The 2012 season was St. Patrick’s Athletic F.C.’s 83rd year in existence and it was the Supersaint’s 61st consecutive season in the top-flight of Irish football. The Saint’s were under the new management of Liam Buckley after Pete Mahon was let go at the end of the 2011 season. Pat’s finished 4th the previous season and doing so qualified for the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League First qualifying round.