Dempo SC facts for kids
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| Full name | Dempo Sports Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Whites The Golden Eagles |
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| Short name | DSC | |||
| Founded | 1961 (as Clube Desportivo de Bicholim)
1967 (as Dempo Souza Sports Club) |
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| Ground | Duler Stadium Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Ella Academy Ground |
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| Capacity | 10,000 19,000 500 |
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| Owner | Dempo Group | |||
| Head coach | Samir Naik | |||
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Dempo Sports Club is a professional football club from Panaji, Goa, India. They are known as "The Whites" and "The Golden Eagles". The club plays in the I-League, which is the second-highest football league in India, and also in the Goa Professional League. The Dempo Group owns and supports the club.
Dempo Sports Club has achieved many great things in Indian football. They were the first Indian club to reach the semi-finals of the AFC Cup in 2008, which is a big Asian football tournament. They have won the top Indian league title five times: the National Football League twice (in 2005 and 2007) and the I-League three times (in 2008, 2010, and 2012). This makes them one of the most successful clubs in India's top division.
The club has also won many other trophies, including 14 Goa League Champions Cups, 4 Rovers Cups, 2 Indian Super Cups, the Federation Cup in 2004, and the Durand Cup in 2006. Dempo was the first club from Goa to win the Rovers Cup. In 2011, they were ranked as the fifth-best Indian team by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.
Contents
History of Dempo Sports Club
How it Started (1961–1980)
Dempo Sports Club began in 1961 in Bicholim as Clube Desportivo de Bicholim. In the 1960s, it was a top team in the Goan First Division league. Many talented players from that time are still remembered for their amazing skills.
In 1967, the club was adopted by Dempo Souza and renamed Dempo Souza Sports Club. It continued to be one of the strongest teams in India. In 1969, they finished second in the Senior Division League. Later, Dempo bought out Mr. Michael D'Souza's share, and the club became Dempo Sports Club. Vasantrao Dempo, the chairman of the Dempo Group, greatly supported the team, helping it grow alongside other big business-owned clubs.
The club still uses the same logo and colors chosen by Michael deSouza. They won their first Goan Senior League title in 1972. Their first national tournament win was the Rovers Cup in 1975. In 1978, British coach Bob Bootland joined Dempo and brought a new 4–3–3 playing style to Indian football. The club won the Rovers Cup again in 1978 and defended their title in 1979, achieving their first "double" win. They also won the Stafford Challenge Cup in 1975 and 1979.
Becoming Famous (1980–2000)
The 1980s were a "Golden-Age" for Dempo. They won many smaller cups and the Rovers Cup again in 1986, beating the famous club Mohun Bagan. They also won the Goan League in 1986 and 1987.
Dempo then played in their first international tournament, the POMIS Cup in Malé, finishing second twice in 1991 and 1992. They won the Rovers Cup again, once more beating Mohun Bagan. In 1996, they were one of the original 12 teams in the first National Football League. Although they were relegated in 1999–2000, they quickly got promoted back the very next season.
Recent Years (2000–Present)
Dempo won their first NFL championship in 2004 and also won the very last NFL season in 2007. They then won the Durand Cup in 2006, beating JCT Mills 2–0 in the final. Dempo also won the first-ever I-League season in 2007–08. Because of this win, Dempo played in the AFC competition in 2008, reaching the semi-finals of the 2008 AFC Cup before losing to Safa SC. They won the domestic league again in 2010 and 2012.
In 2011, Dempo signed Densill Theobald, a player from Trinidad and Tobago who had played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. After the 2012–13 season, Dempo parted ways with their most successful coach, Armando Colaco, who had helped them win five league titles. They then hired Arthur Papas.
In March 2015, Dempo was relegated from the I-league for the first time after losing to Salgaocar. They then played in the I-League 2nd Division. In the 2015–16 season, they won the I-League Second Division title. However, before the 2016–17 season, Dempo, along with other Goan clubs, decided to withdraw from the I-League. After this, Dempo continued to play in the I-League 2nd Division.
In the 2021–22 Goa Professional League season, under coach Samir Naik, Dempo won the title, ending a decade-long wait. In July 2023, Pradhyum Reddy became the club's CEO. The club won the GFA Charity Cup in August 2023. In the same month, Dempo earned a spot in the first I-League 3 season. They reached the play-offs, finished second, and were promoted to I-League 2. Dempo finished their I-League 2 campaign in second place with 27 points, earning promotion to the 2024–25 I-League. This marked Dempo's return to the I-League after nine years.
In August 2024, Dempo participated in the 2024 Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy. They lost their first match 5–1 to A-League Men club Brisbane Roar. In the 2024–25 I-League season, Dempo's striker Marcus Joseph scored two hat-tricks. The league season ended with Dempo securing a 4–3 away win against Gokulam Kerala, finishing sixth with 29 points.
