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The 2011–12 season is the 102nd season of competitive
football in Germany Association football, Football is the most popular sport in Germany with 57% of the population declaring interest in watching it. The German Football Association ( or ) is the sport's national governing body, with 6.6 million members (ro ...
.


Diary of the season

*15 July 2011 – The professional season begins with the first matchday of the 2. Bundesliga season. *29 July–1 August 2011 – The first matches in the
DFB-Pokal The DFB-Pokal (), also known as the German Cup in English language, English, is a German knockout Association football, football cup competition held annually by the German Football Association (DFB). Sixty-four teams participate in the competiti ...
are played, resulting in the elimination of two
Bundesliga The Bundesliga (; ), sometimes referred to as the Fußball-Bundesliga () or 1. Bundesliga (), is a professional association football league in Germany and the highest level of the German football league system. The Bundesliga comprises 18 teams ...
clubs.
VfL Wolfsburg Verein für Leibesübungen Wolfsburg e. V., commonly known as VfL Wolfsburg (), is a German professional sports club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony. The club grew out of a multi-sports club for Volkswagen workers in the city of Wolfsburg. I ...
lose 3–2 against
Regionalliga A (, plural ) is a regional league in numerous Sports governing body, sports governing bodies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, usually located in the upper or middle tiers of the sports leagues. The term is often associated with the Germa ...
club
RB Leipzig RasenBallsport Leipzig e.V. (), commonly known as RB Leipzig or informally as Red Bull Leipzig, is a German professional association football, football club based in Leipzig, Saxony. The club was founded in 2009 by the initiative of the company ...
, and
SC Freiburg Sport-Club Freiburg e.V., commonly known as SC Freiburg (), is a Football in Germany, German professional football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. It plays in the Bundesliga, having been promoted as champions ...
lose to
3. Liga The 3. Liga is a professional association football league and the third division in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2. Bundesliga and the fourth-tier Regionalliga. The modern 3. Liga was formed for t ...
club
SpVgg Unterhaching Spielvereinigung Unterhaching () is a German sports club in Unterhaching, a semi-rural municipality on the southern outskirts of the Bavarian capital Munich. The club is widely known for playing in the first-division association football league ...
by the same score. *5 August 2011 – The Bundesliga season starts with a match between
Borussia Dortmund Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund, often known simply as Borussia Dortmund () or by its initialism BVB (), or just Dortmund by International fans, is a German professional sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is ...
and
Hamburger SV Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V. (), commonly known as Hamburger SV () or Hamburg (), or HSV (), is a German sports club based in Hamburg, with its largest branch being its Association football, football department. Though the current HSV was founde ...
. The defending champions win the match 3–1. *13 September 2011 – In last place in the 2. Bundesliga,
Alemannia Aachen Aachener Turn- und Sportverein Alemannia 1900 e. V., short Alemannia Aachen (), is a German football club from the western city of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. A long-term fixture of the country's second division, Alemannia enjoyed a three- ...
sacks manager
Peter Hyballa Peter Hyballa (born 5 December 1975) is a German professional football manager who most recently was the manager of South African Premiership club Sekhukhune United. He also served as manager at clubs in Germany, Namibia, Austria, the Netherland ...
. Hyballa had taken the reins in Aachen at the beginning of the previous season. *14 September 2011 – Just one spot ahead of Aachen,
VfL Bochum Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft, commonly referred to as VfL Bochum (), is a Football in Germany, German professional association football club based in the city of Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia. They currently play ...
relieves Friedhelm Funkel from his duties as manager. Like Hyballa in Aachen, Funkel had started as manager in Bochum at the beginning of the previous season following the club's relegation from the top flight. Former
FC St. Pauli Fußball-Club St. Pauli von 1910 e.V., commonly known as simply FC St. Pauli (), is a German professional association football, football club based in the St. Pauli district of Hamburg. The team plays in the Bundesliga from the 2024–25 Bundesli ...
and
Hannover 96 Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96 (), is a German professional association football, football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony. They played in the Bundesliga for a total of 30 years between 19 ...
manager Andreas Bergmann is hired the following day to fill the vacancy. *19 September 2011 – Four days after being sacked in Bochu, Friedhelm Funkel takes over the vacant manager's position at
Alemannia Aachen Aachener Turn- und Sportverein Alemannia 1900 e. V., short Alemannia Aachen (), is a German football club from the western city of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. A long-term fixture of the country's second division, Alemannia enjoyed a three- ...
. *19 September 2011 – At risk of being relegated from the top flight for the first time in the club's history,
Hamburger SV Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V. (), commonly known as Hamburger SV () or Hamburg (), or HSV (), is a German sports club based in Hamburg, with its largest branch being its Association football, football department. Though the current HSV was founde ...
sacks manager Michael Oenning. Originally signed as assistant manager, Oenning had taken the manager's position following the sacking of Armin Veh six months prior. Rodolfo Cardoso, manager of the HSV reserves, takes over as caretaker. *22 September 2011 – Suffering from burnout,
Ralf Rangnick Ralf Dietrich Rangnick (; born 29 June 1958) is a German professional football coach, executive, and former player who is currently the manager of the Austria national team. Rangnick began his coaching career in 1983, succeeding his career as a ...
