherno More Cherno More](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Ludogorets Ludogorets](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Svetkavitsa Svetkavitsa](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Chernomorets Chernomorets](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Kaliakra Kaliakra](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Lokomotiv Plovdiv Lokomotiv Plovdiv](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Minyor Minyor](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Montana Montana](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Vidima-Rakovski Vidima-Rakovski](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![2011–12 A Group is located in Sofia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Sofia_Full_City_Map.png/200px-Sofia_Full_City_Map.png)
![CSKA CSKA](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Levski Levski](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Lokomotiv Lokomotiv](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Slavia Slavia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Beroe | Stara Zagora | Beroe | 17,800 |
Botev | Vratsa | Hristo Botev | 32,000 |
Cherno More | Varna | Ticha | 8,250 |
Chernomorets | Burgas | Lazur | 18,037 |
CSKA | Sofia | Balgarska Armiya | 22,015 |
Kaliakra | Kavarna | Kavarna | 5,000 |
Levski | Sofia | Georgi Asparuhov | 29,200 |
Litex | Lovech | Lovech | 7,050 |
Lokomotiv | Plovdiv | Lokomotiv | 13,800 |
Lokomotiv | Sofia | Lokomotiv Sofia1 | 22,000 |
Ludogorets | Razgrad | Ludogorets Arena | 6,000 |
Minyor | Pernik | Minyor | 8,000 |
Montana | Montana | Ogosta | 8,000 |
Slavia | Sofia | Ovcha Kupel | 18,000 |
Svetkavitsa | Targovishte | Dimitar Burkov | 8,000 |
Vidima-Rakovski | Sevlievo | Rakovski | 8,816 |
- Notes
- Lokomotiv Sofia play their home matches at Vasil Levski National Stadium as their own ground, Lokomotiv Stadium, had not received approval from the BFU license committee.[citation needed]
Personnel and sponsoring[]
Team | Manager | Captain[citation needed] | Kit Manufacturer[citation needed] | Shirt Sponsor[citation needed] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Beroe Stara Zagora | ![]() |
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Uhlsport | Bulsatcom |
Botev Vratsa | ![]() |
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Jumper | |
Cherno More Varna | ![]() |
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Misho | Armeets |
Chernomorets Burgas | ![]() |
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Macron | |
CSKA Sofia | ![]() |
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Kappa | GLOBUL |
Kaliakra | ![]() |
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Uhlsport | Municipality of Kavarna |
Levski Sofia | ![]() |
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Nike | VTB Bank |
Litex Lovech | ![]() |
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adidas | b-connect |
Lokomotiv Plovdiv | ![]() |
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Uhlsport | |
Lokomotiv Sofia | ![]() |
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Puma | |
Ludogorets Razgrad | ![]() |
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adidas | Huvepharma |
Minyor Pernik | ![]() |
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Jumper | Municipal Insurance Company |
Montana | ![]() |
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Jako | GM Capital |
Slavia Sofia | ![]() |
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Puma | |
Svetkavitsa | ![]() |
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Jako | Vinprom Targovishte |
Vidima-Rakovski | ![]() |
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Asics | VIDEXIM |
Managerial changes[]
Team | Outgoing manager(s) | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Replaced by | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Levski Sofia | ![]() |
End of contract | 27 May 2011 | Pre-season | ![]() |
27 May 2011[2] |
Slavia Sofia | ![]() |
Sacked | 28 May 2011 | ![]() |
28 May 2011[3] | |
Kaliakra Kavarna | ![]() |
End of contract | 28 May 2011 | ![]() |
28 May 2011[4] | |
Chernomorets Burgas | ![]() |
Sacked | 30 May 2011 | ![]() |
30 May 2011[5] | |
Montana | ![]() |
End of contract | 2 June 2011 | ![]() |
11 June 2011 | |
Lokomotiv Plovdiv | ![]() |
Sacked | 14 June 2011 | ![]() |
17 June 2011 | |
Vidima-Rakovski | ![]() |
Sacked | 16 June 2011 | ![]() |
17 June 2011 | |
Lokomotiv Sofia | ![]() |
Sacked | 3 October 2011 | 10th | ![]() |
3 October 2011 |
Kaliakra Kavarna | ![]() |
Sacked | 19 October 2011[6] | 15th | ![]() |
19 October 2011[7] |
Svetkavitsa Targovishte | ![]() |
Resigned | 19 October 2011 | 16th | ![]() |
23 October 2011[8] |
Litex Lovech | ![]() |
Resigned | 24 October 2011[9] | 5th | ![]() |
24 October 2011 |
CSKA Sofia | ![]() |
Sacked | 25 October 2011[10] | 2nd | ![]() |
25 October 2011 |
Levski Sofia | ![]() |
Resigned | 4 November 2011 | 5th | ![]() |
7 November 2011[11] |
Lokomotiv Plovdiv | ![]() |
Sacked | 7 November 2011 | 6th | ![]() |
8 November 2011[12] |
Levski Sofia | ![]() |
Resigned | 26 March 2012 | 4th | ![]() |
March 2012 |
Note: Georgi Ivanov subsequently stepped down and was replaced by Yasen Petrov as caretaker manager at the helm of Levski, with Ilian Iliev set to take over prior to the 2012/2013 season.
