2011–12 Scottish Premier League

The 2011–12 Scottish Premier League was the fourteenth season of the Scottish Premier League, the highest division of Scottish football, since its inception in 1998. The season started on 23 July 2011[4] and ended on 13 May 2012.

Scottish Premier League
Season2011–12
Dates23 July 2011 – 13 May 2012
ChampionsCeltic
7th Premier League title
43rd Scottish title
RelegatedDunfermline Athletic Rangers
Champions LeagueCeltic
Motherwell
Europa LeagueHearts
Dundee United
St Johnstone
Matches played228
Goals scored601 (2.64 per match)
Top goalscorerGary Hooper (24)
Biggest home winCeltic 5–0 St Mirren
(26 November 2011)
Rangers 5–0 Dundee United
(2 May 2012)
Celtic 5–0 Hearts
(13 May 2012)
Biggest away winKilmarnock 0–6 Celtic
(7 April 2012)
Highest scoringKilmarnock 3–6 Inverness CT
(5 November 2011)
Longest winning run17 games[1]
Celtic
Longest unbeaten run21 games[1]
Celtic
Longest winless run11 games[1]
St Mirren
Longest losing run5 games[1]
Dunfermline Athletic
Highest attendance58,875[2]
Celtic v Hearts
(13 May 2012)
Lowest attendance1,607[2]
St Johnstone v Aberdeen
(13 December 2011)
Average attendance13,861[3]

A total of twelve teams contested the league: eleven sides that competed in the 2010–11 SPL and one club promoted from the First Division. The new entry was First Division champions Dunfermline Athletic, who replaced relegated Hamilton Academical.

Since Scotland climbed from sixteenth to fifteenth place in the UEFA association coefficient rankings at the end of the 2010–11 season,[5] the league re-gained an additional third qualifying round berth for the UEFA Champions League. However, it lost that berth again the following season. Despite finishing in the second qualifying position for the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League, the eventual liquidation of Rangers allowed Motherwell to take their place in the competition for the first time in the club's history.

On 7 April, Celtic won the title after a 6–0 away win against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. It was their first title in four years.[6][7]

Teams

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The team ending the 2010–11 season at the bottom of the table, Hamilton Academical, were relegated to the 2011–12 Scottish First Division. Hamilton were replaced by Dunfermline Athletic, champions of the First Division.

Stadia and locations

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Team Stadium Capacity
Aberdeen Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen 22,199
Celtic Celtic Park, Glasgow 60,355
Dundee United Tannadice Park, Dundee 14,209
Dunfermline Athletic East End Park, Dunfermline 12,509
Heart of Midlothian Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh 17,420
Hibernian Easter Road, Edinburgh 20,421
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Caledonian Stadium, Inverness 7,918
Kilmarnock Rugby Park, Kilmarnock 18,128
Motherwell Fir Park, Motherwell 13,742
Rangers Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow 51,082
St Johnstone McDiarmid Park, Perth 10,673
St Mirren St Mirren Park, Paisley 8,016

Personnel and kits

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Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Aberdeen Craig Brown Russell Anderson adidas Team Recruitment
Celtic Neil Lennon Scott Brown Nike Tennents
Dundee United Peter Houston Jon Daly Nike Calor
Dunfermline Jim Jefferies Austin McCann Puma The Purvis Group
Hearts Paulo Sergio Marius Zaliukas Umbro Wonga.com
Hibernian Pat Fenlon Ian Murray Puma Crabbie's
Inverness CT Terry Butcher Richie Foran Erreà Orion Group
Kilmarnock Kenny Shiels Manuel Pascali Killie 1869 verve.net
Motherwell Stuart McCall Stephen Craigan Puma Cash Converters
Rangers Ally McCoist Steven Davis Umbro Tennents
St Johnstone Steve Lomas Jody Morris Joma GS Brown Construction
St Mirren Danny Lennon Jim Goodwin diadora diadora

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Rangers Walter Smith End of contract 15 May 2011[8] Pre-season Ally McCoist 1 June 2011[9]
Heart of Midlothian Jim Jefferies Contract terminated 2 August 2011[10] 9th Paulo Sergio 3 August 2011[11]
St Johnstone Derek McInnes Signed by Bristol City 19 October 2011[12] 4th Steve Lomas 3 November 2011[13]
Hibernian Colin Calderwood Contract terminated 6 November 2011[14] 9th Pat Fenlon 25 November 2011[15]
Dunfermline Jim McIntyre Contract terminated 16 March 2012[16] 12th Jim Jefferies 20 March 2012[17]