resigns as manager of
FC Schalke 04 Fußballclub Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04 e. V., commonly known as Schalke 04 (), and abbreviated as S04 (), is a professional sports club from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is best known for its football team, ...
. Rangnick's six months in charge of Schalke, following the sacking of
Felix Magath Wolfgang Felix Magath (; born 26 July 1953) is a German football manager and former player. The most notable spell of his playing career was with Hamburger SV, with whom he won three Bundesliga titles, the 1977 European Cup Winners' Cup Final a ...
, included a victory in the 2011 DFB-Pokal Final. *27 September 2011 – In his second stint at Schalke, Dutchmen
Huub Stevens Hubertus Jozef Margaretha "Huub" Stevens (; born 29 November 1953) is a Dutch former professional Manager (association football), football manager and player. Playing career Stevens was born in Sittard. While active, he played for Fortuna Sittar ...
fills the managerial post vacated by
Ralf Rangnick Ralf Dietrich Rangnick (; born 29 June 1958) is a German professional football coach, executive, and former player who is currently the manager of the Austria national team. Rangnick began his coaching career in 1983, succeeding his career as a ...
. In addition to having managed Schalke over the turn of the millennium, Stevens previous engagements in Germany include
Hertha BSC Hertha, Berliner Sport-Club e. V., commonly known as Hertha BSC () or Hertha Berlin, is a German professional football club based in Berlin. Hertha BSC plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football league system, German footbal ...
,
1. FC Köln 1. Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e. V., better known as simply 1. FC Köln () or FC Cologne in English language, English, is a German professional association football, football club based in Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 ...
, and
Hamburger SV Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V. (), commonly known as Hamburger SV () or Hamburg (), or HSV (), is a German sports club based in Hamburg, with its largest branch being its Association football, football department. Though the current HSV was founde ...
. *13 October 2011 – After sport director
Frank Arnesen Frank Arnesen (born 30 September 1956) is a former Danish footballer and sporting director at Dutch football club Feyenoord. Arnesen was the director of football at English football clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, and was sporting directo ...
took over from Rodolf Cardoso for a week,
Thorsten Fink Thorsten Fink (born 29 October 1967) is a German football coach and a former footballer, who is the head coach of Belgian Pro League club KRC Genk. Playing career Fink began his career with Borussia Dortmund's reserve squad before moving to S ...
transfers from
FC Basel Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel, FCB, or just Basel, is a Swiss professional Association football, football club based in Basel, in the Basel-Stadt, Canton of Basel-Stadt. Formed in 1893, the club has been List of Swiss footba ...
to take over as manager of
Hamburger SV Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V. (), commonly known as Hamburger SV () or Hamburg (), or HSV (), is a German sports club based in Hamburg, with its largest branch being its Association football, football department. Though the current HSV was founde ...
. Fink had won the
Swiss Super League The Super League (also known as the Credit Suisse Super League for sponsorship reasons) is a professional association football league in Switzerland and the highest level of the Swiss football league system. It has been played in its current fo ...
with Basel the previous season. *28 October 2011 – Having won only one of the previous six matches in the 2. Bundesliga, then losing the second round of the
DFB-Pokal The DFB-Pokal (), also known as the German Cup in English language, English, is a German knockout Association football, football cup competition held annually by the German Football Association (DFB). Sixty-four teams participate in the competiti ...
to Regionalliga club
Holstein Kiel Kieler Sportvereinigung Holstein von 1900 e.V., commonly known as Holstein Kiel () or KSV Holstein, is a German association football and sports club based in the city of Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein. From the 1900s through the 1960s, the club was o ...
,
MSV Duisburg Meidericher Spielverein 02 e. V. Duisburg, commonly known as simply MSV Duisburg (), is a Football in Germany, German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed ''Die Zebras'' for their traditional striped jer ...
sacks
Milan Šašić Milan Šašić (born 18 October 1958) is a Croatian football manager. Šašić has managed three clubs in the 2. Bundesliga for six seasons. Coaching career Šašić managed NK Karlovac from July 1988 to June 1991, DJK Gebhardshain-Steinebach ...
as manager. Šašić had led the club to a cup final the previous season. Goalkeeping coach
Oliver Reck Oliver Reck (born 27 February 1965) is a German football manager and former player. In a 20-year professional career, he played as a goalkeeper and was best known for his stints with Werder Bremen and Schalke 04, for whom he appeared in more th ...
replaces him on the bench. *31 October 2011 – Rainer Scharinger loses his job as
Karlsruher SC Karlsruher Sport-Club Mühlburg-Phönix e. V., better known as Karlsruher SC, is a Football in Germany, German association football club, based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg that currently plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of Germa ...
manager, following a ten-game winless streak. Scharinger had assumed the post in March 2011, and managed the club clear of relegation in the previous season. *6 November 2011 – Norwegian manager
Jørn Andersen Jørn Andersen (born 3 February 1963), sometimes written as Jörn, is a Norwegian Association football, football manager and former player who is the currently head coach of Chinese Super League club Yunnan Yukun F.C., Yunnan Yukun. Club career ...
returns to Germany to take the reins at
Karlsruher SC Karlsruher Sport-Club Mühlburg-Phönix e. V., better known as Karlsruher SC, is a Football in Germany, German association football club, based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg that currently plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of Germa ...
. Andersen had previously managed
