I-League 2 Explained

I-League 2
Pixels:200
Organiser:AIFF
Country:India
Confed:AFC
Teams:10
Levels:3
Promotion:I-League
Relegation:I-League 3
Domest Cup:Federation Cup
Durand Cup
Champions:Sporting Bengaluru (1st title)
Most Successful Club:ONGC (2 titles)
Tv:SportsCast India
SportsKPI
Indian Football (YouTube)
Current:2024–25

The I-League 2 is an Indian men's professional football league.[1] It is the 3rd tier of the Indian football league system, behind the Indian Super League and the I-League.[2] [3] [4] It operates as a system of promotion and relegation with the I-League and the I-League 3.

History

I-League 2nd Division was introduced during the 2008 season, with first game played on 25 March between Mohammedan Sporting and Amity United.[5]

That season saw Mohammedan Sporting, Mumbai FC, Vasco SC and Chirag United promoted to the I-League. The next season saw Pune FC, Shillong Lajong, Viva Kerala and Salgaocar getting promoted.

Since 2010, only top 2 teams were promoted to the I-League. ONGC FC and HAL SC in that year, in 2011 Shillong Lajong and Sporting Clube de Goa, with Lajong being promoted for the second time. In 2012, ONGC and United Sikkim were promoted for the upcoming season. The 2013 saw Rangdajied United FC and Mohammedan qualifying for the I-League.

In 2014, only one team got promoted from the 2nd Division, and similarly only one team got relegated from 2013–14 season.

In 2016, again only one team was promoted from the 2nd division (Aizawl F.C.), and only one was relegated from the I-League (Dempo).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional final round format was scrapped in 2020. It was decided that the league will be rescheduled into a new format and all non-reserve teams from the preliminary stage will automatically progress to this round. It was officially named as I-League Qualifiers.[6]

After making of I-League as second division of Indian football, the AIFF decided to rename 2nd Division to I-league 2.[7]

Competition format

2008–2015

Previously, the league was formatted as a neutral venue competition with teams split into groups in which all the groups play in one stadium each. The final round is contested in a double round-robin format, after which the top two teams get promoted to the I-League.

2015–2017

The I-League core committee approved the plans for the 2015–2016 I-League 2nd division matches to be played on a home and away basis. The preliminary rounds will be played as the conference system with the teams being divided into Eastern and Western conferences. Top 3 teams from each conference will qualify for the final round of the 2015–2016 season of 2nd division I-League.[8]

To widen the football map of the country and to bolster the football structure, I-League committee decide to launch the 2nd division qualifier for 2016–2017 season. Participants from all the state associations would be invited to take part in 2nd division 2016–17 qualifiers. The state associations need to nominate two teams with best results, apart from the teams who would compete in Hero I-League and 2nd division league, from the state leagues to compete in the 2nd division qualifiers. The teams will fight it out amongst themselves in the zonal round followed by the final round. Eventually top two teams from the final round will get a nod to the 2nd division, provided that they fulfill the club licensing requirements in the due time.[9]

2017–2018

The format was further altered from 2017–2018 season, the league was divided in two stages: the Preliminary and the Final. The tournament will also feature reserve teams of Indian Super League clubs. In the preliminary stage, 18 teams are divided into three groups where all matches would be played on a home and away basis. The winners of each group plus the best second-placed team would qualify for the final round. However, if reserve teams of ISL clubs finishes as winners or runners-up in any group, the position is passed on onto the next non-ISL team. The final round will be played at a central venue, the winners of which would be promoted to the next tier of Indian Football.[10]

2018–2019

Sixteen teams were allowed to participate in this season by the league committee.[11]

2021

A new format was introduced named as I-league qualifiers. 10 teams promoted from state leagues battled for I-league qualification.

2022–2023

In a meeting held on 16 December 2022, the AIFF league committee has recommended that states that have conducted their regional leagues in previous season nominate clubs for the Hero I-League 2, with six reserve teams of the Hero ISL also joining them. A pre-tournament qualifier was held for the teams from states that have not conducted their leagues in 2021–22, from which the top two teams gained entry into the Hero I-League 2, bringing the total number of clubs to 20.

