I-League facts for kids
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Organising body | AIFF |
---|---|
Founded | 2007 | (as I-League); (succeeding the National Football League)
Country | India |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 12 |
Level on pyramid | 2 |
Promotion to | Indian Super League |
Relegation to | I-League 2 |
Domestic cup(s) | Super Cup Durand Cup |
Current champions | Mohammedan (1st title) |
Most championships | Dempo (3 titles) |
Top goalscorer | Ranti Martins (214 goals) |
TV partners | EuroSport Indian Football (YouTube) |
The I-League is a super exciting football league for men in India. It's the second-highest level of football in the country, right below the Indian Super League (ISL). Imagine a ladder, and the I-League is the second step from the top!
Right now, 12 different clubs play in the I-League. Teams can move up to the Indian Super League (this is called promotion) or move down to the I-League 2 (this is called relegation). This system makes every match super important!
The I-League started in 2007. It took over from an older league called the National Football League. The main goal was to create a professional football league in India. This would help find and train more players for the Indian national team. Since 2022–23, the I-League champion can even get promoted to the top-tier ISL!
Since the I-League began, ten different clubs have won the championship. Dempo is the most successful team, winning three times. Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru, and Gokulam Kerala have each won twice. Other teams like Salgaocar, Aizawl, Minerva Punjab, Chennai City, Roundglass Punjab, and Mohammedan have won it once.
Contents
The Story of the I-League
How Indian Football Leagues Started
Back in 1996, India tried to make football more professional by starting the National Football League. But it was tough! Clubs often didn't have good facilities and sometimes even struggled to pay their players. For example, a club called FC Kochin closed down in 2002 because it had lost a lot of money and hadn't paid salaries for years.
After about ten years, the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which runs football in India, decided things needed to change. That's how the I-League was born!
The I-League Begins
After the 2006–07 season of the old National Football League, it was announced that the league would be renamed the I-League. The first I-League season kicked off in November 2007. It had eight teams from the old league and two new teams from a lower division, making a total of 10 teams.
A company called Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) became the first main sponsor. The league also changed rules about foreign players. Clubs could now sign four foreign players, but one had to be from an Asian country. Matches were shown on TV by Zee Sports.
The first ten teams in the I-League were Air India, Churchill Brothers, Dempo, East Bengal, JCT, Mahindra United, Mohun Bagan, Salgaocar, Sporting Goa, and Viva Kerala.
The Early Years (2007–2012)
The very first I-League match was played on November 24, 2007. It was between Dempo and Salgaocar. Dempo won 3–0, and Chidi Edeh scored the first goal in I-League history! Dempo became the first I-League champions that season. Sadly, Viva Kerala and Salgaocar were the first teams to be moved down to a lower league.
The next season, the I-League grew from 10 to 12 teams. New teams like Mumbai and Mohammedan joined. However, many teams were from just a few cities, making some people wonder how "national" the league really was. Bhaichung Bhutia, a famous Indian football captain, said the AIFF needed to help football grow all over the country.
Despite these early talks, the I-League continued. Churchill Brothers won the league in 2008–09. Before the 2009–10 season, the league expanded again to 14 teams. This helped spread the game to more cities like Pune and Shillong. Dempo won their second I-League title in 2009–10.
Making the League Better
Even with some disagreements about how the league was run, Indian football started to get more popular. In 2011, the Indian national team played in the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 27 years! Even though they didn't win, players like Subrata Pal became very famous. Also, Sunil Chhetri, another top Indian player, went to play for a team in the USA in 2010. He was the first Indian player from the I-League to play abroad.
The league also got a big boost from the famous Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. In 2011, an amazing 90,000 fans watched a match between these two teams at the Salt Lake Stadium!
As Indian players became more popular, foreign clubs wanted them for trials. Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua even had trials with a Scottish team! Goalkeeper Subrata Pal went to play in Denmark, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu played in Norway. At the same time, better foreign players started coming to play in the I-League, making the matches even more exciting.
Becoming a Second-Tier League
In 2016, there were talks about making the Indian Super League (ISL) the top football league in India and moving the I-League to the second level. At first, the I-League teams didn't like this idea.
