The 2011–12 Segunda División season (known as the Liga Adelante for sponsorship reasons) was the 81st since its establishment. The first matches of the season were played on 26 August 2011 after the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) called a strike,[1] the regular league ended on 3 June 2012, while the entire season ended on 16 June 2012 with the promotion play-off finals.
The first goal of the season was scored by Xabier Etxeita, who scored a ninth-minute goal for Elche against Girona in the early kick-off. The first red card of the season was given to Richy from Girona in their opening game against Elche. The first hat-trick was scored by Joselu in the match between Villarreal B and Gimnàstic de Tarragona.
Deportivo La Coruña, Hércules and Almería are the teams which were relegated from La Liga the previous season. Deportivo were relegated after 20 years in La Liga, Hércules made their immediate return to the second level after just one season in the top division, while Almería ended a four-year tenure in La Liga. Betis were promoted after two consecutive seasons in the second level, Rayo Vallecano after eight years in lower divisions and Granada after playing in lower divisions for 35 years.
The teams which were relegated the previous season were Salamanca, Tenerife, Ponferradina and Albacete. These four were replaced by Real Murcia (group 4 champions and 2ªB champions), Sabadell (group 3 champions and 2ªB runners-up), Alcoyano and Guadalajara.
This promotion phase (known as Promoción de ascenso) was to determine the third team which was promoted to 2012–13 La Liga. Teams placed between third and sixth position (excluding reserve teams) took part in the promotion play-offs. Fifth placed faced against the fourth, while the sixth positioned team faced against the third. The first leg of the semi-finals was played on 6 June with the best positioned team playing at home the second leg was played on 10 June.[5] The final was also two-legged, with the first leg on 13 June and the second leg on 16 June, with the best positioned team also playing at home the second leg. This season was introduced the rule in which if a tie was drawn on aggregate and was still drawn after extra time, round of penalties was not used, instead the best positioned team advanced to next round.[6] Valladolid and Alcorcón played the final phase, where Valladolid was winner and promoted to La Liga after a two-year absence. Córdoba and Hércules were eliminated in semi-finals.
This is the list of goalscorers in accordance with LFP as organising body.
The Zamora Trophy is awarded to the goalkeeper with least goals to games ratio.
This award is given annually since 1999 to the team with the best fair play during the season. This ranking takes into account aspects[7] such as cards, suspension of matches, audience behaviour and other penalties. This section not only aims to know this aspect, but also serves to break the tie in teams that are tied in all the other rules: points, head-to-head, goal difference and goals scored.
Source: 2011–12 Fair Play Rankings Season[8]