Crest and Colours
The Dempo Sports Club crest is the official logo for the Dempo Corporations sports clubs. The logo includes the words "Goa" (the state where Dempo is based) and "Dempo Sports Club" (the team name). It also features a golden bird in the middle.
The official colors of Dempo Sports Club are blue and white. Since the club started, their home kits have always included blue, mainly on the shirts, with blue or black shorts. The away kits used to be all white. In 2011, Dempo introduced a new away kit with black stripes on the shirt, but the shorts remained the same.
Before the 2020–21 football season, the "Golden Eagles" introduced new home and away jerseys. These jerseys had the words "Thank You Goa's Covid Warriors" on them to show support for health workers in Goa.
Rivalries
Dempo has a big rivalry with another Goan team, Churchill Brothers. This match is often called the "Goan Derby". Both teams have won the I-League title three times, making their games very exciting.
They also have rivalries with two other Goan teams, Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar. They play against these teams in the I-League and the Goa Professional League.
Stadium
Dempo SC first used the Fatorda Stadium in Margao for their home matches. This stadium has a capacity of 19,000 people and opened in 1989. Dempo SC uses it for most of their I-League games and also for international tournaments like the AFC Cup.
The Nagoa Ground in Mapusa and Tilak Maidan were also used as home grounds during the 2012–13 I-League season. The Nagoa Ground got an astroturf field in 2012 as part of FIFA's "Win in India with India" program. Dempo moved back to Fatorda Stadium for the 2024–25 I-League season.
Training Ground
Dempo's training grounds include Sircaim and Sanquelim. The Sesa Football Academy Ground in Sircaim was used for pre-season training from 2014 to 2015.
Ella Academy Ground
In 2017, Dempo opened a large training complex called the Ella Academy in Old Goa. This 48,450-square-meter facility is used as the home ground for both the club's senior and junior teams.
Ownership and Finances
Dempo Mining Corporation Limited is the main sponsor and owner of Dempo Sports Club. The Dempo Group has owned the club since it was created. Because of this sponsorship, the club is named Dempo Sports Club and is considered an "institutional club."
The club has a limited budget, which means they spend less on expensive players and big facilities. Instead, they focus more on developing young local players.
Kit Manufacturers and Shirt Sponsors
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–2011 | none | Dempo |
| 2011–2014 | Nike | |
| 2014–2015 | Adidas | |
| 2015–2016 | 7070 Sports | |
| 2016–present | Shiv Naresh |
Players
First-team Squad
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Technical Staff
- As of 8 November 2016
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| CEO |  Pradyum Reddy |
| Head coach |  Samir Naik |
| Goalkeeping coach | Richard Sanchez |
List of Coaches
Dempo hired their first foreign coach, Robert "Bob" Bootland from Britain, in 1977. In 2000, Armando Colaco became their first professional manager. He stayed with the club until 2013 and helped them win five domestic league titles. In June 2013, the club signed Greek-Australian manager Arthur Papas.
| Name | Nationality | From | To | Honours | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Rathnam | India |
1971 | 1977 | Rovers Cup (1975), Stafford Challenge Cup (1975), Goa Professional League (1972; 1974) | |
| Robert "Bob" Bootland |  England |
1977 | 1981 | Rovers Cup (1978), Durand Cup (1983) | |
| Amal Dutta | India |
1981 | 1982 | Goa Senior Division League (1981) | |
| Armando Colaco | India |
2000 | 2013 | I-League (2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12), Indian Super Cup (2008, 2010), Federation Cup (2004), Durand Cup (2006) | |
| Arthur Papas |  Australia  Greece |
June 2013 | March 2015 | N/A | |
| Samir Subash Naik | India |
July 2017 | till date | Goa Professional League (2022–23) |
Notable Players
Foreign Players
These players have played for their national teams before or after playing for Dempo SC.
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Other Famous Players
Ranti Martins (2004–2012) – He is Dempo's all-time top goalscorer with 146 league goals.- Sunil Chhetri (2009–2010) – He is the all-time top goalscorer for the India national team.
Affiliated Clubs
Dempo SC has worked with these clubs:
FC Midtjylland (2011–2012)- FC Goa (2014–2016)
Performance in Asian Competitions
- AFC Champions League: 2 times
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- 2009: Play-off round
- 2011: Qualifying play-off
- AFC Cup: 5 times
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- 2005: Group stage
- 2006: Group stage
- 2008: Semi-final
- 2009: Round of 16
- 2011: Round of 16
Records and Statistics
Overall Records
- Most goals by one player in an I-League match: 7 by Ranti Martins (Dempo vs Air India in 2010–11).
- Most goals in one I-League season: 32 by Ranti Martins (2011–12).
- Biggest win in I-League: 14–0 (Dempo SC vs Air India in 2010–11).
- Most goals scored by a team in one I-League season: 63 goals in 26 matches (2010–11).
- Biggest win in an Asian tournament: 6–1 vs.
