Akhil Rawat
AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: The 18th instalment of the I-League is all set to kick off on Friday, November 22. The 2024-25 season will see 12 teams battle it out for the trophy and promotion to next season’s Indian Super League, subject to fulfilling club licensing criteria.
Mohammedan Sporting emerged champions last time out with utter domination and bid adieu to the I-League, while Sporting Club Bengaluru won the I-League 2 in equally scintillating fashion to bag their first-ever I-League promotion. Five-time I-League/National Football League champions Dempo SC were runners-up in the third tier and are back in the I-League after nine seasons.
Here we take a look at all the dozen teams aiming to be crowned champions come April.
AIZAWL FC
Founded: 1984
Home: Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl
Head coach: Victor Lalbiakmawia (India)
Best result: Champions (2016-17)
Last season: 10th place
It’s been seven years since Aizawl FC created one of the all-time greatest fairy tales in Indian football and became I-League champions. But they’ve never come any close to achieving that high again. In the last six seasons, the Reds have never been in the top six, which is something they would like to change this season. A proper ‘People’s Club,’ Aizawl FC enjoys passionate home support at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, which has never been an easy place to visit for opponents.
CHURCHILL BROTHERS FC GOA
Founded: 1988
Home: To be confirmed
Head coach: Dimitris Dimitriou (Cyprus)
Best result: Champions (2008-09, 2012-13)
Last season: 7th place
Churchill Brothers FC Goa are another club hoping to repeat the highs of the past. The former two-time champions missed out on their third crown by the narrowest of margins in 2020-21 when they were pipped by Gokulam Kerala on head-to-head. Last season saw a mid-table finish in seventh place, but they did have the fourth-best defence in the league. This season, Cypriot head coach Dimitris Dimitriou, formerly of TRAU FC, will lead the Red Machines, who have made some attractive foreign signings like Juan Mera, Sebastián Gutiérrez, Wayde Lekay and Pape Gassama.
DELHI FC
Founded: 2020
Home: To be confirmed
Head coach: Yan Law (India)
Best result: 6th place (2023-24)
Last season: 6th place
Into their sophomore season in the I-League after winning the I-League 2 in 2022-23, Delhi FC will aim to build on their strong sixth-place finish last season. Head coach Yan Law, who became the youngest AFC Pro Diploma holder in India earlier this month, has many fresh faces at his disposal. Their foreign contingent includes a mix of South Asians and Africans like Dawa Tshering, Laken Limbu, Nelson Okwa and Stephen Acquah, while experienced Indians like Debnath Mondal and Sajal Bag have also joined.
DEMPO SC
Founded: 1961
Home: To be confirmed
Head coach: Samir Naik (India)
Best result: Champions (2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12)
Last season: 2nd place in I-League 2
Dempo are finally back. The undisputed kings of India between 2005 and 2012 with five titles, the Goan side are back in the I-League after nine years of absence. The comeback journey began in the I-League 3 last season as they finished runners-up to qualify for I-League 2, where they bagged second place again to win promotion. Under head coach and club legend Samir Naik, the Golden Eagles will look to give a strong account of themselves on their much-awaited return. With a mostly local squad carrying on from last season, Dempo have also signed experienced I-League foreigners like Shaher Shaheen and Matija Babović.
GOKULAM KERALA FC
Founded: 2017
Home: EMS Stadium, Kozhikode
Head coach: Antonio Rueda (Spain)
Best result: Champions (2020-21, 2021-22)
Last season: 3rd place
The first team to successfully defend a title in the I-League era, Gokulam Kerala FC have been ever-so hungry to win their third trophy since the past two seasons. They have been close – finishing third on both occasions. Although they will miss last season’s Golden Boot winner Álex Sánchez, the Spanish flavour is there to stay in Malabar with new recruits like Nacho Abeledo and Sergio Llamas under head coach Antonio Rueda. Martín Cháves will add loads of I-League and ISL experience. Local lads and fan favourites VP Suhair and Emil Benny are also back at Gokulam Kerala to add more speed on the wings.
INTER KASHI
Founded: 2023
Home: Kalyani Stadium, Kalyani
Head coach: Antonio López Habas (Spain)
Best result: 4th place (2023-24)
Last season: 4th place
A strong second half of the season saw new entrants Inter Kashi soar to a fourth-place finish in 2023-24. They were one of the busiest clubs in the summer, strengthening their squad to take the next step and challenge for the title. At the helm, Inter Kashi roped in Antonio López Habas, who needs no introduction in Indian football. Alongside came experienced campaigners in midfield like Joni Kauko and Nikola Stojanović, while new names like Domi Berlanga and David Humanes will look to make a strong impression. However, most importantly, they’ve still got Mario Barco, who registered a staggering 24 goal contributions last season. There’s no shortage of quality Indian players too, with Edmund Lalrindika, Bidyashagar Singh, Arindam Bhattacharya and Narayan Das in the ranks.