These 20 teams are divided into the four groups of five and play each other in a round-robin home and away format. The group winners, along with the best second-placed team, play in the final round, a single-leg round robin format competition.[12]

Clubs

Currently there are 8 clubs competing in the I-League 2.

ClubStateCityStadiumCapacity
UnitedKalyani Stadium20,000
Sudeva DelhiDelhiNorth DelhiChhatrasal Stadium16,000
Bengaluru UnitedKarnatakaBangalore Football Stadium8,400
Sporting GoaGoaPanajiTilak Maidan10,000
TRAUManipurImphalKhuman Lampak Main Stadium35,285
NEROCA

All-time clubs

Currently in I-League 2
Currently in Indian Super League or I-League
Currently in I-League 3 or State leagues
Reserve sides (Indian Super League)
Defunct clubs
Pos.TeamCity1st2nd3rdAppearances
1 11 135 72 27 34 205 125 80 239 1 2 1 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020
2 5 56 31 10 15 110 65 45 103 0 0 1 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
3 4 53 30 11 12 108 49 59 101 1 0 0 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
4 6 92 24 24 44 97 138 -41 96 0 1 0 2015, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020
5 9 84 22 17 45 107 161 -54 83 0 1 0 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2021, 2023-24
6 3 40 24 7 9 62 29 33 79 1 1 0 2015–16, 2022-23, 2023-24
7 4 45 22 14 9 78 52 26 80 0 2 1
8 4 43 23 8 12 86 56 30 77 1 0 0 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
9 4 39 22 10 7 66 29 37 76 2 0 0 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012
10 4 52 21 11 20 67 74 -7 74 0 1 0 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016–17
11 4 41 20 11 10 77 46 31 71 0 0 0 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017–18
12 4 44 21 7 16 91 72 19 70 1 0 0 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
13 United SC 4 48 21 9 18 77 75 2 69 0 0 1 2008, 2015, 2022-23, 2023-24
14 NEROCA FC 2 34 20 8 6 48 23 25 68 1 0 1 2015–16, 2016–17
15 7 66 18 12 36 71 127 -56 66 0 1 0
16 3 39 18 11 10 73 56 17 65 0 1 0 2011, 2012, 2014
17 4 41 18 10 13 63 42 21 64 0 0 1 2020, 2021, 2022-23, 2023-24
18 3 39 18 9 12 69 43 36 63 0 0 1 2012, 2013, 2014
19 3 29 18 6 5 53 27 26 60 1 1 1 2009, 2011, 2022-23
20 TRAU FC 2 29 17 6 6 58 37 21 57 1 0 0 2017–18, 2018–19
21 4 42 15 12 15 56 52 4 57 0 0 0 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
22 4 42 17 5 10 63 38 25 56 0 0 0 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020, 2022-23
23 3 32 15 9 8 59 28 31 54 0 0 2 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
24 4 35 13 7 15 57 53 4 46 0 0 0 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
25 3 21 10 4 7 43 21 22 44 0 0 0 2011, 2012, 2013
26 4 31 12 8 11 44 42 2 44 0 0 0 2018–19, 2020, 2021, 2022-23
27 4 27 8 7 12 42 50 -8 41 0 0 0 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
28 2 19 12 3 4 44 13 31 39 1 0 1 2021, 2022-23
29 3 33 8 15 10 35 42 -7 39 0 0 1 2013, 2016–17, 2017–18
30 2 19 11 5 3 30 22 8 38 1 0 0 2016–17, 2017–18
31 1 18 11 4 3 30 14 16 37 0 2 0 2015–16
32 4 32 10 7 15 42 45 -3 37 0 0 0 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020, 2022-23