League table[]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ludogorets Razgrad (C) | 30 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 73 | 16 | +57 | 70 | Qualification for Champions League second qualifying round |
2 | CSKA Sofia | 30 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 60 | 19 | +41 | 69 | Qualification for Europa League second qualifying round |
3 | Levski Sofia | 30 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 61 | 28 | +33 | 62 | |
4 | Chernomorets Burgas | 30 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 57 | 23 | +34 | 60 | |
5 | Litex Lovech | 30 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 57 | 28 | +29 | 59 | |
6 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 44 | 39 | +5 | 57 | Qualification for Europa League second qualifying round[a] |
7 | Cherno More | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 46 | 25 | +21 | 52 | |
8 | Slavia Sofia | 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 42 | 36 | +6 | 51 | |
9 | Minyor Pernik | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 35 | 40 | −5 | 36 | |
10 | Beroe | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 35 | |
11 | Montana | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 29 | 51 | −22 | 31 | |
12 | Botev Vratsa | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 30 | 44 | −14 | 29 | |
13 | Lokomotiv Sofia | 30 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 26 | 50 | −24 | 24 | |
14 | Vidima-Rakovski (R) | 30 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 19 | 59 | −40 | 15 | Relegation to 2012–13 B Group |
15 | Kaliakra (R) | 30 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 26 | 77 | −51 | 11 | |
16 | Svetkavitsa (R) | 30 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 8 | 71 | −63 | 8 |
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points; 3rd head-to-head goal difference; 4th head-to-head goals scored; 5th head-to-head away goals scored; 6th goal difference; 7th goals scored
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Ludogorets Razgrad won the 2011–12 Bulgarian Cup competition but were qualified for 2012–13 UEFA Champions League via winning the league, hence their Europa League berth was awarded to the cup runners-up, Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
Results[]
Champions[]
- Ludogorets Razgrad
Goalkeepers | |||
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
28 | (0) |
13 | ![]() |
2 | (0) |
30 | ![]() |
0 | (0) |
![]() |
0 | (0) |
Defenders | |||
---|---|---|---|
3 | ![]() |
1 | (0) |
4 | ![]() |
3 | (0) |
5 | ![]() |
29 | (3) |
20 | ![]() |
27 | (1) |
25 | ![]() |
28 | (0) |
26 | ![]() |
0 | (0) |
33 | ![]() |
28 | (0) |
77 | ![]() |
10 | (0) |
![]() |
3 | (0) | |
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1 | (0) |
Midfielders | |||
---|---|---|---|
6 | ![]() |
5 | (2) |
7 | ![]() |
28 | (5) |
8 | ![]() |
27 | (6) |
18 | ![]() |
29 | (1) |
19 | ![]() |
14 | (2) |
22 | ![]() |
27 | (4) |
36 | ![]() |
11 | (1) |
84 | ![]() |
25 | (9) |
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0 | (0) | |
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6 | (0) | |
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2 | (0) |
Forwards | |||
---|---|---|---|
11 | ![]() |
11 | (5) |
23 | ![]() |
26 | (13) |
27 | ![]() |
11 | (3) |
73 | ![]() |
25 | (16) |
![]() |
9 | (1) |
Manager | |
---|---|
![]() |
- Mihaylov, Travner, Grabus, Remzi, Atanasov, Dyulgerov and Kolev left the club during a season.
Season statistics[]
Top goalscorers[]Below is a list of the top goalscorers at the end of the competition.[13]
Scoring[]
Transfers[]
References[]
External links[] |
- First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) seasons
- 2011–12 in European association football leagues
- 2011–12 in Bulgarian football