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Celtic (C) 38 30 3 5 84 21 +63 93 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
2 Rangers (D, R) 38 26 5 7 77 28 +49 73 [a]
3 Motherwell 38 18 8 12 49 44 +5 62 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
4 Dundee United 38 16 11 11 62 50 +12 59 Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round
5 Heart of Midlothian 38 15 7 16 45 43 +2 52 Qualification for the Europa League play-off round[b]
6 St Johnstone 38 14 8 16 43 50 −7 50 Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round[b]
7 Kilmarnock 38 11 14 13 44 61 −17 47
8 St Mirren 38 9 16 13 39 51 −12 43
9 Aberdeen 38 9 14 15 36 44 −8 41
10 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 38 10 9 19 42 60 −18 39
11 Hibernian 38 8 9 21 40 67 −27 33
12 Dunfermline Athletic (R) 38 5 10 23 40 82 −42 25 Relegation to the First Division
Source: SPFL Archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Rangers were deducted 10 points for entering administration.[18] As Rangers did not exit administration by 31 March, they were ineligible to compete in Europe in the 2012–13 season. Rangers were unable to agree a CVA with their creditors and the club entered proceedings to be liquidated.[19] After being reformed in a new corporate structure, Rangers were admitted into the 2012–13 Scottish Third Division in time for the start of the season.[20]
  2. ^ a b Hearts qualified for the Europa League as 2011–12 Scottish Cup winners. Since they finished fifth in the league, the sixth-placed team, St Johnstone, also qualified for the Europa League.

Results

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Matches 1–22

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Teams play each other twice, once at home, once away

Home \ Away ABE CEL DUN DNF HOM HIB INV KIL MOT RAN STJ STM
Aberdeen 0–1 3–1 4–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 1–2 1–2 0–0 2–2
Celtic 2–1 5–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 2–1 4–0 1–0 0–1 5–0
Dundee United 1–2 0–1 0–1 1–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–3 0–1 0–0 1–1
Dunfermline Athletic 3–3 0–3 1–4 0–2 2–2 3–3 1–1 2–4 0–4 0–3 0–0
Heart of Midlothian 3–0 2–0 0–1 4–0 2–0 2–1 0–1 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–0
Hibernian 0–0 0–2 3–3 0–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–2 3–2 1–2
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2–1 0–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 2–3 0–2 0–1 2–1
Kilmarnock 2–0 3–3 1–1 3–2 0–0 4–1 3–6 0–0 1–0 1–2 2–1
Motherwell 1–0 1–2 0–0 3–1 1–0 4–3 3–0 0–0 0–3 0–3 1–1
Rangers 2–0 4–2 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 3–0 0–0 1–1
St Johnstone 1–2 0–2 3–3 0–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 0–3 0–2 0–1
St Mirren 1–0 0–2 2–2 2–1 0–0 2–3 1–2 3–0 0–1 2–1 0–0
Source: BBC website
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–33

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Teams play every other team once (either at home or away)

Home \ Away ABE CEL DUN DNF HOM HIB INV KIL MOT RAN STJ STM
Aberdeen 1–1 3–1 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–0
Celtic 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–0
Dundee United 3–0 3–0 4–0 1–1 2–1 0–0
Dunfermline Athletic 1–2 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1
Heart of Midlothian 3–0 0–4 0–2 2–0 5–2
Hibernian 0–0 0–5 0–2 1–1 2–3 0–0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1–0 2–3 1–1 1–4 0–0
Kilmarnock 0–6 0–3 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–0
Motherwell 1–0 3–0 0–1 1–2 3–2
Rangers 1–1 3–2 1–2 4–0 0–1 3–1
St Johnstone 1–5 3–1 2–1 0–0 1–2
St Mirren 1–1 0–2 4–2 0–0 0–3
Source: BBC Sport
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 34–38

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After 33 matches, the league splits into two sections of six teams each, with teams playing every other team in their section once (either at home or away). The exact matches are determined upon the league table at the time of the split.

Season statistics

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Top scorers

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As of 31 May 2012[21]
Rank Scorer Team Goals
1   Gary Hooper Celtic 24
2   Jon Daly Dundee United 19
3   Michael Higdon Motherwell 14
  Nikica Jelavić Rangers 14
  Francisco Sandaza St Johnstone 14
6   Steven Thompson St Mirren 13
7   Garry O'Connor Hibernian 12
  Dean Shiels Kilmarnock 12
  Rudolf Skácel Hearts 12
  Anthony Stokes Celtic 12
  Sone Aluko Rangers 12

Clean sheets

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As of 31 May 2012[2]
Rank Player Team Clean sheets
1   Fraser Forster Celtic 21
2   Allan McGregor Rangers 17
3   Darren Randolph Motherwell 15
4   Dušan Perniš Dundee United 13
  Craig Samson St Mirren 13
6   Peter Enckelman St Johnstone 10
7   Cameron Bell Kilmarnock 9
8   Marián Kello Hearts 8
9   Jason Brown Aberdeen 6
  Ryan Esson Inverness CT 6