33 3 25 10 4 11 41 44 -3 34 0 0 0 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020
34 1 14 11 0 3 28 12 16 33 1 0 0 2023-24
35 1 16 10 3 3 30 17 13 33 0 1 0 2018–19
36 Sporting Goa 2 21 10 3 8 29 24 5 33 0 1 0 2011, 2023-24
37 3 23 8 9 6 28 27 1 33 0 0 0 2009, 2010, 2011
38 2 17 9 4 4 36 19 17 31 0 1 0 2008, 2010
39 4 27 7 8 11 35 50 -15 29 0 0 0 2010, 2011, 2012, 2022-23
40 4 35 8 5 20 31 68 -37 29 0 0 0 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020, 2022-23
41 2 17 8 4 5 28 19 9 28 0 0 0 2017–18, 2020
42 2 18 8 4 6 25 23 2 28 0 0 0 2018–19, 2020
43 Sudeva Delhi 2 20 8 4 8 23 28 -5 28 0 0 1 2016–17, 2023-24
44 2 19 8 3 8 26 24 2 27 0 0 0 2008, 2009
45 2 19 8 2 9 26 23 3 26 0 0 0 2010, 2011
46 1 10 8 1 1 18 5 13 25 1 0 0 2008
47 1 14 7 4 3 35 24 11 25 0 0 1 2015
48 1 17 8 1 8 27 26 1 25 0 0 0 2013
49 3 28 6 7 15 28 55 -27 25 0 0 0 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020
50 6 48 5 9 34 41 117 -76 25 0 0 0
51 2 16 7 3 6 27 29 -2 24 0 0 0 2014, 2020
52 1 12 7 2 3 27 17 10 23 0 0 1 2022-23
53 3 22 5 8 9 29 34 -5 23 0 0 0 2008, 2009, 2010
54 4 23 6 4 13 28 52 -24 22 0 0 0 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
55 1 11 6 3 2 15 8 7 21 0 0 0 2022-23
56 5 31 4 9 18 33 78 -45 21 0 0 0 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
57 1 9 6 2 1 12 5 7 20 1 0 0 2009
58 2 14 6 2 6 21 21 0 20 0 0 0 2011, 2013
59 1 18 4 7 7 16 20 -4 19 0 0 0 2015–16
60 3 19 4 7 8 23 32 -9 19 0 0 0 2012, 2013, 2014
61 1 9 5 2 2 21 10 11 17 0 1 0 2009
62 1 8 5 2 1 15 7 8 17 0 0 0 2013
63 3 15 5 2 8 20 29 -9 17 0 0 0 2008, 2009, 2010
64 1 14 4 3 7 20 25 -5 15 0 0 0 2023-24
65 3 19 4 3 12 20 34 -14 15 0 0 0 2010, 2011, 2012
66 2 15 3 5 7 22 28 -6 14 0 0 0 2013, 2018–19
67 1 10 3 4 3 17 16 1 13 0 0 0 2018–19
68 Jagat Singh Palahi 1 8 4 1 3 10 9 1 13 0 0 0 2022-23
69 1 10 2 7 1 10 9 1 13 0 0 0 2017-18
70 3 15 3 4 8 25 27 -2 13 0 0 0 2008, 2009, 2010
71 1 6 3 3 0 8 4 4 12 1 0 0 2021
72 1 8 4 0 4 9 8 1 12 0 0 0 2022-23
73 2 14 3 3 8 10 16 -6 12 0 0 0 2020, 2022-23
74 2 15 3 3 9 17 27 -10 12 0 0 0 2012, 2013
75 2 12 3 1 8 17 18 -1 10 0 0 0 2009, 2013
76 3 16 2 4 10 9 37 -28 10 0 0 0 2009, 2010, 2011
77 1 6 2 3 1 10 6 4 9 0 0 0 2010
78 1 6 3 0 3 8 5 3 9 0 0 0 2020
79 1 8 2 3 3 9 8 1 9 0 0 0 2015-16
80 1 10 3 0 7 9 17 -8 9 0 0 0 2008
81 2 14 2 3 9 16 40 -24 9 0 0 0 2012, 2013
82 1 9 2 2 5 5 9 -4 8 0 0 0 2017–18
83 1 6 2 1 3 8 8 0 7 0 0 0 2022-23
84 Mumbai United AC 1 6 2 1 3 8 9 -1 7 0 0 0 2010
85 1 8 2 1 5 8 15 -7 7 0 0 0 2022-23
86 2 10 1 4 5 6 14 -8 7 0 0 0 2009, 2010
87 2 11 2 1 8 11 34 -23 7 0 0 0 2012, 2021
88 2 15 1 4 10 8 40 -32 7 0 0 0 2020, 2022-23
89 2 10 2 0 8 10 19 -9 6 0 0 0 2008, 2010
90 1 6 1 2 3 4 7 -3 5 0 0 0 2020
91 1 6 1 2 3 5 13 -8 5 0 0 0 2021
92 1 8 1 1 6 4 25 -21 4 0 0 0 2013
93 1 3 1 0 2 4 4 0 3 0 0 0 2021
94 1 3 1 0 2 4 12 -8 3 0 0 0 2022-23
95 1 6 1 0 5 3 15 -12 3 0 0 0 2010
96 2 12 0 3 9 10 35 -25 3 0 0 0 2010, 2011
97 2 7 0 2 5 4 14 -10 2 0 0 0 2021, 2022-23
98 1 4 0 1 3 4 12 -8 1 0 0 0 2009
99 1 6 0 0 6 2 16 -14 0 0 0 0 2016–17
100 BLG Diamond Rock 1 6 0 0 6 3 18 -15 0 0 0 0 2022-23
101 1 5 0 0 5 2 18 -16 0 0 0 0 2014
102 1 10 0 0 10 3 39 -36 0 0 0 0 2017–18