Merw FK (May 16, 2006; 2006 AFC Cup). - Retired jersey number: 10 –
Cristiano Junior (2004; honored after his death). - Most successful team in the NFL/I-League: with 5 titles.
- Most wins in a single top division league season in India: 18 wins in 2011–12 I-League.
- Leading goal scorer for Dempo SC (all-time): Ranti Martins (146 goals).
- I-League Golden Boot winner from Dempo: Ranti Martins (twice, in 2010–11 and 2011–12).
- All-time leading goalscorer for Dempo in Asian competitions: Ranti Martins (18 goals).
- Dempo SC coach who received the Dronacharya Award: Armando Colaco (from 2000–2013).
Award(s)
- IndianFootball.com Awards — Team of the Year: 2003
Notable Wins Against Foreign Teams
| Competition | Round | Date | Opposition | Score | Venue | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCM Trophy | Group stage | 12 October 1974 |  Port Authority of Thailand |
2–1 | Ambedkar Stadium | |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 16 May 2006 | Merw FK |
6–1 | Fatorda Stadium | |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 11 March 2008 |  Al Ansar |
3–1 | Fatorda Stadium | |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 17 April 2008 |  Al Ansar |
2–1 | Bahrain National Stadium | |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 14 May 2008 |  Sur |
5–2 | Fatorda Stadium | |
| AFC Cup | Quarter-final | 29 September 2008 |  Home United |
4–3 | Jalan Besar Stadium | |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 10 March 2009 |  Al Majd |
1–0 | Fatorda Stadium | |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 19 May 2009 |  Al Faisaly |
3–1 | Fatorda Stadium | |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 1 March 2011 |  Al Tilal |
2–1 | Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex |
Honours
Dempo is one of the most successful clubs in Indian football. They are also famous for being the first Indian club to reach the Semi-Finals of the AFC Cup in 2008.
Domestic Titles
League
- NFL/I-League
- Champions (5): 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12
- Runners-up (1): 2003–04
- Third place (1): 2010–11
- NFL II/I-League 2
- Champions (2): 2001–02, 2015–16
- Runners-up (1): 2023–24
- I-League 3
- Runners-up (1): 2023–24
- Goa Football League/Goa Professional League
- Champions (16): 1972, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1994, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2021–22, 2022–23
- Runners-up (4): 1984–85, 2006–07, 2019–20, 2024–25
- GFA Monsoon League
- Champions (1): 2025
Cup
- Federation Cup
- Champions (1): 2004
- Runners-up (5): 1996, 2001, 2008, 2012, 2014–15
- Indian Super Cup
- Champions (2): 2008, 2010
- Runners-up (3): 2005, 2007, 2009
- Durand Cup
- Champions (1): 2006
- Rovers Cup
- Champions (4): 1975, 1979, 1980, 1986
- Runners-up (1): 1989–90
- Bordoloi Trophy
- Champions (2): 1982, 1983
- Runners-up (1): 1981
- Nizam Gold Cup
- Champions (1): 1978
- Scissors Cup
- Champions (3): 1992, 1994, 1996
- Sait Nagjee Football Tournament
- Runners-up (2): 1971, 1995
- Bandodkar Gold Trophy
- Champions (8): 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991
- Runners-up (4): 1971, 1973, 1975, 2016
- Goa Police Cup
- Champions (1): 2005
- Runners-up (2): 1999, 2021, 2023
- Stafford Challenge Cup
- Champions (2): 1975, 1979
- Runners-up (1): 1986
Continental Titles
- AFC Cup
- Semi-finals (1): 2008
Invitational Titles
Maldives International Cup
- Champions (1): 1991
- POMIS Invitational Cup
- Runners-up (2): 1991, 1992
Other Honours
- Sher-I-Kashmir Gold Cup
- Champions (1): 1985
- Jalil Cup (Varanasi)
- Champions (1): 1985
- Plaza Soccer Trophy
- Champions (1): 1975
- Taca Goa Championship
- Champions (3): 1977, 1979, 1990
- Four Square Trophy
- Champions (1): 1982
- Arlem Soccer Cup
- Champions (1): 1985
- SFC Inter-Club Trophy
- Champions (1): 2000
- Goa Governor's Cup
- Runners-up (3): 2002, 2005, 2007
- AWES Cup
- Champions (1): 2017
- GFA Charity Cup
- Champions (2): 2021, 2023
- Runners-up (2): 2018, 2019
- Nagaradakshya United Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2014
- DSK Invitational Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2015
Dempo Youth and Academy
The Dempo SC Football Academy received a special "elite category" approval from the All India Football Federation in December 2023. The club's youth teams play in the Youth League of India. In 2025, the club won the GFA U-19 League title.
See also
In Spanish: Dempo Sports Club para niños
- List of football clubs in Goa
- List of Goan State Football Champions
- Indian football clubs in Asian competitions
