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2011–12 A Group

2011–12 A Group

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.[3] Vidima-Rakovski, Kaliakra and Svetkavitsa were relegated, after finishing at the bottom three places.

A Group
Season2011–12
ChampionsLudogorets Razgrad
(1st title)
RelegatedVidima-Rakovski, Kaliakra, Svetkavitsa
Champions LeagueLudogorets Razgrad
Europa LeagueCSKA Sofia
Levski Sofia
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Matches played240
Goals scored643 (2.68 per match)
Top goalscorerBrazilJunior Moraes
Ivan Stoyanov
(16 goals each)
Biggest home winLevski 7–0 Svetkavitsa
Biggest away winMinyor 0–7 Ludogorets
Highest scoringCherno More 7–1 Kaliakra
Botev 6–2 Kaliakra
Litex 6–2 Lokomotiv

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.

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
BeroeStara ZagoraBeroe17,800
BotevVratsaHristo Botev32,000
Cherno MoreVarnaTicha8,250
ChernomoretsBurgasLazur18,037
CSKASofiaBalgarska Armiya22,015
KaliakraKavarnaKavarna5,000
LevskiSofiaGeorgi Asparuhov29,200
LitexLovechLovech7,050
LokomotivPlovdivLokomotiv13,800
LokomotivSofiaLokomotiv Sofia122,000
LudogoretsRazgradLudogorets Arena6,000
MinyorPernikMinyor8,000
MontanaMontanaOgosta8,000
SlaviaSofiaOvcha Kupel18,000
SvetkavitsaTargovishteDimitar Burkov8,000
Vidima-RakovskiSevlievoRakovski8,816
Notes

  1. 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.

Personnel and sponsoring

TeamManagerCaptainKit ManufacturerShirt Sponsor
Beroe Stara ZagoraBulgariaIlian IlievBulgariaSlavi ZhekovUhlsportBulsatcom
Botev VratsaBulgariaSasho AngelovBulgariaRosen VankovJumper
Cherno More VarnaBulgariaStefan GenovBulgariaGeorgi IlievMishoArmeets
Chernomorets BurgasBulgariaDimitar DimitrovBulgariaRadostin KishishevMacron
CSKA SofiaBulgariaDimitar PenevBulgariaTodor YanchevKappaGLOBUL
KaliakraBulgariaRadostin TrifonovBulgariaIvan RaychevUhlsportMunicipality of Kavarna
Levski SofiaBulgariaNikolay KostovBulgariaHristo YovovNikeVTB Bank
Litex LovechBulgariaAtanas DzhambazkiSerbiaNebojša Jelenkovićadidasb-connect
Lokomotiv PlovdivBulgariaEmil VelevBulgariaZdravko LazarovUhlsportRefan
Lokomotiv SofiaBulgariaAnton VelkovBulgariaKristian DobrevPuma
Ludogorets RazgradBulgariaIvaylo PetevBulgariaTodor KolevadidasHuvepharma
Minyor PernikBulgariaStoycho StoevBulgariaKostadin MarkovJumperMunicipal Insurance Company
MontanaBulgariaStefan GrozdanovBulgariaDaniel GadzhevJakoGM Capital
Slavia SofiaBulgariaMartin KushevBulgariaBogomil DyakovPuma
SvetkavitsaBulgariaNikola SpasovBulgariaGeorgi DamyanovJakoVinprom Targovishte
Vidima-RakovskiBulgariaKostadin AngelovBulgariaGeorgi StoychevAsicsVIDEXIM