NAMDHARI FC
Founded: 2018
Home: Namdhari Stadium, Sri Bhani Sahib
Head coach: Fernando Capobianco (Argentina)
Best result: 9th place (2023-24)
Last season: 9th place
Namdhari FC were another one of the new entrants last term and will hope to better their lowly ninth-place finish from last season under new Argentine head coach Fernando Capobianco. The Punjab side were the third-lowest scorers with 29 goals, and to fix that, they have signed Ghanaian striker Stephen Kojo. Abubakr Gariba and Adrián Montoro will strengthen the defence, while Indian names like Davinder Singh and Peter Seiminthang will add more quality and experience to a young side. With no relegation immunity this season, the challenge will be tougher for Namdhari, who will hope to continue their footballing tradition in Sri Bhaini Sahib.
RAJASTHAN UNITED FC
Founded: 2020
Home: To be confirmed
Head coach: Walter Caprile (Uruguay)
Best result: 6th place (2021-22)
Last season: 11th place
Rajasthan United have been on a slump since winning promotion to the I-League for the first time in 2021-22. With sixth, ninth and eleventh-place finishes in their last three seasons, the Desert Warriors cannot afford any more lapses. They have started from scratch. Uruguay’s Walter Caprile has become only the second foreign head coach in the club’s history. A totally new foreign contingent consists of Ronaldo Johnson, Alain Oyarzun, Gerard Artigas, Ronny Rodríguez and Lucas Rodríguez. Rajasthan United have one of the youngest groups of domestic players with the likes of Lunkim Seigoulun Khongsai, Sachin Jha and Yash Tripathi among others. Novin Gurung and Wayne Vaz will add much-required experience in defence.
REAL KASHMIR FC
Founded: 2016
Home: TRC Turf Ground, Srinagar
Head coach: Ishfaq Ahmed (India)
Best result: 3rd place (2018-19)
Last season: 5th place
Real Kashmir have finished in the top five in five of the last six seasons. Their high-altitude and freezing cold TRC Turf Ground in Srinagar is perhaps the toughest away day in the league for visiting sides. The Snow Leopards boasted the best defence in the league with only 19 goals conceded, however the masterminds of that record – goalkeeper Muheet Shabir and defender Muhammad Hammad have departed the club. But some big name signings like Aminou Bouba, Ramazani Tshimanga and Abdou Karim Samb have maintained their hopes for another solid season. As is the club’s tradition, plenty of local Kashmiri lads continue to form part of the squad.
SHILLONG LAJONG FC
Founded: 1983
Home: SSA Stadium, Shillong
Head coach: José Hevia (Spain)
Best result: 5th place (2016-17)
Last season: 8th place
A newly-promoted Shillong Lajong made a strong start last time out but a poor second half saw them slip to eighth place ultimately. Hopes of a better campaign have been reinvigorated by the return of Spanish head coach José Hevia to the club after five years. He made an instant impact, taking them to the semi-finals of the Durand Cup in August. Lajong have looked for consistency, retaining much of their domestic and foreign players like Douglas Tardin, Renan Paulino, Daniel Gonçalves, Kynsailang Khongsit and Hardy Cliff Nongbri. Sheen Sohktung and Kitboklang Khyriem have returned to the club, while former Namdhari midfielder Imanol Arana makes for another good signing.
SPORTING CLUB BENGALURU
Founded: 2022
Home: To be confirmed
Head coach: Chinta Chandrashekar Rao (India)
Best result: N/A
Last season: 1st place in I-League 2
SC Bengaluru’s rapid rise in the Indian football pyramid has been hard to ignore. From the Bangalore Super Division to the I-League in just two years, the club hasn’t just become the talk of the town but the country. Coached by Chinta Chandrasekar Rao, they turned the I-League 2 into a one-horse race, winning 11 of 14 games. The I-League will be a different ball game, however, the Golden Tigers are unfazed by the challenge, and are motivated to mark the return of I-League football to Bengaluru after a seven-year gap with a successful show. Key new signings include Spaniard Jordan Lamela, local lad Shankar Sampingiraj, Khundongbam Krishnananda Singh and Salam Johnson Singh.
SREENIDI DECCAN FC
Founded: 2021
Home: Deccan Arena, Hyderabad
Head coach: Rui Amorim (Portugal)
Best result: 2nd place (2022-23, 2023-24)
Last season: 2nd place
After back-to-back runners-up finishes, there’s probably no club as desperate to take the crown as Sreenidi Deccan. Carlos Vaz Pinto has left after three seasons in-charge and has been replaced by another Portuguese coach – Rui Amorim. The Deccan Warriors have retained the core of their squad from last season, importantly, David Castañeda and William Alves, who netted a combined 20 goals. A few others include Eli Sabiá, Faysal Shayesteh, Lalromawia, Brandon Vanlalremdika and Rosenberg Gabriel. The signings of Ángel Orelien and Roly Bonevacia have generated a lot of optimism as Sreenidi Deccan aim for their maiden silverware.