In 2017, FIFA (the world football body) and the AFC (the Asian football body) stepped in to help sort things out. There were two main leagues running at the same time, which was confusing. After many meetings, it was decided that for a short time, both the ISL and I-League would run. The I-League champion would get a spot in the AFC Champions League (Asia's top club competition), and the ISL champion would get a spot in the AFC Cup (Asia's second club competition).
Finally, in 2019, a new plan was approved. From the 2019–20 season, the ISL became the top league in India. The ISL champions would play in the AFC Champions League, and the I-League champions would play in the AFC Cup. Also, starting from the 2022–23 season, the I-League champion would have a chance to be promoted to the ISL without paying any fees. The plan is for full promotion and relegation between the two leagues to happen by 2024–25, meaning teams can move up and down easily.
How the Competition Works
The I-League currently has 12 teams. Each team plays every other team twice during the season: once at their home stadium and once away. Teams get points for winning (3 points) and drawing (1 point). At the end of the season, the team with the most points wins the league! This champion team then gets promoted to the Indian Super League. If teams have the same number of points, they look at their head-to-head record (who won when they played each other) and then goal difference (how many goals they scored compared to how many they let in).
I-League Clubs
A total of 39 clubs have played in the I-League since it started in 2007.
Current Clubs
- Further information: 2024–25 I-League
Club | State/UT | City | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aizawl | Mizoram | Aizawl | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium | 20,000 |
Churchill Brothers | Goa | Vasco | Tilak Maidan | 5,000 |
Delhi | Delhi | New Delhi | Namdhari Stadium | 1,000 |
Dempo | Goa | Panaji | Nagoa Ground | 10,000 |
Gokulam Kerala | Kerala | Kozhikode | EMS Stadium | 50,000 |
Inter Kashi | Uttar Pradesh | Varanasi | Kalyani Stadium | 20,000 |
Namdhari | Punjab | Bhaini Sahib | Namdhari Stadium | 1,000 |
Rajasthan United | Rajasthan | Jaipur | Deccan Arena | 1,500 |
Kalyani Stadium | 20,000 | |||
Real Kashmir | Jammu & Kashmir | Srinagar | TRC Turf Ground | 11,000 |
Shillong Lajong | Meghalaya | Shillong | SSA Stadium | 5,000 |
Sreenidi Deccan | Telangana | Hyderabad | Deccan Arena | 1,500 |
Sporting Bengaluru | Karnataka | Bangalore | Bangalore Football Stadium | 8,400 |
All-Time Team Performance in the I-League
This table shows how all the clubs that have played in the I-League have performed since 2007. Teams playing in the next season are shown in bold. The colors help you see which league they are currently in:
I-League | |
Indian Super League | |
I-League 2 | |
I-League 3 & State leagues | |
Defunct clubs (clubs that no longer exist) | |
Operational academies (youth training clubs) |
As of 2024[update]
Pos. | Team | S | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 1st App | Last / Recent app | Highest finish |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Churchill Brothers | 14 | 303 | 139 | 83 | 81 | 525 | 369 | 155 | 499 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2007–08 | 2023–24 | 1st |
2 | East Bengal | 13 | 276 | 126 | 75 | 75 | 425 | 282 | 143 | 453 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2007–08 | 2019–20 | 2nd |
3 | Mohun Bagan | 13 | 276 | 126 | 85 | 65 | 430 | 301 | 129 | 451 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2007–08 | 2019–20 | 1st |
4 | Dempo | 8 | 188 | 90 | 52 | 46 | 337 | 209 | 128 | 322 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2007–08 | 2014–15 | 1st |
5 | Salgaocar | 8 | 182 | 70 | 46 | 66 | 258 | 229 | 29 | 256 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2007–08 | 2015–16 | 1st |
6 | Shillong Lajong | 10 | 218 | 61 | 63 | 94 | 256 | 353 | -97 | 246 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2009–10 | 2023–24 | 5th |
7 | Sporting Goa | 8 | 178 | 62 | 57 | 59 | 241 | 249 | -8 | 243 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2007–08 | 2015–16 | 3rd |
9 | Aizawl | 10 | 181 | 63 | 47 | 71 | 234 | 228 | 6 | 236 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2015–16 | 2023–24 | 1st |
8 | Pune | 6 | 148 | 63 | 45 | 40 | 219 | 168 | 51 | 234 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2009–10 | 2014–15 | 2nd |