Rot-Weiß Oberhausen Rot-Weiß Oberhausen is a German association football club in Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was formed as ''Oberhausener SV'' in December 1904 out of the merger of ''Emschertaler SV'' (1902) and the football enthusiasts of ''Oberh ...
,
Kickers Offenbach Offenbacher Fussball-Club Kickers, commonly known as Kickers Offenbach, is a German association football club in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. The club was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant by footballers who had left establis ...
, and had led
1. FSV Mainz 05 1. Fußball- und Sport-Verein Mainz 05 e. V., usually shortened to 1. FSV Mainz 05 or simply Mainz 05 (), is a German professional sports club, founded in 1905 and based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. Mainz 05 play in the Bundesliga, the top tie ...
to promotion to the Bundesliga. Most recently, he managed
Greek Super League The Super League Greece 1 (), or Stoiximan Super League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Greece and the highest level of the Greek football league system. The league was formed on 16 July 2006 and repla ...
club AEL Larissa. *9 November 2011 – In dead last in the 2. Bundesliga,
FC Ingolstadt 04 Fußballclub Ingolstadt 04 e. V., commonly known as FC Ingolstadt 04 or FC Ingolstadt, is a German football club based in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. The club was founded in 2004 out of the merger of the football sides of two other clubs: ESV Ingolsta ...
sacks manager Benno Möhlmann. Möhlmann was hired as manager almost exactly one year prior. The following day, former
FSV Frankfurt Fußballsportverein Frankfurt 1899 e.V., commonly known as simply FSV Frankfurt and known as simply Frankfurt, is a German association football club based in the Bornheim district of Frankfurt am Main, Hessen and founded in 1899. FSV Frankfurt ...
manager
Tomas Oral Tomas Oral (born 24 April 1973) is a German football manager. He is the current head coach of Swiss Super League side Grasshopper Club Zurich. Managerial career Early career (2006–2011) Oral was hired as head coach for FSV Frankfurt prior to ...
was hired to replace him. *6 December 2011 – Having lost four of the six previous games, drawing the other two,
F.C. Hansa Rostock FC Hansa Rostock () is a German association football club based in the city of Rostock, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The club is also called as "the cog" because of its club crest. They have emerged as one of the most successful clubs from ...
sacks Peter Vollmann as manager. Hansa had won promotion to the 2nd division under Vollmann the previous season. The following day, Hansa hired
Wolfgang Wolf Wolfgang Wolf (born 24 September 1957) is a German football coach and a former player. Career Wolf was born in Tiefenthal. As a player, he spent twelve seasons in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Stuttgarter Kickers. Coaching caree ...
to fill the post. Wolf has Bundesliga experience, having managed
VfL Wolfsburg Verein für Leibesübungen Wolfsburg e. V., commonly known as VfL Wolfsburg (), is a German professional sports club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony. The club grew out of a multi-sports club for Volkswagen workers in the city of Wolfsburg. I ...
, 1. FC Nürnberg, and
1. FC Kaiserslautern 1. Fußball-Club Kaiserslautern e. V., also known as 1. FCK, FCK (), FC Kaiserslautern (), K'lautern or colloquially Lautern (), is a German sports club based in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition to Association football, football ...
in the top flight. *8 December 2011 – By mutual consent,
Energie Cottbus FC Energie Cottbus (Lower Sorbian: ''Energija Chóśebuz'') is a Football in Germany, German football club based in Cottbus, Brandenburg. It was founded in 1963 as SC Cottbus in what was East Germany. After the German reunification, reunificatio ...
and
Claus-Dieter Wollitz Claus-Dieter Wollitz (born 19 July 1965) is a German football coach and former player, who is the current director of football and manager of 3. Liga club FC Energie Cottbus. Managerial career KFC Uerdingen 05 Wollitz was head coach of KFC U ...
dissolve their contract. Wollitz had managed Cottbus in the two previous seasons. *17 December 2011 – Following a nine-match winless streak,
FSV Frankfurt Fußballsportverein Frankfurt 1899 e.V., commonly known as simply FSV Frankfurt and known as simply Frankfurt, is a German association football club based in the Bornheim district of Frankfurt am Main, Hessen and founded in 1899. FSV Frankfurt ...
sacks
Hans-Jürgen Boysen Hans-Jürgen Boysen (born 30 May 1957) is a German football manager and former player. Before, he managed SV Sandhausen and Wormatia Worms VfR Wormatia 08 Worms is a German association football club that plays in Worms, Rhineland-Palatinate. ...
. Boysen had been manager of
FSV Frankfurt Fußballsportverein Frankfurt 1899 e.V., commonly known as simply FSV Frankfurt and known as simply Frankfurt, is a German association football club based in the Bornheim district of Frankfurt am Main, Hessen and founded in 1899. FSV Frankfurt ...
for two years, avoiding relegation with the club twice. *18 December 2011 – With two matches left to play before the break,
Hertha BSC Hertha, Berliner Sport-Club e. V., commonly known as Hertha BSC () or Hertha Berlin, is a German professional football club based in Berlin. Hertha BSC plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football league system, German footbal ...
sacks manager
Markus Babbel Markus Babbel (; born 8 September 1972) is a German professional football coach and former player who most recently managed Western Sydney Wanderers FC. He played as a defender for clubs in Germany and England. Babbel won the UEFA Cup twice: in ...
. The club made it clear that this was due to internal disputes and not the club's poor showing in the league. Babbel had taken charge at Hertha at the beginning of the previous season, and led the club to promotion back to the top flight. *21 December 2011 –
FSV Frankfurt Fußballsportverein Frankfurt 1899 e.V., commonly known as simply FSV Frankfurt and known as simply Frankfurt, is a German association football club based in the Bornheim district of Frankfurt am Main, Hessen and founded in 1899. FSV Frankfurt ...
hires Benno Möhlmann as manager. Möhlmann had previously held several managerial posts in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, and had been sacked as manager of
