The 2012 season is Stabæk's 7th consecutive year in Tippeligaen, and their 17th season in the top flight of Norwegian football. It is Petter Belsvik's first season as the club's manager after Jörgen Lennartsson joined IF Elfsborg at the end of the previous season. Stabæk also competed in the UEFA Europa League after qualifying through the Fair Play rankings. They entered, and were knocked out, in the First Qualifying Round against JJK of Finland. On October 28, Stabæk were relegated from the Tippeligaen to the Adeccoligaen with three games still remaining.