10 | Mumbai | 9 | 204 | 53 | 72 | 79 | 219 | 281 | -62 | 231 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2008–09 | 2016–17 | 5th |
11 | Gokulam Kerala | 7 | 132 | 61 | 30 | 41 | 218 | 155 | 60 | 213 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2017–18 | 2023–24 | 1st |
12 | United | 6 | 150 | 48 | 55 | 47 | 202 | 200 | 2 | 199 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2008–09 | 2013–14 | 4th |
13 | Punjab (including Minerva Punjab season records) | 7 | 127 | 52 | 35 | 40 | 170 | 149 | 21 | 191 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2016–17 | 2022–23 | 1st |
14 | Mohammedan | 6 | 125 | 49 | 34 | 42 | 174 | 161 | 13 | 181 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2008–09 | 2023–24 | 1st |
15 | Real Kashmir | 6 | 113 | 43 | 39 | 31 | 150 | 121 | 29 | 168 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2018–19 | 2023–24 | 3rd |
16 | Indian Arrows | 9 | 178 | 38 | 43 | 97 | 143 | 287 | -144 | 157 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2010–11 | 2021–22 | 8th |
17 | Bengaluru | 4 | 78 | 42 | 20 | 16 | 131 | 79 | 52 | 146 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2013–14 | 2016–17 | 1st |
18 | NEROCA | 7 | 132 | 38 | 30 | 64 | 155 | 211 | -56 | 144 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2017–18 | 2023–24 | 2nd |
19 | Air India | 6 | 144 | 33 | 45 | 66 | 142 | 249 | -107 | 144 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2007–08 | 2012–13 | 8th |
20 | TRAU | 6 | 112 | 36 | 25 | 51 | 134 | 178 | -44 | 133 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2019–20 | 2023–24 | 3rd |
21 | Sreenidi Deccan | 3 | 64 | 36 | 14 | 14 | 125 | 74 | 51 | 122 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2021–22 | 2023–24 | 2nd |
22 | JCT | 4 | 92 | 29 | 27 | 36 | 93 | 100 | -7 | 114 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2007–08 | 2010–11 | 3rd |
23 | Chennai City | 5 | 85 | 31 | 21 | 33 | 112 | 126 | -14 | 114 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2016–17 | 2020–21 | 1st |
24 | Mahindra United | 3 | 66 | 25 | 25 | 16 | 97 | 69 | 28 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2007–08 | 2009–10 | 4th |
25 | Viva Kerala | 4 | 96 | 22 | 23 | 51 | 96 | 160 | -64 | 89 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2007–08 | 2011–12 | 9th |
26 | Rajasthan United | 3 | 64 | 18 | 18 | 28 | 75 | 111 | -36 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2021–22 | 2023–24 | 6th |
27 | ONGC | 2 | 52 | 12 | 19 | 21 | 55 | 76 | -21 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2010–11 | 2012–13 | 9th |
28 | Sudeva Delhi | 3 | 48 | 13 | 13 | 22 | 42 | 60 | -18 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2020–21 | 2022–23 | 8th |
29 | Inter Kashi | 1 | 24 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 47 | 41 | 6 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2023–24 | 2023–24 | 4th |
30 | DSK Shivajians | 2 | 34 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 38 | 55 | -17 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2015–16 | 2016–17 | 7th |
31 | Delhi | 1 | 24 | 11 | 2 | 11 | 44 | 40 | 4 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2023–24 | 2023–24 | 6th |
32 | HAL | 2 | 52 | 7 | 11 | 34 | 37 | 108 | -71 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 12th |
33 | Royal Wahingdoh | 1 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2014–15 | 2014–15 | 3rd |
34 | Kenkre | 2 | 39 | 6 | 11 | 22 | 34 | 65 | -31 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 13th |
35 | Namdhari | 1 | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 29 | 40 | -11 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2023–24 | 2023–24 | 11th |
36 | Rangdajied United | 1 | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 29 | 38 | -9 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2013–14 | 2013–14 | 11th |
37 | Bharat | 1 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 28 | -15 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2014–15 | 2014–15 | 11th |
38 | United Sikkim | 1 | 26 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 23 | 63 | -40 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2012–13 | 2012–13 | 14th |
39 | Vasco | 1 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 49 | -35 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2008–09 | 2008–09 | 12th |
40 | Sporting Bengaluru | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Teams Joining the I-League
Teams can join the I-League in two main ways:
- Direct Corporate Bid: Some clubs can join directly if they meet certain requirements and pay a fee.