FC Ingolstadt 04 Fußballclub Ingolstadt 04 e. V., commonly known as FC Ingolstadt 04 or FC Ingolstadt, is a German football club based in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. The club was founded in 2004 out of the merger of the football sides of two other clubs: ESV Ingolsta ...
just six weeks prior. *22 December 2011 – Having played the remaining games before the break under interim manager Rainer Widmayer,
Hertha BSC Hertha, Berliner Sport-Club e. V., commonly known as Hertha BSC () or Hertha Berlin, is a German professional football club based in Berlin. Hertha BSC plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football league system, German footbal ...
announces
Michael Skibbe Michael Heinz Skibbe (born 4 August 1965) is a German former football player and current manager of J1 League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima. He is currently the 2024 ' J.League Manager of the Year'. Club career In his youth, Skibbe played for SG Wa ...
has been hired to fill the vacant managerial post. His playing career having been cut-short by injury, Skibbe had been the youngest ever manager of a Bundesliga club. *29 December 2011 – Going into the winter break in last place in the Bundesliga,
SC Freiburg Sport-Club Freiburg e.V., commonly known as SC Freiburg (), is a Football in Germany, German professional football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. It plays in the Bundesliga, having been promoted as champions ...
replaces manager
Marcus Sorg Marcus Sorg (born 24 December 1965) is a German football coach and former player who is currently the assistant coach of La Liga club Barcelona. Career Early career Sorg has been head coach of lower division clubs including Stuttgarter Kickers ...
with assistant manager Christian Streich. Sorg had been assistant manager under
Robin Dutt Robin Dutt (; born 24 January 1965) is a German football coach, executive and former player. He has managed many German clubs and secured promotion for SC Freiburg, returning them to the Bundesliga. Early life Dutt was born in Köln-Lindenthal, ...
, and replaced him as manager when he left the club at the beginning of the season. For Streich, it would be his first managerial post. *9 February 2012 – Having won only two of the previous ten matches,
1899 Hoffenheim Turn- und Sportgemeinschaft 1899 Hoffenheim e.V. (), commonly known as TSG Hoffenheim (), are a German professional football club based in Sinsheim. Originally founded in 1899 as a gymnastics club, Hoffenheim came into being in their modern for ...
sacks
Holger Stanislawski Holger Stanislawski (born 26 September 1969) is a German football manager and former player. Managerial career FC St. Pauli Stanislawski became interim manager of FC St. Pauli on 22 November 2006 after Andreas Bergmann was sacked by the club. ...
as manager. Stanislawski had taken over the club at the beginning of the season following five years at
FC St. Pauli Fußball-Club St. Pauli von 1910 e.V., commonly known as simply FC St. Pauli (), is a German professional association football, football club based in the St. Pauli district of Hamburg. The team plays in the Bundesliga from the 2024–25 Bundesli ...
which included a promotion to the Bundesliga. *10 February 2012 –
1899 Hoffenheim Turn- und Sportgemeinschaft 1899 Hoffenheim e.V. (), commonly known as TSG Hoffenheim (), are a German professional football club based in Sinsheim. Originally founded in 1899 as a gymnastics club, Hoffenheim came into being in their modern for ...
hire
Markus Babbel Markus Babbel (; born 8 September 1972) is a German professional football coach and former player who most recently managed Western Sydney Wanderers FC. He played as a defender for clubs in Germany and England. Babbel won the UEFA Cup twice: in ...
to fill the vacant manager's post. Babbel had been sacked by
Hertha BSC Hertha, Berliner Sport-Club e. V., commonly known as Hertha BSC () or Hertha Berlin, is a German professional football club based in Berlin. Hertha BSC plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football league system, German footbal ...
just six weeks prior. His previous accomplishments include winning promotion to the Bundesliga in Berlin, and qualifying for the
UEFA Champions League The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is an annual club association football competition organised by the UEFA, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that is contested by List of top-division football clubs in UEFA countries, top-divisio ...
with
VfB Stuttgart Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V. (), commonly known as VfB Stuttgart (), is a German professional sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club's Association football, football team is currently part of Germany's f ...
. *12 February 2012 – After five losses in as many matches,
Hertha BSC Hertha, Berliner Sport-Club e. V., commonly known as Hertha BSC () or Hertha Berlin, is a German professional football club based in Berlin. Hertha BSC plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football league system, German footbal ...
sacks
Michael Skibbe Michael Heinz Skibbe (born 4 August 1965) is a German former football player and current manager of J1 League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima. He is currently the 2024 ' J.League Manager of the Year'. Club career In his youth, Skibbe played for SG Wa ...
, who had taken over the club over the winter break. *18 February 2012 –
Hertha BSC Hertha, Berliner Sport-Club e. V., commonly known as Hertha BSC () or Hertha Berlin, is a German professional football club based in Berlin. Hertha BSC plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football league system, German footbal ...
hire
Otto Rehhagel Otto Rehhagel (; born 9 August 1938) is a German former Association football, football coach and player. Rehhagel is one of only two people who, as player and manager combined, has participated in over 1,000 Bundesliga matches (the other bein ...
as manager. Rehhagel had played for Hertha in the first ever Bundesliga season. More recently, he had led the Greek national team to a title at
UEFA Euro 2004 The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2004, was the 12th edition of the UEFA European Championship, a quadrennial association football, football competition contested by the List of men's national associatio ...
. *21 February 2012 – At risk of being relegated to the 3. Liga,
FC Erzgebirge Aue Fußball Club Erzgebirge Aue e.V., commonly known as simply FC Erzgebirge Aue or Erzgebirge Aue (), is a Football in Germany, German football club based in Aue-Bad Schlema, Saxony. The former East German side was a founding member of the 3.  ...