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing manager(s)Manner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableReplaced byDate of appointment
Levski SofiaBulgariaYasen PetrovEnd of contract27 May 2011Pre-seasonBulgariaGeorgi Ivanov27 May 2011[4]
Slavia SofiaBulgariaEmil VelevSacked28 May 2011BulgariaMartin Kushev28 May 2011[5]
Kaliakra KavarnaBulgariaAntoni ZdravkovEnd of contract28 May 2011BulgariaAdalbert Zafirov28 May 2011[6]
Chernomorets BurgasBulgariaGeorgi VasilevSacked30 May 2011BulgariaDimitar Dimitrov30 May 2011[7]
MontanaBulgariaAtanas DzhambazkiEnd of contract2 June 2011BulgariaStefan Grozdanov11 June 2011
Lokomotiv PlovdivSerbiaSaša NikolićSacked14 June 2011North MacedoniaDragan Kanatlarovski17 June 2011
Vidima-RakovskiBulgariaDimitar TodorovSacked16 June 2011BulgariaKostadin Angelov17 June 2011
Lokomotiv SofiaBulgariaDian PetkovSacked3 October 201110thBulgariaAnton Velkov3 October 2011
Kaliakra KavarnaBulgariaAdalbert ZafirovSacked19 October 2011[8]15thBulgariaRadostin Trifonov19 October 2011[9]
Svetkavitsa TargovishteBulgariaPlamen DonevResigned19 October 201116thBulgariaNikola Spasov23 October 2011[10]
Litex LovechBulgariaLyuboslav PenevResigned24 October 2011[11]5thBulgariaAtanas Dzhambazki24 October 2011
CSKA SofiaBulgariaMilen RadukanovSacked25 October 2011[12]2ndBulgariaDimitar Penev25 October 2011
Levski SofiaBulgariaGeorgi IvanovResigned4 November 20115thBulgariaNikolay Kostov7 November 2011[13]
Lokomotiv PlovdivNorth MacedoniaDragan KanatlarovskiSacked7 November 20116thBulgariaEmil Velev8 November 2011[14]
Levski SofiaBulgariaNikolay KostovResigned26 March 20124thBulgariaGeorgi Ivanov (caretaker)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

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Ludogorets Razgrad(C)3022447316+57702012–13 UEFA Champions League Second qualifying round
2CSKA Sofia3022356019+41692012–13 UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round
3Levski Sofia3020286128+3362
4Chernomorets Burgas3017945723+3460
5Litex Lovech3017855728+2959
6Lokomotiv Plovdiv3017674439+5572012–13 UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round[1]
7Cherno More30164104625+2152
8Slavia Sofia3015694236+651
9Minyor Pernik30812103540−536
10Beroe3098133037−735
11Montana3087152951−2231
12Botev Vratsa3078153044−1429
13Lokomotiv Sofia3059162650−2424
14Vidima-Rakovski(R)3036211959−4015Relegation to 2012–13 B PFG
15Kaliakra(R)3025232677−5111
16Svetkavitsa(R)301524871−638

Results

Home \ AwayBSZBVRCHMCHBCSKKAVLEVLITLPLLSOLUDMINMONSLASVEVRA
Beroe1–22–01–20–13–11–21–11–11–01–20–02–01–02–01–0
Botev Vratsa1–10–10–02–26–20–21–31–12–00–10–02–40–11–02–2
Cherno More2–01–00–20–07–13–10–11–23–00–12–02–02–01–02–1
Chernomorets Burgas2–23–13–22–01–02–01–12–01–10–01–02–02–36–04–0
CSKA Sofia1–02–04–11–03–11–04–13–04–02–23–12–01–23–04–1
Kaliakra3–10–00–50–41–21–40–21–20–00–42–22–31–21–13–2
Levski Sofia2–03–02–12–21–03–23–23–24–00–10–11–01–07–02–1
Litex Lovech2–13–11–00–00–25–01–06–22–02–12–20–01–06–03–0
Lokomotiv Plovdiv4–22–11–02–00–32–03–22–12–11–01–11–02–12–03–2
Lokomotiv Sofia3–00–10–00–41–23–21–11–22–00–11–11–10–3[2]4–10–1
Ludogorets Razgrad3–03–00–23–11–02–02–11–10–04–04–13–06–05–04–0
Minyor Pernik1–11–30–11–12–01–10–12–20–01–20–73–11–13–01–0
Montana0–02–01–32–40–52–10–31–02–21–11–41–21–20–01–0
Slavia Sofia0–03–21–11–10–13–00–30–23–02–13–22–11–12–01–1
Svetkavitsa1–30–01–30–30–31–00–11–30–11–10–10–31–20–30–0
Vidima-Rakovski0–10–10–00–10–11–01–61–10–32–20–50–31–21–21–0