- Promotion from I-League 2: Teams that do well in the I-League 2 (the league below I-League) can earn a spot in the I-League.
Season | Clubs |
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2013–14 | Bengaluru |
2014–15 | Bharat |
2015–16 | DSK Shivajians |
2016–17 | Churchill Brothers, Chennai City, Minerva Punjab |
2017–18 | Gokulam Kerala |
2020–21 | Sudeva Delhi |
2021–22 | Sreenidi Deccan |
2023–24 | Inter Kashi, Namdhari |
Season | Clubs |
---|---|
2008 | Mumbai, Mohammedan, United, Vasco |
2009 | Salgaocar, Viva Kerala, Shillong Lajong, Pune |
2010 | ONGC, HAL |
2011 | Shillong Lajong, Sporting Goa |
2012 | ONGC, United Sikkim |
2013 | Rangdajied United, Mohammedan |
2014 | Royal Wahingdoh |
2015 | Aizawl |
2015–16 | Dempo |
2016–17 | NEROCA |
2017–18 | Real Kashmir |
2018–19 | TRAU |
2020 | Mohammedan |
2021 | Rajasthan United, Mumbai Kenkre |
2022–23 | Delhi, Shillong Lajong |
2023–24 | Sporting Bengaluru, Dempo |
Teams Moving Up or Down
Here's a look at which clubs have been promoted from the I-League to the top-tier Indian Super League or relegated to the I-League 2.
Season | Clubs |
---|---|
2022–23 | RoundGlass Punjab |
2023–24 | Mohammedan |
Season | Clubs |
---|---|
2007–08 | Viva Kerala, Salgaocar |
2008–09 | Mohammedan, Vasco |
2009–10 | Sporting Clube de Goa, Shillong Lajong |
2010–11 | JCT, ONGC |
2011–12 | Viva Kerala, HAL |
2012–13 | Air India, United Sikkim |
2013–14 | Mohammedan |
2014–15 | Dempo |
2015–16 | None |
2016–17 | Mumbai |
2017–18 | None |
2018–19 | Shillong Lajong |
2019–20 | None |
2020–21 | None |
2021–22 | None |
2022–23 | Mumbai Kenkre, Sudeva Delhi |
2023–24 | NEROCA, TRAU |
I-League Team History Timeline
This timeline shows when different teams played in the I-League and where they are now.
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Sponsors of the I-League
The Indian football league has always had sponsors. When the I-League started in 2007, ONGC was the main sponsor, so the league was called the ONGC I-League. After 2011, there was no sponsor for a couple of years.
Then, in 2013, a phone company called Airtel became the new sponsor, and the league was known as the Airtel I-League. In 2014, Hero MotoCorp, a big motorcycle company, took over as the sponsor, and it became the Hero I-League. Hero stopped sponsoring Indian football after the 2022–23 season, so the league is currently looking for a new main sponsor.
