2011–12 in Belgian football


The 2011–12 football season in Belgium, which is the 109th season of competitive football in the country and runs from July 2011 until June 2012.

National team football

Men's national football team

The Belgian national team started the 2011–12 season knowing they were still undefeated in 2011, but also knowing that they needed to make up for earlier mistakes during the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. With Germany topping the qualifying group with the maximum number of points after seven matches, the battle for second place and the resulting play-offs place was between Belgium and Turkey. Turkey was one point down, but had a game in hand.
On 2 September 2011, all looked fine for the Belgians until the last few minutes, as Rauf Aliyev scored the equalizer for Azerbaijan against Belgium in Baku, while on the same day, Turkey scored a 96th-minute winner against Kazakhstan. Turkey now lead Belgium by one point and had a game in hand. Four days later, Belgium partially recovered mentally by beating the United States in a friendly, while Turkey dropped points away to Austria, only drawing 0–0.
Turkey lost second place again as they were beaten 1–3 at home to Germany, while Belgium successfully put Kazakhstan away 4–1. On the last matchday, however, Belgium needed to match the result of Turkey and while Turkey hosted Azerbaijan, Belgium played an away game in Germany, who had won all their matches so far. The miracle did not happen for Belgium as they lost 3–1 and Turkey won 1–0, causing Belgium to miss out on yet another major tournament, still waiting for one since the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The general feeling in Belgium was one of a missed chance, as the Belgian team had shown promising football throughout the campaign, but often were not able to get or hold on to a needed result. Too many mistakes were made during the campaign, with many citing the 4–4 home draw with Austria, the 1–1 home draw with Turkey and the 1–1 away draw with Azerbaijan, which all should have been won. Coach Georges Leekens, however, not blamed, as his goal was to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
After the unsuccessful Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, Belgium continued with a series of friendlies to bridge the gap until the start of the 2014 World Cup qualification matches in September 2012. In November, Belgium overpowered Romania in a friendly in Liège, but only won 2–1 before drawing 0–0 with France in Paris. In February, a mediocre match in and against Greece resulted in a 1–1 draw.
On 13 May, the Belgian soccer fans were shocked as head coach Georges Leekens decided to quit his position and become the head coach at Club Brugge. Assistant coach Marc Wilmots was persuaded to take over the position as caretaker, while the Royal Belgian Football Association looked for a new candidate. Wilmots led the team in a 2–2 friendly draw at home against Montenegro and a 1–0 loss against England at Wembley Stadium. In the week following these matches, Wilmots was appointed as the head coach of the national team.

[UEFA Euro 2012] qualification">UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying">qualification

Friendlies

Women's national football team

Euro 2013 qualifying

Men's national under-21 team

Friendly match

U-21 Championship qualifiers

The Belgium under-21 squad is currently in Group 8 of the qualification process for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.
This leaves two matches, home to Norway and home to Iceland to be played in the next season.

Promotion and relegation

Team promoted to 2011–12 Belgian Pro League
Teams relegated from 2010–11 Belgian Pro League
Teams promoted to 2011–12 Belgian Second Division
Teams relegated from 2010-11 Belgian Second Division