Awards

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Monthly awards

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As of 31 May 2012
Month Manager Player Young Player
July/August   Stuart McCall[22] (Motherwell)   Paul Gallacher[23] (Dunfermline Athletic)   Johnny Russell[24] (Dundee United)
September   Ally McCoist[25] (Rangers)   Steven Davis[25] (Rangers)   James Forrest[26] (Celtic)
October   Stuart McCall[27] (Motherwell)   Keith Lasley[28] (Motherwell)   Kenny McLean[29] (St Mirren)
November   Neil Lennon[30] (Celtic)   Gary Hooper[30] (Celtic)   James Forrest[26] (Celtic)
December   Neil Lennon[31] (Celtic)   Paul McGowan[32] (St Mirren)   Victor Wanyama[31] (Celtic)
January   Craig Brown[33] (Aberdeen)   Scott Brown[34] (Celtic)   Henrik Ojamaa[35] (Motherwell)
February   Neil Lennon[36] (Celtic)   Charlie Mulgrew[37] (Celtic)   Gary Mackay-Steven[38] (Dundee United)
March   Peter Houston[39] (Dundee United)   Jon Daly[40] (Dundee United)   Gary Mackay-Steven[39] (Dundee United)
April   Neil Lennon[41] (Celtic)   Charlie Mulgrew[42] (Celtic)   Shaun Hutchinson[43] (Motherwell)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "SPL site". Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "2011-12 SPL stats". Scottish Premier League. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  3. ^ "Scottish Premier League Stats: Team Attendance - 2011-12". ESPN. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  4. ^ "SPL Press Release: 2011/12 Season Start Date". Scottish Premier League. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  5. ^ "UEFA Country Ranking 2011". Bert Kassies. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Celtic win Scottish Premier League title with 6-0 victory over Kilmarnock". Daily Telegraph (UK). 7 April 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Celtic win the SPL title as Gary Hooper scores two in 6-0 win at Kilmarnock". Guardian (London). 7 April 2012. Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Walter Smith says a final goodbye to a troubled Rangers". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  9. ^ "Ally McCoist confirmed as Smith's successor at Rangers". BBC Sport. 22 February 2011. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Jefferies rejects Hearts role as Sergio takes over". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  11. ^ "Sergio set for Hearts unveiling". Yahoo. 3 August 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Derek McInnes leaves St Johnstone for Bristol City". British Broadcasting corporation. 19 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  13. ^ "Steve Lomas choice is Geoff Brown's last act in St Johnstone chair". British Broadcasting Corporation. 3 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  14. ^ "Colin Calderwood sacked as Hibernian manager". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  15. ^ "Hibernian appoint Pat Fenlon as new manager". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 25 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  16. ^ "Colin Jim McIntyre is relieved of the Dunfermline manager's job". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  17. ^ "Jim Jefferies signs deal to take Dunfermline Athletic job". STV Sport. STV. 20 March 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  18. ^ "Rangers Football Club enters administration". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  19. ^ Rangers after creditors' deal is rejected Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine www.bbc.co.uk, 12 June 2012
  20. ^ "What does administration mean for Rangers?". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 August 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  21. ^ "Clydesdale Bank Premier League Top Scorers". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  22. ^ "McCall wins Manager of the Month". Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  23. ^ "Pars keeper Paul Gallacher wins player of month award". BBC Sport. 8 September 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  24. ^ "Welcome to cbfootball.co.uk, sponsors of the Scottish Premier League". Archived from the original on 17 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  25. ^ a b "McCoist and Davis net SPL awards double for Rangers". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  26. ^ a b "Welcome to cbfootball.co.uk, sponsors of the Scottish Premier League". Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  27. ^ "Motherwell's Stuart McCall wins October award". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  28. ^ "Motherwell's Keith Lasley named SPL player of month". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  29. ^ http://www.cbfootball.co.uk/monthly.aspx?MonthID=10 Archived 7 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine,
  30. ^ a b "Celtic's Neil Lennon, Gary Hooper and James Forrest win awards". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  31. ^ a b "Celtic's Neil Lennon and Victor Wanyama win awards". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  32. ^ "Paul McGowan named SPL player of the month". Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  33. ^ "Aberdeen manager Craig Brown wins SPL January award". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  34. ^ "Scott Brown named SPL's Player of the Month". STV. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  35. ^ "Motherwell striker Henrik Ojamaa wins January young player award". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  36. ^ "Neil Lennon wins February Manager of the Month Award". CelticFc.Net. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  37. ^ "Mulgrew wins February SPL award". BBC. 6 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  38. ^ "Gary Mackay-Steven wins February young player award". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  39. ^ a b "Dundee United take manager and young player March awards". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  40. ^ "Jon Daly hails 'best form of career' as he takes SPL award". BBC. 8 April 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  41. ^ "Celtic's Neil Lennon named manager of month for April". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  42. ^ "Mulgrew named Player of the Month for April". SPL. 7 May 2012. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  43. ^ "SPL award for Motherwell defender Shaun Hutchinson". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
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