sacks Rico Schmitt. It had been Schmitt's first professional managerial post, which had held since 2009. The following day, the club hires Karsten Baumann, who had previously managed
VfL Osnabrück VfL Osnabrück is a German multi-sport club in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony. It currently fields teams in basketball, gymnastics, swimming, table tennis, and tennis but is by far best known for its Association football, football section. The footba ...
in the 2. Bundesliga, to replace Schmitt. *20 March 2012 – Having not won a single league match since November,
1. FC Kaiserslautern 1. Fußball-Club Kaiserslautern e. V., also known as 1. FCK, FCK (), FC Kaiserslautern (), K'lautern or colloquially Lautern (), is a German sports club based in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition to Association football, football ...
sacks manager
Marco Kurz Marco Kurz (born 16 May 1969) is a German Association football, football manager and former player who played as a Defender (association football), defender. He last managed Australian side Melbourne Victory FC, Melbourne Victory. Playing career ...
. Kurz had assumed the post at the beginning of the 2009–10 season, and led the club to promotion to the Bundesliga that year. *22 March 2012 –
1. FC Kaiserslautern 1. Fußball-Club Kaiserslautern e. V., also known as 1. FCK, FCK (), FC Kaiserslautern (), K'lautern or colloquially Lautern (), is a German sports club based in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition to Association football, football ...
announce the signing of
Krasimir Balakov Krasimir Genchev Balakov (, ; born 29 March 1966) is a former Bulgarian footballer and manager. A former attacking midfielder, he was a key member of the Bulgaria national team that finished fourth in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He is considered ...
as manager, to replace
Marco Kurz Marco Kurz (born 16 May 1969) is a German Association football, football manager and former player who played as a Defender (association football), defender. He last managed Australian side Melbourne Victory FC, Melbourne Victory. Playing career ...
. Balakov had previously managed professional clubs in Switzerland, Croatia, and his native Bulgaria. *26 March 2012 – Second to last in the 2. Bundesliga and at risk of relegation,
Karlsruher SC Karlsruher Sport-Club Mühlburg-Phönix e. V., better known as Karlsruher SC, is a Football in Germany, German association football club, based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg that currently plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of Germa ...
sacks
Jørn Andersen Jørn Andersen (born 3 February 1963), sometimes written as Jörn, is a Norwegian Association football, football manager and former player who is the currently head coach of Chinese Super League club Yunnan Yukun F.C., Yunnan Yukun. Club career ...
as manager. The Norwegian got the job five months earlier. Reserve manager
Markus Kauczinski Markus Kauczinski (born 20 February 1970) is a German Association football, football coach, who last managed SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Wehen Wiesbaden. Coaching career Kauczinski started to coach Karlsruher SC II in May 2009 and continued in this role ...
takes over the post. *1 April 2012 – In sixth place and likely to miss the goal of qualifying for the
UEFA Champions League The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is an annual club association football competition organised by the UEFA, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that is contested by List of top-division football clubs in UEFA countries, top-divisio ...
,
Bayer Leverkusen Bayer 04 Leverkusen, officially known as Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH () and commonly known as Bayer Leverkusen or simply Leverkusen, is a German professional football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It competes in the B ...
sack
Robin Dutt Robin Dutt (; born 24 January 1965) is a German football coach, executive and former player. He has managed many German clubs and secured promotion for SC Freiburg, returning them to the Bundesliga. Early life Dutt was born in Köln-Lindenthal, ...
as manager. Dutt had taken the reins in Leverkusen at the beginning of the season after
Jupp Heynckes Josef "Jupp" Heynckes (; born 9 May 1945) is a German retired professional footballer and manager. For the majority of his playing career he was as a striker for Borussia Mönchengladbach in its golden era of the 1960s and '70s, when they won m ...
transferred to
Bayern Munich Fußball-Club Bayern München e. V. (FCB, ), commonly known as Bayern Munich (), FC Bayern () or simply Bayern, is a German professional sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. They are most known for their men's professional football team, ...
.
Sami Hyypiä Sami Tuomas Hyypiä (; born 7 October 1973) is a Finnish professional football manager and a former player who played as a centre-back. Hyypiä began his playing career with Ykkönen side Kumu and soon moved to Veikkausliiga outfit MyPa. He s ...
, manager of the Finish national team, is hired to manage the club until the end of the season. Hyypiä had ended his playing career, playing for Leverkusen, at the end of the previous season. *1 April 2012 – Having fallen to 17th place in the 2. Bundesliga after losing five consecutive matches,
Alemannia Aachen Aachener Turn- und Sportverein Alemannia 1900 e. V., short Alemannia Aachen (), is a German football club from the western city of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. A long-term fixture of the country's second division, Alemannia enjoyed a three- ...
sacks Friedhelm Funkel. For Aachen, this was the second time they had sacked a manager this season, and for Funkel, the second time he had been sacked as manager. *12 April 2012 –
1. FC Köln 1. Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e. V., better known as simply 1. FC Köln () or FC Cologne in English language, English, is a German professional association football, football club based in Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 ...
sack manager
Ståle Solbakken Ståle Solbakken (born 27 February 1968) is a Norwegian professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of the Norway national team. During his playing career, Solbakken was named 1995 Norwegian midfielder of the year, an ...
. For Solbakken, who had taken over in Cologne at the beginning of the season, this was his first managerial stint in Germany. Former manager Frank Schaefer is rehired to fill the vacancy.