Champions

Ludogorets Razgrad
Goalkeepers
01SerbiaUroš Golubović280(0)
13Czech RepublicRadek Petr020(0)
30BulgariaGeorgi Argilashki000(0)
BulgariaEmil Mihaylov*000(0)
Defenders
03SlovakiaMarián Jarabica010(0)
04FinlandTero Mäntylä030(0)
05FranceAlexandre Barthe290(3)
20BrazilGuilherme Choco270(1)
25BulgariaYordan Minev280(0)
26BulgariaDiyan Dimitrov000(0)
33SlovakiaĽubomír Guldan280(0)
77PortugalVitinha100(0)
SloveniaJure Travner*030(0)
Bosnia and HerzegovinaSuvad Grabus*010(0)
Midfielders
06BulgariaGeorgi Kostadinov050(2)
07BulgariaMihail Aleksandrov280(5)
08BulgariaStanislav Genchev270(6)
18BulgariaSvetoslav Dyakov290(1)
19BulgariaDimo Bakalov140(2)
22BulgariaMiroslav Ivanov270(4)
36MontenegroMladen Kašćelan110(1)
84BrazilMarcelinho250(9)
BulgariaShener Remzi*000(0)
BulgariaDimo Atanasov*060(0)
BulgariaNikolay Dyulgerov*020(0)
Forwards
11BrazilJuninho Quixadá110(5)
23BulgariaEmil Gargorov26(13)
27BelgiumChristian Kabasele110(3)
73BulgariaIvan Stoyanov25(16)
BulgariaTodor Kolev*090(1)
Manager
BulgariaIvaylo Petev

  • Mihaylov, Travner, Grabus, Remzi, Atanasov, Dyulgerov and Kolev left the club during a season.

Season statistics

References

[1]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgLudogorets 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.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[2]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgThe match between Lokomotiv Sofia and Slavia Sofia was awarded to Slavia by a score of 3–0. The original fixture was not played after police security for the match could not be provided.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[3]
Citation Linkwww.dnevnik.bg""Лудогорец" победи ЦСКА с 1:0 и спечели титлата при дебюта си в А група" (in Bulgarian). dnevnik. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.btv.bg"Георги Иванов-Гонзо е новият треньор на Левски" (in Bulgarian). btv.bg. 27 May 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[5]
Citation Linkbsport.bg"Кушев поема Славия" (in Bulgarian). bsport.bg. 28 May 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[6]
Citation Linktopsport.ibox.bg"Адалберт Зафиров пое Калиакра" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 28 May 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[7]
Citation Linkchernomoretz.bg"Dimitar Dimitrov is the new head coach of Chernomorets". chernomoretz.bg. 30 May 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[8]
Citation Linkwww.sportal.bg"Калиакра уволни Адалберт Зафиров" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 19 October 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[9]
Citation Linkwww.sportal.bg"Стана ясен новият старши-треньор на Калиакра" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 19 October 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[10]
Citation Linkwww.sportal.bg"Никола Спасов стана треньор на Светкавица" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 23 October 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[11]
Citation Linkwww.sportal.bg"Любо Пенев напусна Литекс - "оранжевите" представиха новия треньор, изненадата е голяма" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 24 October 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.sportal.bg"Официално: ЦСКА се раздели с Милен Радуканов" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 25 October 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[13]
Citation Linkgong.bg"Официално: Николай Костов ще води Левски до края на сезона" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 4 November 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[14]
Citation Linkgong.bg"Емил Велев е новият треньор на Локо Пд, помага му Ники Митов, тренировката е от 11 часа" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 8 November 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[15]
Citation Linkint.soccerway.com"Bulgaria - A PFG Top goalscorers". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[16]
Citation Linkwww.gong.bg"Честито! 53 минути за първия гол от новия сезон в А група" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 6 August 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[17]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgOfficial website
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[18]
Citation Linkint.soccerway.comSoccerway
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[19]
Citation Linkint.soccerway.comSoccerway
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM
[20]
Citation Linkwww.dnevnik.bg""Лудогорец" победи ЦСКА с 1:0 и спечели титлата при дебюта си в А група"
Sep 26, 2019, 9:27 PM