FC Kochin explained

Clubname:Kochin
Fullname:Football Club Kochin
Short Name:FCK
Nickname:The Elephants
Ground:Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium
Capacity:60,000
League:National Football League
Website:http://www.fckochin.in/
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FC Kochin (often spelt FC Cochin) was an Indian professional football club based in Kochi, Kerala.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] In the late 1990s,[6] [7] it was the only football club from Kerala to participate in National Football League,[8] [9] [10] then top tier of Indian football league system.

Incorporated in 1997,[11] the club was nicknamed "the elephants",[12] and played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor. They have also competed in Kerala Premier League under license from Kerala Football Association (KFA). After experiencing financial crisis, the club dissolvent its departments in 2002.[13] [14]

History

Formation and journey

Football Club Kochin was founded in April 1997,[15] [16] with aims to develop the structure of association football in the state of Kerala.[17] Paul Varghese is the chief Patron behind the making of the club and K.J. Varoo was the first Manager.[16]

M. P. Kurian was the founder cum chairman of the FC Kochin Trust and M. K. Joseph was the founder cum chairman of the FC Kochin Limited Company. These organisations played a key role behind the development of the club during the late 1990s. After the fall of Kerala Police FC, FC Kochin filled the void of football in the state.[18]

FC Kochin was unique because of promoting modern footballing infrastructure. It's considered as the first professional club in India, whose motto was "a new approach to the game".[18] The development of FC Kochin lit a spark in Kerala, with the football-mad people embracing the club with open arms.[19]

In the 1997–98 Indian National Football League, the FC Kochin finished on fourth position with 29 points in 18 league matches and club captain Raman Vijayan won the golden boot with 10 goals.[20] [21]

Durand victory

FC Kochin began their 1997 Durand Cup campaign by beating seven times Durand champion, Border Security Force by 2–1. In the next match, they thrashed Kolkata giant, Mohammedan Sporting by 5–0 with Vijayan scoring his first hat-trick for Kochin followed by goals from Raman Vijayan and B. Deepu. They went into the knock-out of their first Durand Cup as group-topper which attracted many Keralites settled in the capital to watch their match. In the semi-final, they locked horns with the then best team, JCT FC.

In the final, they emerged as champions in the prestigious tournament, defeating Mohun Bagan AC by 3–1, under captaincy of Jo Paul Ancheri.[22] [23] [24] India star I. M. Vijayan also led the team later.[25] [26] Foreign players like Mykola Shevchenko of Ukraine,[27] [28] Josiah Seton of Liberia, Obinna Winners Onyia of Benin and Ali Abubakkar of Ghana were included in the squad for both the Durand Cup and NFL of 1997.[29]

Scissors Cup

In 1997, FC Kochin participated in the Scissors Cup and reached to the final, that held in Kerala. The final, against Bahraini side West Riffa, turned out to be a damp squib with the game abandoned due to a power cut in the stadium. The Bahraini team were adjudged winners after a coin toss.[30]

NFL seasons

In the coming years they were not able to replicate the form they showed in their first season, although they managed to come fourth in the national football league in 1998. The next three seasons saw them finishing sixth,[31] fourth and fourth again in the National Football League. This was the time when FC Kochin was coached by T.K. Chathunni, one of the best football coaches in India.[32]

KPL wins

FC Kochin crowned the inaugural season of Kerala Premier League in 1998, and later, they retained title, after winning the second edition in December 1999.[33]

POMIS Cup 2001

FC Kochin went to Maldives and took part in 15th edition of the POMIS Cup in 2001.[34] After achieving second place in group stages, the club moved to semi-final, but lost 2–0 to Club Valencia.[34]

Last season: 2001–02

For the 2001–02 NFL season, FC Kochin roped in Czech manager Karel Stromšík as head coach.[35] They signed four foreigners, Ukrainian Mykola Shevchenko, Nigerian international Obinna Winners Onyia, Liberian national team player Josiah Seton, and Ghanaian goalkeeper.[35] In that season, the club earned 17 points in 22 league matches, finished in eleventh place and relegated to the NFL II along with Punjab Police.[36] FC Kochin's Sunday Seah made a mark in that season.[37]

Home stadium

See main article: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi).

FC Kochin used the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium,[38] for their home matches in both of the National Football League (India) and Kerala Premier League.[39] [40] The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 spectators.[41]

Achievements

FC Kochin had contributed substantially to the advancement of Kerala football within its short span.[42] [43] [44] The most prestigious achievement for FC Kochin was winning the Durand Cup in New Delhi in 1997, the first club Kerala to do so.[45] [46] In that year, they clinched Kerala State Football League title, defeating State Bank of Travancore.[47]

FC Kochin had also put up a consistent performance in the National Football League,[48] until their relegation in 2002.