Men's national team

The home team is on the left column; the away team is on the right column.


Friendly matches


Euro 2012 qualifying

The German men's national team were drawn into
UEFA Euro 2012 The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2012 or simply Euro 2012, was the 14th UEFA European Championship, European Championship for List of men's national association football teams#UEFA (Europe), men's ...
qualifying Group A. All fixtures for this group were negotiated between the participants at a meeting in
Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...
, Germany on 21 and 22 February 2010.


UEFA Euro 2012


Group stage


Knockout stage


Women's national team

The home team is on the left column; the away team is on the right column.


Euro 2013 qualifying


2012 Algarve Cup


Friendly match


League season


Bundesliga


2. Bundesliga


3. Liga


Bundesliga (women)


2. Bundesliga (women)


German clubs in Europe


UEFA Champions League


Play-off round


Group stage


=Group A

=


=Group E

=


=Group F

=


Knockout phase


=Round of 16

=


=Quarter-finals

=


=Semi-finals

=


=Final

=


UEFA Europa League


Qualifying phase


=Third qualifying round

=


=Play-off round

=


Group stage


=Group B

=


=Group J

=


Knockout phase


=Round of 32

=


=Round of 16

=


=Quarter-finals

=


UEFA Women's Champions League


Round of 32


Round of 16


Quarter-finals


Semi-finals


Final


Transfer deals


Retirements

* Tomasz Bobel – 36, Polish goalkeeper for
Fortuna Köln Fortuna (, equivalent to the Greek goddess Tyche) is the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck in Roman religion who, largely thanks to the Late Antique author Boethius, remained popular through the Middle Ages until at least the Re ...
,
MSV Duisburg Meidericher Spielverein 02 e. V. Duisburg, commonly known as simply MSV Duisburg (), is a Football in Germany, German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed ''Die Zebras'' for their traditional striped jer ...
,
Erzgebirge Aue Fußball Club Erzgebirge Aue e.V., commonly known as simply FC Erzgebirge Aue or Erzgebirge Aue (), is a German football club based in Aue-Bad Schlema, Saxony. The former East German side was a founding member of the 3. Liga in 2008–09, ...
, and
Bayer 04 Leverkusen Bayer 04 Leverkusen, officially known as Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH () and commonly known as Bayer Leverkusen or simply Leverkusen, is a German professional association football, football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. ...
. Bobel began his career in Poland before joining Fortuna Köln. In 2009, he had a brief stint in Azerbaijan, playing for Neftchi Baku, before returning to Germany as a backup to
René Adler René Adler (born 15 January 1985) is a German former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, mainly for Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg. Early life Adler is the son of former East German international Jens Adler. His cousin is Israel ...
. *
Pál Dárdai Pál Dárdai (born 16 March 1976) is a Hungarian retired footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder. He was most recently the head coach of 2. Bundesliga club Hertha BSC. In a 20-year professional career, he played for over a deca ...
– 35, Hungarian midfielder for
Hertha BSC Hertha, Berliner Sport-Club e. V., commonly known as Hertha BSC () or Hertha Berlin, is a German professional football club based in Berlin. Hertha BSC plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football league system, German footbal ...
. Beginning his career for in Hungary, Dardai played over a decade for Hertha BSC. * Ivica Grlić – 35, Bosnian midfielder, for
TSV 1860 München , commonly known as TSV 1860 München (; ''sechzig'' locally ; lettered as ) or 1860 Munich, is a sports club based in Munich. The club's association football, football team plays in the 3. Liga, the third tier of German football league system ...
,
Fortuna Köln Fortuna (, equivalent to the Greek goddess Tyche) is the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck in Roman religion who, largely thanks to the Late Antique author Boethius, remained popular through the Middle Ages until at least the Re ...
,
1. FC Köln 1. Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e. V., better known as simply 1. FC Köln () or FC Cologne in English language, English, is a German professional association football, football club based in Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 ...
,
Alemannia Aachen Aachener Turn- und Sportverein Alemannia 1900 e. V., short Alemannia Aachen (), is a German football club from the western city of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. A long-term fixture of the country's second division, Alemannia enjoyed a three- ...
, and
MSV Duisburg Meidericher Spielverein 02 e. V. Duisburg, commonly known as simply MSV Duisburg (), is a Football in Germany, German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed ''Die Zebras'' for their traditional striped jer ...
. Born in Munich, Grlić earned 26 international caps for Bosnia over the course of his career. He captained
MSV Duisburg Meidericher Spielverein 02 e. V. Duisburg, commonly known as simply MSV Duisburg (), is a Football in Germany, German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed ''Die Zebras'' for their traditional striped jer ...
until 2008, when he missed several consecutive games due to injury. *
Mathias Hain Mathias Hain (born 31 December 1972) is a German former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is the brother of Uwe Hain, himself a former goalkeeper. Hain was known for his great shot stopping ability and, during his time at Ar ...
– 38, German goalkeeper for