Period | Title sponsor | Tournament name |
---|---|---|
2007–11 | ![]() |
ONGC I-League |
2011–13 | none | I-League |
2013–14 | ![]() |
Airtel I-League |
2014–2023 | ![]() |
Hero I-League |
2023–present | none | I-League |
Where to Watch the I-League
Here's how you could watch I-League matches over the years:
Period | TV telecast | Online streaming |
---|---|---|
2007–10 | Zee Sports | |
2010–17 | Ten Action, Ten Sports | DittoTV |
2017–19 | Star Sports | Hotstar, JioTV |
2019–22 | 1Sports | Facebook, JioTV |
2022–23 | Eurosport, DD Sports | Discovery plus |
2023– | Eurosport | YouTube, FanCode |
Football Stadiums
Home Stadiums for 2023–24 Season
Aizawl | Churchill Brothers | Gokulam Kerala | Shillong Lajong | Namdhari | Sporting Bengaluru |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl | Tilak Maidan, Margao | EMS Stadium, Kozikode | SSA Stadium, Shillong | Namdhari Stadium, Bhaini Sahib | Bangalore Football Stadium, Bengaluru |
Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 50,000 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 1,000 | Capacity: 8,400 |
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Rajasthan United | Real Kashmir | Inter Kashi | Sreenidi Deccan | Delhi | Dempo |
Rajasthan University Sports Complex, | TRC Turf Ground, Srinagar | Kalyani Stadium, Kalyani | Deccan Arena, Hyderabad | Namdhari Stadium, Bhaini Sahib | Nagoa Ground, Panaji |
Capacity: 6,000 | Capacity: 11,000 | Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 1,500 | Capacity: 1,000 | Capacity: 10,000 |
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Coaches in the I-League
The head coach is super important for a football team! In the I-League, coaches need a special license called an AFC Professional Coaching Diploma. This makes sure they are well-trained. Sometimes, coaches would take a different role, like "technical director," to get around this rule, which caused some discussion.
To make sure all coaches are highly skilled, the AIFF made it a rule in 2014 that both head coaches and technical directors must have this special diploma.
Indian coaches have won the I-League four times, and foreign coaches have won it three times. Zoran Đorđević from Serbia was the first foreign coach to win. Vincenzo Alberto Annese from Italy was the first coach to win two I-League titles in a row!
Armando Colaco was the first Indian coach to win the I-League, and he has won the most titles (three). Khogen Singh was the most recent Indian coach to win, in the 2017–18 season.
Nat. | Name | Club | Appointed | Time since appointment |
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Malsawmzuala Sailo | Aizawl | 4 November 2023 | 1 year, 230 days |
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Shareef Khan | Gokulam Kerala | 31 March 2024 | 1 year, 83 days |
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Carlos Santamarina | Inter Kashi | 29 June 2023 | 1 year, 358 days |
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Samir Naik | Dempo | 1 July 2017 | 7 years, 356 days |
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Carlos Vaz Pinto | Sreenidi Deccan | 3 August 2022 | 2 years, 323 days |
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Pushpender Kundu | Rajasthan United | 1 July 2022 | 2 years, 356 days |
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Bobby Nongbet | Shillong Lajong | 16 September 2022 | 2 years, 279 days |
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Ishfaq Ahmed | Real Kashmir | 27 October 2022 | 2 years, 238 days |
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Francesc Bonet | Churchill Brothers | 27 January 2024 | 1 year, 146 days |
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Yan Law | Delhi | 25 June 2023 | 1 year, 362 days |
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Harpreet Singh | Namdhari | 25 November 2023 | 1 year, 209 days |
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Chinta Chandrashekar Rao | Sporting Bengaluru | 1 April 2023 | 2 years, 82 days |
Head coach | Wins | Winning year(s) | Team |
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3 | 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12 | Dempo |
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2 | 2013–14, 2015–16 | Bengaluru |
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2020–21, 2021–22 | Gokulam Kerala | |
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1 | 2022–23 | RoundGlass Punjab |
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2019–20 | Mohun Bagan | |
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2018–19 | Chennai City | |
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2017–18 | Minerva Punjab | |
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2016–17 | Aizawl | |
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2014–15 | Mohun Bagan | |
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2012–13 | Churchill Brothers | |
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2010–11 | Salgaocar | |
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2008–09 | Churchill Brothers | |
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2023–24 | Mohammedan |
I-League Champions
Winners of Each Season
Here are the champions, runners-up (second place), and third-place teams for each I-League season.
