2012–13 Ligue 2


The 2012–13 Ligue 2 season was the 74th season since its establishment. The league schedule was announced in April 2012 and the fixtures were determined on 30 May. The season began on 27 July and ended on 24 May 2013. The winter break was in effect from 22 December to 12 January 2013. In addition, German sportswear company Uhlsport became the official provider of match balls for the season after agreeing to a long-term partnership with the Ligue de Football Professionnel.

Teams

There were three promoted teams from the Championnat National, replacing the three teams that were relegated from Ligue 2 following the 2011–12 season. A total of 20 teams are currently competing in the league with three clubs suffering relegation to the third division, Championnat National. All clubs that secured Ligue 2 status for the season were subject to approval by the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate.
Auxerre was the first club to suffer relegation to Ligue 2 in the 2011–12 Ligue 1 season. The club's drop was confirmed on 13 May 2012 following the team's 3–0 loss to Marseille; a defeat that made it impossible for the club to finish safe. Auxerre returned to the second division after 32 consecutive years playing in Ligue 1. Prior to the 2011–12 season, the club had never suffered relegation from the country's top division. On the final day of the 2011–12 Ligue 1 season, Dijon and Caen were both relegated to Ligue 2 following defeats to Rennes and Valenciennes, respectively. Dijon returned to the second division after only one season in Ligue 1, while Caen fell to the second-tier after two years in the first division.
On 18 May 2012, both Nîmes and Gazélec Ajaccio were promoted to Ligue 2 after each club achieved results that made it impossible for the league's fourth-placed team to surpass them. Nîmes returned to the second division after only one year at semi-professional level, while Gazélec will play in Ligue 2 for the first time since the 1992–93 season. On the final day of the 2011–12 National season, Niort became the final club to earn promotion to Ligue 2 after beating already-promoted Gazélec Ajaccio 1–0. Niort returned to the second division for the first time since the 2007–08 season.

DNCG rulings

On 11 July 2012, following a preliminary review of each club's administrative and financial accounts in Ligue 2, the DNCG ruled that Le Mans would be relegated to the Championnat National. Following the announcement, Le Mans president Henri Legarda announced that the club would appeal the decision stating the "shareholders will play their part and the club will go after every possible step to restore its rightful place in the sport." On 25 July, Le Mans confirmed on its official website that the DNCG had reversed it decision to relegate the club.

Stadia and locations

ClubLocationVenueCapacityAv. Att.
AngersStade Jean Bouin17,1006,850
AvignonParc des Sports17,5181,968
AuxerreStade de l'Abbé-Deschamps24,4935,789
CaenStade Michel d'Ornano21,50010,129
ChâteaurouxStade Gaston Petit17,1735,416
Clermont-FerrandStade Gabriel Montpied10,3634,069
DijonStade Gaston Gérard15,9988,321
AjaccioStade Ange Casanova5,0002,471
GuingampStade du Roudourou18,1269,507
IstresStade Parsemain17,4682,024
LavalStade Francis Le Basser18,7394,424
Le HavreStade Océane25,0008,397
Le MansMMArena25,0006,029
LensStade Félix-Bollaert41,23316,179
MonacoStade Louis II18,5005,293
NantesStade de la Beaujoire38,28518,171
NîmesStade des Costières18,4825,509
NiortStade René Gaillard10,8984,572
SedanStade Louis Dugauguez23,1895,530
ToursStade de la Vallée du Cher13,5004,059

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamManager1Captain1Kit Manufacturer1Main Sponsor1
AngersUmbroScania
Arles-AvignonUhlsportGroupe Nicollin
AuxerreAirnessMaisons Pierre
CaenNikeGDE Recyclage
ChâteaurouxNikeLe Seyec
ClermontPatrick SportCrédit Mutuel
DijonNikeDoras,IPS
Gazélec AjaccioAdidasCarrefour,Casino d'Ajaccio
GuingampPatrick SportGroupe Stalaven
IstresDuarigTrust 2 Cloud
LavalDuarigLactel
Le HavreNikeSystem U
Le MansMacronLOUÉ
LensadidasInvicta
AS MonacoMacronFedcom
NantesErreàOffset 5
NîmesErreàMac Dan
NiortPumaRestaurant Le Billon, Cheminées Poujoulat
SedanNikeInvicta
ToursDuarigInvicta

1Subject to change during the season.

Managerial changes

League table

Results

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Mustapha YatabaréGuingamp23
2Filip ĐorđevićNantes20
3Ibrahima TouréAS Monaco18
4Vincent GragnicNîmes17
4Claudiu KeșerüAngers17
6Valère GermainAS Monaco14
7Yohann RivièreLe Havre13
7Mana DembéléClermont13
7Mathieu DuhamelCaen13
10Raphaël CacérèsArles-Avignon12

Source:

Assists table

RankPlayerClubAssists
1Alharbi El JadeyaouiAngers10
2Mouritala OgunbiyiNîmes8
2Nicolas BenezetNîmes8
2Thomas GuerbertDijon8
2Steeven LangilAuxerre8
6Alexandre BonnetLe Havre7
6Dennis OliechAuxerre7
6Valère GermainAS Monaco7
6Fayçal FajrCaen7
6Thibault GiresseGuingamp7

Source:

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
AS MonacoLens21 9 2012
4AngersLe Mans28 9 2012
ChâteaurouxGazélec Ajaccio19 10 2012
NantesChâteauroux15 4 2013
GuingampLens10 5 2013
Arles-AvignonDijon17 5 2013