SpVgg Greuther Fürth Spielvereinigung Greuther Fürth (), commonly known as Greuther Fürth (), is a Football in Germany, German football club based in Fürth, Bavaria. They play in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of the German football league system, following r ...
,
Arminia Bielefeld DSC Arminia Bielefeld (; full name: ; commonly known as Arminia Bielefeld (), also known as ''Die Arminen'' or ''Die Blauen'' ), or just Arminia (), is a German sports club from Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. Arminia is most well known as ...
, and
FC St. Pauli Fußball-Club St. Pauli von 1910 e.V., commonly known as simply FC St. Pauli (), is a German professional association football, football club based in the St. Pauli district of Hamburg. The team plays in the Bundesliga from the 2024–25 Bundesli ...
. Long serving captain of
Arminia Bielefeld DSC Arminia Bielefeld (; full name: ; commonly known as Arminia Bielefeld (), also known as ''Die Arminen'' or ''Die Blauen'' ), or just Arminia (), is a German sports club from Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. Arminia is most well known as ...
, Hain was forced to retire after breaking his arm. *
Sami Hyypiä Sami Tuomas Hyypiä (; born 7 October 1973) is a Finnish professional football manager and a former player who played as a centre-back. Hyypiä began his playing career with Ykkönen side Kumu and soon moved to Veikkausliiga outfit MyPa. He s ...
– 37, Finnish defender for
Bayer 04 Leverkusen Bayer 04 Leverkusen, officially known as Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH () and commonly known as Bayer Leverkusen or simply Leverkusen, is a German professional association football, football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. ...
. Beginning his career in Finland for MYPA, Hyypiä played in the Netherlands for Willem II and in England for
Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
before coming to Germany. *
Jean-Sébastien Jaurès Jean-Sébastien Jaurès (; born 30 September 1977) is a French former professional footballer who played as defender for AJ Auxerre and Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach. Whilst at Auxerre he helped them win the Coupe de France in 2005 ...
– 33, French defender for
Borussia Mönchengladbach Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach, better known as Borussia Mönchengladbach () and colloquially known as just Gladbach, is a professional Association football, football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-W ...
. Before his three seasons in the Bundesliga, Jaurès had played his entire career for
AJ Auxerre Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise (), commonly known as AJ Auxerre or by the abbreviation AJA, is a French professional association football, football club based in the Communes of France, commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club plays in L ...
. *
Tomasz Kos Tomasz Kos (born 4 April 1974) is a Polish former professional footballer who spent most of his career playing as a defender for German clubs 1. FC Nürnberg and Erzgebirge Aue. Honours ŁKS Łódź * Ekstraklasa (; meaning "Extra Class" i ...
– 37, Polish midfielder for
FC Gütersloh FC Gütersloh is a German association football club based in Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia. History The club was formed in 1978 out of the merger of the football sides of '' Sport Vereinigung Arminia Gütersloh'' and '' Deutsche Jugendk ...
, 1. FC Nürnberg, and
FC Erzgebirge Aue Fußball Club Erzgebirge Aue e.V., commonly known as simply FC Erzgebirge Aue or Erzgebirge Aue (), is a Football in Germany, German football club based in Aue-Bad Schlema, Saxony. The former East German side was a founding member of the 3.  ...
. Kos captained Erzgebirge Aue, and earned three international caps over the course of his career. * Martin Pieckenhagen – 39, German goalkeeper for
1. FC Union Berlin 1. Fußballclub Union Berlin e. V., commonly known as Union Berlin (), is a professional German football club based in Berlin. The club's origins can be traced to 1906, when its predecessor FC Olympia Oberschöneweide was founded. During the Co ...
,
Tennis Borussia Berlin Tennis Borussia Berlin is a German football club based in the locality of Westend in Berlin. History The team was founded in 1902 as ''Berliner Tennis- und Ping-Pong-Gesellschaft Borussia'' taking its name from its origins as a tennis and ...
,
MSV Duisburg Meidericher Spielverein 02 e. V. Duisburg, commonly known as simply MSV Duisburg (), is a Football in Germany, German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed ''Die Zebras'' for their traditional striped jer ...
,
Hansa Rostock FC Hansa Rostock () is a German association football club based in the city of Rostock, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The club is also called as "the cog" because of its club crest. They have emerged as one of the most successful clubs from ...
,
Hamburger SV Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V. (), commonly known as Hamburger SV () or Hamburg (), or HSV (), is a German sports club based in Hamburg, with its largest branch being its Association football, football department. Though the current HSV was founde ...
, and
1. FSV Mainz 05 1. Fußball- und Sport-Verein Mainz 05 e. V., usually shortened to 1. FSV Mainz 05 or simply Mainz 05 (), is a German professional sports club, founded in 1905 and based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. Mainz 05 play in the Bundesliga, the top tie ...
. In addition to the German clubs, he played five season in the Netherlands for
Heracles Almelo Heracles Almelo is a Dutch professional football club based in Almelo, founded in 1903. The club has won the Dutch national title twice, in 1927 and 1941. Heracles won the Eerste Divisie title during the 2004–05 season, gaining promotion to t ...
.