Season | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Teams |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007–08 | Dempo (1/3) | Churchill Brothers | JCT | 10 |
2008–09 | Churchill Brothers (1/2) | Mohun Bagan | Sporting Goa | 12 |
2009–10 | Dempo (2/3) | Churchill Brothers | Pune | 14 |
2010–11 | Salgaocar | East Bengal | Dempo | 14 |
2011–12 | Dempo (3/3) | East Bengal | Churchill Brothers | 14 |
2012–13 | Churchill Brothers (2/2) | Pune | East Bengal | 14 |
2013–14 | Bengaluru (1/2) | East Bengal | Salgaocar | 13 |
2014–15 | Mohun Bagan (1/2) | Bengaluru | Royal Wahingdoh | 11 |
2015–16 | Bengaluru (2/2) | Mohun Bagan | East Bengal | 9 |
2016–17 | Aizawl | Mohun Bagan | East Bengal | 10 |
2017–18 | Minerva Punjab | NEROCA | Mohun Bagan | 10 |
2018–19 | Chennai City | East Bengal | Real Kashmir | 11 |
2019–20 | Mohun Bagan (2/2) | Not Awarded | 11 | |
2020–21 | Gokulam Kerala (1/2) | Churchill Brothers | TRAU | 11 |
2021–22 | Gokulam Kerala (2/2) | Mohammedan | Sreenidi Deccan | 13 |
2022–23 | RoundGlass Punjab | Sreenidi Deccan | Gokulam Kerala | 12 |
2023–24 | Mohammedan | Sreenidi Deccan | Gokulam Kerala | 13 |
- Notes
Team Performance by Number of Wins
This table shows which clubs have won the most I-League titles, and how many times they've been runners-up or finished third.
Club | Titles | Runners-up | Third place | Winning seasons | Runners-up seasons | Third place seasons |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dempo | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12 | 2010–11 | |
Churchill Brothers | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2008–09, 2012–13 | 2007–08, 2009–10,
2020–21 |
2011–12 |
Mohun Bagan | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2014–15, 2019–20 | 2008–09, 2015–16, 2016–17 | 2017–18 |
Bengaluru | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2013–14, 2015–16 | 2014–15 | |
Gokulam Kerala | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2020–21, 2021–22 | 2022–23, 2023–24 | |
Mohammedan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2023–24 | 2021–22 | |
Salgaocar | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2010–11 | 2013–14 | |
Minerva Punjab | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2017–18 | ||
Aizawl | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2016–17 | ||
Chennai City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2018–19 | ||
RoundGlass Punjab | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2022–23 | ||
East Bengal | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2018–19 | 2012–13, 2015–16, 2016–17 | |
Sreenidi Deccan | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2022–23, 2023–24 | 2021–22 | |
Pune | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2012–13 | 2009–10 | |
NEROCA | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2017–18 | ||
JCT | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2007–08 | ||
Sporting Goa | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2008–09 | ||
Royal Wahingdoh | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2014–15 | ||
Real Kashmir | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2018–19 | ||
TRAU | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2020–21 |
Stats and Players
Highest Attendance Records
These are the I-League matches with the most fans in the stadium!
Rank | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Stadium | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mohun Bagan | 1–0 | East Bengal | 90,000 | Salt Lake Stadium | 20 November 2011 |
2 | Mohun Bagan | 0–1 | East Bengal | 80,000 | Salt Lake Stadium | 24 November 2013 |
3 | Mohun Bagan | 2–1 | East Bengal | 63,756 | Salt lake Stadium |
19 January 2020 |
4 | Mohun Bagan | 1–1 | East Bengal | 63,342 | Salt Lake Stadium | 26 January 2016 |
5 | Mohun Bagan | 1–0 | East Bengal | 57,780 | Salt Lake Stadium | 28 March 2015 |
Goals Scored Each Season
This table shows how many goals were scored in total, how many matches were played, and the average goals per game each season.
Season | Total goals | Matches played | Average per game |
---|---|---|---|
2007–08 | 226 | 90 | 2.51 |
2008–09 | 318 | 132 | 2.41 |
2009–10 | 486 | 182 | 2.67 |
2010–11 | 489 | 182 | 2.69 |
2011–12 | 521 | 182 | 2.88 |
2012–13 | 530 | 182 | 2.91 |
2013–14 | 402 | 156 | 2.47 |
2014–15 | 280 | 110 | 2.55 |
2015–16 | 186 | 72 | 2.58 |
2016–17 | 225 | 90 | 2.5 |
2017–18 | 204 | 90 | 2.27 |
2018–19 | 303 | 109 | 2.78 |
2019–20 | 187 | 69 | 2.71 |
2020–21 | 216 | 80 | 2.7 |
2021–22 | 294 | 114 | 2.58 |
2022–23 | 360 | 132 | 2.73 |
2023–24 | 503 | 156 | 3.22 |
Top Goal Scorers
Every season, players try to win the I-League Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals. The most recent winner was Bidyashagar Singh in the 2020–21 season, with 12 goals. Ranti Martins has won the Golden Boot five times, which is the most of any player! He and Odafa Onyeka Okolie (who won three times) are both from Nigeria.