Belgian First Division

Belgian Second Division

European Club results

and Standard Liège participated in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, while Westerlo, Club Brugge and Anderlecht started respectively in the second qualifying round, third qualifying round and playoff round of the Europa League.
DateTeamCompetitionRoundLegOpponentLocationScoreBelgian Team Goalscorers
14 July 2011WesterloEuropa LeagueQual. Round 2Leg 1, Away TPS TurkuVeritas Stadion, TurkuCabeke
21 July 2011WesterloEuropa LeagueQual. Round 2Leg 2, Home TPS TurkuHet Kuipje, Westerlo0-0
26 July 2011GenkChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Home Partizan BelgradeCristal Arena, GenkVossen, Ogunjimi
27 July 2011Standard LiègeChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Home ZürichStade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège1-1González
28 July 2011Club BruggeEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Home QarabağJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesVleminckx, Vázquez, Donk, Dirar
28 July 2011WesterloEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Away Young BoysStade de Suisse, BernBrüls
3 August 2011GenkChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Away PartizanStadion FK Partizan, Belgrade1-1Vossen
3 August 2011Standard LiègeChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Away ZürichLetzigrund, Zurich
4 August 2011Club BruggeEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Away QarabağTofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku
4 August 2011WesterloEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Home Young BoysHet Kuipje, Westerlo
17 August 2011GenkChampions LeaguePlayoff RoundLeg 1, Away Maccabi HaifaKiryat Eliezer Stadium, HaifaBarda
18 August 2011AnderlechtEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Away BursasporBursa Atatürk Stadium, BursaLegear, Jovanović
18 August 2011Club BruggeEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Away ZestafoniDavid Abashidze Stadium, Zestafoni3-3Akpala, Refaelov, Hoefkens
18 August 2011Standard LiègeEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Home Helsingborgs IFStade Maurice Dufrasne, LiègeTchité
23 August 2011GenkChampions LeaguePlayoff RoundLeg 2, Home Maccabi HaifaCristal Arena, GenkVossen, Buffel
25 August 2011AnderlechtEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Home BursasporConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht2-2Juhász, Jovanović
25 August 2011Club BruggeEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Home ZestafoniJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesAkpala
25 August 2011Standard LiègeEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Away Helsingborgs IFOlympia, HelsingborgLeye, Berrier, Kanu
13 September 2011GenkChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Home ValenciaCristal Arena, Genk0-0
15 September 2011AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Home AEK AthensConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtSuárez, Jovanović
15 September 2011Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Home MariborJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesOdjidja, Dirar
15 September 2011Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Away Hannover 96AWD-Arena, Hanover0-0
28 September 2011GenkChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Away Bayer LeverkusenBayArena, Leverkusen
29 September 2011AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Away Lokomotiv MoscowLokomotiv Stadium, MoscowSuárez, Mbokani
29 September 2011Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Away BragaEstádio Municipal, BragaAkpala, Donk
29 September 2011Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Home CopenhagenStade Maurice Dufrasne, LiègeSeijas, Felipe, Kanu
19 October 2011GenkChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Away ChelseaStamford Bridge, London
20 October 2011AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Away Sturm GrazUPC-Arena, GrazGillet, Suárez
20 October 2011Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Home Birmingham CityJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesAkpala
20 October 2011Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Home Vorskla PoltavaStade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège0-0
1 November 2011GenkChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Home ChelseaCristal Arena, Genk1-1Vossen
3 November 2011Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Away Birmingham CitySt Andrew's, Birmingham2-2Meunier, Akpala
3 November 2011AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Home Sturm GrazConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtGillet, Suárez, De Sutter
3 November 2011Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Away Vorskla PoltavaButovsky Vorskla Stadium, PoltavaSeijas, Kanu, Tchité
23 November 2011GenkChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Away ValenciaMestalla Stadium, Valencia
30 November 2011Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Away MariborLjudski vrt, MariborDirar, Akpala, Donk
30 November 2011Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Home Hannover 96Stade Maurice Dufrasne, LiègeTchité, Cyriac
1 December 2011AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Away AEK AthensOlympic Stadium, AthensGillet
6 December 2011GenkChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Home Bayer LeverkusenCristal Arena, Genk1-1Vossen
14 December 2011AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Home Lokomotiv MoscowConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtKljestan, Canesin, Wasilewski, Suárez, Gillet
15 December 2011Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Home BragaJan Breydel Stadium, Bruges1-1Vleminckx
15 December 2011Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Away CopenhagenParken Stadium, CopenhagenBatshuayi
16 February 2012AnderlechtEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 1, Away AZAFAS Stadion, Alkmaar
16 February 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 1, Away Hannover 96AWD-Arena, HannoverLestienne
16 February 2012Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 1, Away Wisła KrakówStadion im. Henryka Reymana1-1Cyriac
23 February 2012AnderlechtEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 2, Home AZConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht
23 February 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 2, Home Hannover 96Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges
23 February 2012Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 2, Home Wisła KrakówStade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège0-0
8 March 2012Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueRound of 16Leg 1, Home Hannover 96Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège2-2Buyens, Tchité
15 March 2012Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueRound of 16Leg 2, Away Hannover 96AWD-Arena, Hanover

Other honours

European qualification for 2012-13 summary