Rivalries

FC Kochin shared rivalries predominantly with Kerala-based clubs — Viva Kerala, Kerala Police Club, SBI Kerala,[49] Titanium XI and Quartz Calicut, whom they faced in domestic and regional tournaments.[50] [51] [52] [53] [54]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

The official sponsors of FC Kochin (1998–2002)[55]

Notable players

This list comprises notable Indian and foreign footballers, who played for FC Kochin (between 1997 and 2004) in the National Football League of India. Some of them have also represented their respective countries before or after joining the club.

Honours

League

Cup

Withdrawal

With reduced sponsorship money after declining performance, and with Indian Football Federation failing to pay the dues to the club, it faced a financial crunch.[100] Unpaid salaries and exodus of good players led to a low performance of the club in the top league. The club finished at 11th position in 2001–02 season and got relegated to Second Division. The club played Second Division twice, but failed to get promoted to Premier Division. The club could never resurrect itself after that,[101] and went defunct in 2002 after it was revealed that the club had not paid salaries since 2000 after running up 2.5 crores in losses a season.[102] [103] [104] [105]

Managerial history

Team records

Overall records

See also

References

Cited sources

Bibliography

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Regionalism and club domination: Growth of rival centres of footballing excellence . Taylor & Francis . 6 August 2006 . 1 March 2023 . 1 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230301202832/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14660970500106410?journalCode=fsas20 . Soccer & Society . 6:2–3 . 2–3 . 227–256 . 10.1080/14660970500106410 .
  2. Web site: K. Bhaskaran. FC Kochin blazes new trails. Rediff.com. 7 February 1998. 15 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210815071432/https://m.rediff.com/sports/1998/feb/07a.htm. 15 August 2021.
  3. Web site: FC Kochin football club archive. globalsportsarchive.com. 13 March 2021. 22 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422180628/https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/fc-kochin/1704/. live.
  4. Web site: Adwaidh. Rajan. TNN. Kerala football back to where it belongs. The Times of India. 4 May 2022. 26 December 2022. 22 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230322111926/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/kerala-football-back-to-where-it-belongs/articleshow/91307039.cms. live.
  5. Web site: 'Institutional Clubs will die a slow death'. 2 August 2011. 29 September 2022. indianfootballnetwork.com. India Footy (Indian Football Network). 19 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230419063831/http://www.indianfootballnetwork.com/blog/2011/08/02/institutional-clubs-will-die-a-slow-death/. Armstrong. Vaz.
  6. Web site: With over Rs 1 cr as prize money for Philips League, local clubs sign up foreign players. 2 February 1998. 1 February 2022. Binoo. K. John. www.indiatoday.in. India Today. https://web.archive.org/web/20220201101437/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/19980202-with-over-rs-1-cr-as-prize-money-for-philips-league-local-clubs-sign-up-foreign-players-825596-1998-02-02. 1 February 2022.
  7. Web site: Arunava. Chaudhuri. Season ending Transfers 2004: India. https://web.archive.org/web/20200217030450/http://www.indianfootball.de/transfers2004.html. 17 February 2020. indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. 1 July 2021. dead.
  8. Web site: Glorytales of Indian Football: FC Kochin, IM Vijayan and their amazing success story. 22 February 2021. sports-nova.com. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714105924/https://www.sports-nova.com/2020/05/30/glorytales-of-indian-football-fc-kochin-im-vijayan-and-their-amazing-success-story/.
  9. Web site: Coca Cola National League 98/99 Articles. fckochi.tripod.com. 15 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210815070314/https://fckochi.tripod.com/Pnl98-99.htm. 15 August 2021.
  10. Web site: India 13–0 Macau: Looking back at India U-16 team's biggest ever victory. goal.com. Goal. 3 September 2017. 11 February 2023. Atanu. Mitra. https://web.archive.org/web/20170909180504/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/india-13-0-macau-india-u-16-teams-biggest-ever-victory/1pflwqnjs2s4m1wosmt3px1sni. 9 September 2017.
  11. Web site: Tollygunge scrape past FC Kochin. sports.ndtv.com. NDTV. 22 February 2021. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714105920/https://sports.ndtv.com/football/tollygunge-scrape-past-f-c-kochin--1617782.
  12. https://books.google.com/books?id=GR-4AQAAQBAJ&dq=fc+Kochin+coca+cola&pg=PT124 Soccer in South Asia: Empire, Nation, Diaspora
  13. Web site: A look back into the dysfunctional clubs in the past decade of Indian football. The Bridge. 11 April 2019 . 26 March 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512070750/https://thebridge.in/featured/look-back-dysfunctional-clubs-past-decade-indian-football.
  14. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india00.html India tournaments 1999/00
  15. Web site: Hans. Schöggl. India — List of Foundation Dates. RSSSF. 17 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023194819/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/indiafound.html. 23 October 2021.
  16. Web site: FC Kochin team profile and history. https://web.archive.org/web/20211130111855/http://www.iloveindia.com/sports/football/clubs/fc-kochin.html. 30 November 2021. I Love India. 30 November 2021.
  17. Web site: Indian Football: Legends from the 'football mad' state of Kerala Goal.com. 2021-01-04. goal.com. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714110001/https://www.goal.com/en-in/lists/indian-football-legends-kerala-vijayan/hqt8lhaa0df21fa8rarnr86gw.