Season | Player | Club | Goals | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007–08 | ![]() |
Churchill Brothers | 22 | |
2008–09 | ![]() |
Churchill Brothers | 26 | |
2009–10 | ![]() |
Churchill Brothers | 22 | |
2010–11 | ![]() |
Dempo | 30 | |
2011–12 | ![]() |
Dempo | 32 | |
2012–13 | ![]() |
Prayag United | 27 | |
2013–14 | ![]() |
Bengaluru FC | 14 | |
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Salgaocar | |||
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Shillong Lajong | |||
2014–15 | ![]() |
East Bengal | 17 | |
2015–16 | ![]() |
East Bengal | 12 | |
2016–17 | ![]() |
Shillong Lajong | 11 | |
2017–18 | ![]() |
Mohun Bagan | 13 | |
2018–19 | ![]() |
Chennai City FC | 21 | |
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Churchill Brothers S.C. | |||
2019–20 | N/A | Not Awarded | ||
2020–21 | ![]() |
TRAU FC | 12 | |
2021–22 | ![]() |
Mohammedan | 15 | |
2022–23 | ![]() |
RoundGlass Punjab | 16 | |
2023–24 | ![]() |
Gokulam Kerala | 19 |
Season | Player | Club | Goals | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007–08 | Bhaichung Bhutia | Mohun Bagan | 9 | |
2008–09 | Sunil Chhetri | East Bengal | 9 | |
2009–10 | Mohammed Rafi | Mahindra United | 13 | |
2010–11 | Jeje Lalpekhlua | Indian Arrows | 13 | |
2011–12 | Chinadorai Sabeeth | Pailan Arrows | 9 | |
2012–13 | C. K. Vineeth | Prayag United | 7 | |
2013–14 | Sunil Chhetri | Bengaluru | 14 | |
2014–15 | Thongkhosiem Haokip | Pune | 7 | |
2015–16 | Sunil Chhetri | Bengaluru | 5 | |
Sushil Kumar Singh | Mumbai | |||
2016–17 | Sunil Chettri | Bengaluru | 7 | |
C. K. Vineeth | Bengaluru | |||
2017–18 | Abhijit Sarkar | Indian Arrows | 4 | |
Subhash Singh | NEROCA | |||
2018–19 | Jobby Justin | East Bengal | 9 | |
2019–20 | N/A | Not Awarded | ||
2020–21 | Bidyashagar Singh | TRAU | 12 | |
2021–22 | Thahir Zaman | Gokulam Kerala | 5 | |
Shubho Paul | Sudeva Delhi | |||
2022–23 | Seilenthang Lotjem | Sudeva Delhi | 6 | |
Samuel Kynshi | Real Kashmir | |||
2023–24 | Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia | Aizawl | 15 |
Awards and Trophies
The I-League Trophy
The I-League started giving out a special, fancy trophy to the champions only since 2013. Before that, the winners received a simpler trophy. The new trophy was designed in Europe and looks like the trophies given out in big European football leagues. The AIFF wanted the I-League trophy to look more modern and exciting, just like other famous league trophies.
Season Awards
At the end of each I-League season, special awards are given out to the best players and coaches. These awards are sponsored by Hero Motocorp. They include:
- Hero of the League: For the best player overall.
- Golden Boot: For the player who scores the most goals.
- Golden Glove: For the best goalkeeper.
- Syed Abdul Rahim Award: For the best head coach.
- Jarnail Singh Award: For the best defender.
- Best Midfielder: For the best player in the middle of the field.
- Emerging Player of the League: For a young player who shows great promise.