Deaths

* 13 December 2011 – Klaus-Dieter Sieloff, 69, defender for
VfB Stuttgart Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V. (), commonly known as VfB Stuttgart (), is a German professional sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club's Association football, football team is currently part of Germany's f ...
and
Borussia Mönchengladbach Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach, better known as Borussia Mönchengladbach () and colloquially known as just Gladbach, is a professional Association football, football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-W ...
, among others. Member of 1966 and 1970 West Germany world cup squads. * 3 January 2012 –
Willi Entenmann Willi Entenmann (25 September 1943 – 3 January 2012) was a German football coach and player. Entenmann was born in Benningen am Neckar. As a coach in the Bundesliga, his highest finish was fifth place in 1986. He died, aged 68, in Garmisch-Par ...
, 68, player for
VfB Stuttgart Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V. (), commonly known as VfB Stuttgart (), is a German professional sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club's Association football, football team is currently part of Germany's f ...
and others. He also was manager for Stuttgart and 1. FC Nürnberg among others. * 1 March 2012 – Henryk Bałuszyński, 39, striker for
VfL Bochum Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft, commonly referred to as VfL Bochum (), is a Football in Germany, German professional association football club based in the city of Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia. They currently play ...
and
Arminia Bielefeld DSC Arminia Bielefeld (; full name: ; commonly known as Arminia Bielefeld (), also known as ''Die Arminen'' or ''Die Blauen'' ), or just Arminia (), is a German sports club from Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. Arminia is most well known as ...
, among others. From 1994 to 1997, he earned 15 international caps for the Polish national team. * 12 March 2012 –
Friedhelm Konietzka Friedhelm "Timo" Konietzka (2 August 1938 – 12 March 2012) was a German professional football player and manager who played as a striker. He earned his nickname "Timo" due to a supposed resemblance to the Soviet commander Semyon Timoshen ...
, 73, striker for
Borussia Dortmund Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund, often known simply as Borussia Dortmund () or by its initialism BVB (), or just Dortmund by International fans, is a German professional sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is ...
and
TSV 1860 München , commonly known as TSV 1860 München (; ''sechzig'' locally ; lettered as ) or 1860 Munich, is a sports club based in Munich. The club's association football, football team plays in the 3. Liga, the third tier of German football league system ...
. Following his career as a player, Konietzka managed
Borussia Dortmund Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund, often known simply as Borussia Dortmund () or by its initialism BVB (), or just Dortmund by International fans, is a German professional sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is ...
,
Bayer Uerdingen KFC Uerdingen 05 was a German football club in the Uerdingen district of the city of Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. The former Bundesliga side, which had its greatest successes in the 1980s, plays in the fourth-level Regionalliga. In 2025, th ...
,
Hessen Kassel KSV Hessen Kassel is a semi-professional German football club based in Kassel, Hesse. KSV competes in the German Regionalliga Südwest, the fourth tier of German football. Nicknamed "Die Löwen" (the lions), the club was founded as FC Union 9 ...
, and several Swiss clubs, winning the Swiss championship three times. * 12 April 2012 – Manfred Orzessek, 78, goalkeeper for
FC Schalke 04 Fußballclub Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04 e. V., commonly known as Schalke 04 (), and abbreviated as S04 (), is a professional sports club from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is best known for its football team, ...
and
Borussia Mönchengladbach Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach, better known as Borussia Mönchengladbach () and colloquially known as just Gladbach, is a professional Association football, football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-W ...
. Orzessek won the German championship with Schalke in 1958, and was the starting goalkeeper of the Mönchengladbach side that won promotion to the Bundesliga in 1965.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2011-12 in German football
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
Seasons in German football