Copenhagen were the defending champions, having won their ninth league championship and third consecutively last season.
Since Denmark climbed from fifteenth to twelfth place in the UEFA association coefficient rankings at the end of the 2010–11 season,[5] the 2011–12 league champions entered directly the group stage of the UEFA Champions League instead of having to compete in the qualifying rounds.
The relegated teams were replaced by 2010–11 1st Division champions AGF and runners-up HB Køge.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules.
Originally, Skarbalius was meant to take over the assistant coach job at Brøndby on 31 December 2011 at the end of his HB Køge contract and be replaced by Tommy Møller Nielsen, however on 24 October Henrik Jensen was fired and the move was moved forwards, while Skarbalius was made head coach.