Hero of the League Winners
Season | Player | Team |
---|---|---|
2016–17 | ![]() |
Bengaluru |
2018–19 | ![]() |
Chennai City |
2020–21 | ![]() |
TRAU |
2021–22 | ![]() |
Mohammedan |
Syed Abdul Rahim Award (Best Coach)
Season | Head coach | Team |
---|---|---|
2008–09 | ![]() |
Mumbai |
2009–10 | ![]() |
Dempo |
2010–11 | ![]() |
Salgaocar |
2011–12 | ![]() |
East Bengal |
2012–13 | ![]() |
Pune |
2013–14 | ![]() |
Bengaluru |
2014–15 | ![]() |
Mohun Bagan |
2015–16 | ![]() |
Bengaluru |
2016–17 | ![]() |
Aizawl |
2017–18 | ![]() |
NEROCA |
2018–19 | ![]() |
Chennai City |
2020–21 | ![]() |
TRAU |
2021–22 | ![]() |
Gokulam Kerala |
Emerging Player of the Season
This award is for young players who show great talent and potential for the future!
Season | Player | Position | Team |
---|---|---|---|
2008–09 | ![]() |
Forward | JCT |
2009–10 | ![]() |
Forward | Dempo |
2010–11 | ![]() |
Forward | Pailan Arrows |
2011–12 | ![]() |
Forward | Pailan Arrows |
2012–13 | ![]() |
Midfielder | Pailan Arrows |
2013–14 | ![]() |
Midfielder | Dempo |
2015–16 | ![]() |
Winger | Bengaluru |
2016–17 | ![]() |
Left Back | DSK Shivajians |
2017–18 | ![]() |
Midfielder | Shillong Lajong |
2018–19 | ![]() |
Midfielder | Shillong Lajong |
2020–21 | ![]() |
Forward | Gokulam Kerala |
2021–22 | ![]() |
Midfielder | NEROCA |
I-League Clubs in Asian Competitions
I-League clubs have done quite well in the AFC Cup, which is a big club competition in Asia. For example, Dempo reached the semi-finals in 2008, and East Bengal did the same in 2013. The only I-League club to reach the AFC Cup Final was Bengaluru in 2016, but they didn't win.
However, in the even bigger AFC Champions League, no I-League club has ever made it past the qualifying rounds.
Season | AFC Cup | Position | AFC Champions League | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008–09 | Mohun Bagan | Group stage | Dempo | Play-off Round |
Dempo | Semi-finals | |||
2009–10 | East Bengal | Group stage | Churchill Brothers | Play-off Round |
Churchill Brothers | Round of 16 | |||
2010–11 | East Bengal | Group stage | Dempo | Play-off Round |
Dempo | Round of 16 | |||
2011–12 | East Bengal | Group stage | Salgaocar | DNP |
Salgaocar | Group stage | |||
2012–13 | East Bengal | Semi-finals | Churchill Brothers | DNP |
Churchill Brothers | Group stage | |||
2013–14 | Churchill Brothers | Round of 16 | Pune | Qualifying Round 1 |
Pune | Group stage | |||
2014–15 | Bengaluru | Round of 16 | Bengaluru | Preliminary Round 1 |
East Bengal | Group stage | |||
2015–16 | Mohun Bagan | Round of 16 | Mohun Bagan | Preliminary Round 2 |
Bengaluru | Runners-up | |||
2016–17 | Bengaluru | Inter-zone finals | Bengaluru | Preliminary Round 2 |
Mohun Bagan | Group stage | |||
2017–18 | Aizawl | Group Stage | Aizawl | Play-off Round |
Bengaluru | Inter-zone semi-finals | |||
2019 | Minerva Punjab | Group stage | Minerva Punjab | Preliminary Round 2 |
2018–19 | Chennai City | Cancelled | Chennai City | Preliminary Round 1 |
2019–20 | ATK Mohun Bagan | Inter-zone semi-finals | ||
2020–21 | Gokulam Kerala | Group stage |
See Also
In Spanish: I-League para niños
- Football in India
- History of Indian football
- List of football clubs in India
- 2021–23 Indian football club competition play-offs for AFC
- IFA Shield
- NFL Second Division
- NFL Third Division