  18. Web site: M G Radhakrishnan. 6 May 2002. First Indian professional football club FC Kochin faces closure as players migrate. 22 February 2021. India Today. 6 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200906103103/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/20020506-first-indian-professional-football-club-fc-kochin-faces-closure-as-players-migrate-795344-2002-05-06.
  19. Web site: Ashwin. Muralidharan. Down the memory lane: The quick rise and swift fall of FC Kochin. www.goal.com. Goal. 27 April 2020. 22 February 2021. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714105921/https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/indian-football-kerala-quick-rise-swift-fall-fc-kochin/h6ht5as4fe8717soazw007d2v.
  20. Web site: From the History Book. All India Football Federation . the-aiff.com . 19 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140717033518/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=1965 . 17 July 2014.
  21. Web site: Leading Goal Scorers . Rediff.com . 24 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040828213707/http://www.rediff.com/sports/nflsco04.htm . 28 August 2004 . 14 May 2004.
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  23. Web site: 27 October 1997. Durand Cup win by FC Kochin signals football's shift from amateur to professional status. 30 July 2021. indiatoday.com. India Today. en. 30 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210730134421/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/19971027-durand-cup-win-by-fc-kochin-signals-footballs-shift-from-amateur-to-professional-status-832369-1997-10-27.
  24. Web site: List of Durand Cup tournament winners and runner-ups. https://web.archive.org/web/20140729142839/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/indiadurandcuphist.html. 29 July 2014. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Neil. Morrison. 2002. 26 January 2021.
  25. Web site: Glorytales of Indian Football: FC Kochin, IM Vijayan and their amazing success story. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714105924/https://www.sports-nova.com/2020/05/30/glorytales-of-indian-football-fc-kochin-im-vijayan-and-their-amazing-success-story/. 14 July 2021. sports-nova.com. Sports Nova India. 15 August 2021.
  26. Web site: Vijayan takes AIFF fine in his stride. The Times of India. New Delhi. 19 July 2001. 1 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221101051903/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/vijayan-takes-aiff-fine-in-his-stride/articleshow/1932191317.cms. 1 November 2022. live.
  27. Web site: Arunava. Chaudhuri. Season ending Transfers 2000: India. https://web.archive.org/web/20200217030450/http://www.indianfootball.de/transfers2000.html. 17 February 2020. indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. 1 July 2021. dead.
  28. Web site: Shevchenko joins Churchill Brothers as coach. 2 December 2017. The Times of India. Press Trust of India. 13 November 2017. 18 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210718161057/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/shevchenko-joins-churchill-brothers-as-coach/articleshow/61626885.cms. live.
  29. Web site: FC Kochin team list. indianfootball.de. Arunava. Chaudhuri. 22 February 2021. 13 February 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020213231539/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/nflteams/2001-02/fckochin.html. dead.
  30. Web site: Down the memory lane: The quick rise and swift fall of FC Kochin. Goal.com. 15 August 2021. 15 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210815072432/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-football-kerala-quick-rise-swift-fall-fc-kochin/h6ht5as4fe8717soazw007d2v.
  31. Web site: India 1998/99. RSSSF. 28 February 2021. 11 June 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090611102350/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/india99.html#nfl1. live.
  32. Web site: FC Kochin rope in coach Chathunni . Indian Express . 2014-01-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140219071340/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/ie/daily/19991208/isp08032.html . 2014-02-19.
  33. Web site: Arunava. Chaudhuri. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 2006-04-05. India – 1999 season: Kerala Football League. 21 March 2023. 22 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191022023658/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/india00.html#kera.
  34. Web site: Maldives 2001 — POMIS Cup. RSSSF.com. Hoodh. Ali. 10 March 2002. 27 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230221165747/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/maled01.html. 21 February 2023.
  35. Web site: 4 foreign players in ICE-FC Kochin team. The Times of India. Kochi. 8 December 2001. 26 December 2020. PTI. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240111130402/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/4-foreign-players-in-ice-fc-kochin-team/articleshow/2089647146.cms. 11 January 2024.
  36. Web site: India 2001/02 — National Football League. RSSSF. 28 February 2021. 22 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191022040100/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/india02.html#nfl1. Arunava. Chaudhuri. 16 July 2015.
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  38. Web site: FC Kochin supporters in Kerala (1997). https://web.archive.org/web/20220330050946/https://mobile.twitter.com/indianfootballh/status/1508312084739604484. Twitter.com (@IndianfootballH. 19 May 2022. 30 March 2022.
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  42. http://www.fckochin.com/Club.htm FC Kochin official website
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