Clubs promoted/relegated to I-League 2

Promoted clubs from I-League 3 to I-League 2!Season!Clubs
2023–24Sporting Goa, Dempo, Sporting Bengaluru
Relegated clubs from I-League to I-League 2!Season!Clubs
2007–08Viva Kerala, Salgaocar
2008–09Mohammedan, Vasco
2009–10Sporting Goa, Shillong Lajong
2010–11JCT, ONGC
2011–12Viva Kerala, HAL
2012–13Air India, United Sikkim
2013–14Mohammedan
2014–15Dempo
2015–16None
2016–17Mumbai
2017–18None
2018–19Shillong Lajong
2019–20None
2020–21None
2021–22None
2022–23Kenkre, Sudeva Delhi
2023–24NEROCA, TRAU

Clubs promoted/relegated from I-League 2

Promoted clubs from I-League 2 to I-League!Season!Clubs
2008Mumbai, Mohammedan, United, Vasco
2009Salgaocar, Viva Kerala, Shillong Lajong, Pune
2010ONGC, HAL
2011Shillong Lajong, Sporting Goa
2012ONGC, United Sikkim
2013Rangdajied United, Mohammedan
2014Royal Wahingdoh
2015Aizawl
2015–16Dempo
2016–17NEROCA
2017–18Real Kashmir
2018–19TRAU
2020Mohammedan
2021Rajasthan United, Kenkre
2022–23Shillong Lajong, Delhi
2023–24Sporting Bengaluru, Dempo
Relegated clubs from I-League 2 to I-League 3!Season!Clubs
2023–24Kenkre, Maharashtra Oranje

Champions

Champions!style="background:silver"
Runners-upThird placeTeams
2008MumbaiMohammedanUnited6+6
2009SalgaocarViva KeralaShillong Lajong5+5+5
2010ONGCHALVasco7+7+7
2011Shillong LajongSporting GoaVasco7+7+7
2012ONGCUnited SikkimMohammedan8+8+7
2013Rangdajied UnitedMohammedanBhawanipore9+9+8
2014Royal WahingdohBhawaniporeKalighat MS6+5
2015AizawlLonestar KashmirChanmari8
2015–16DempoMinerva PunjabNEROCA5+5
2016–17NEROCASouthern SamityDelhi United4+4
2017–18Real KashmirHindustanOzone6+6+6
2018–19TRAUChhinga VengOzone5+5+6
2020MohammedanBhawaniporeBengaluru United6+5+6
2021Rajasthan UnitedKenkreDelhi4+5
2022–23DelhiShillong LajongAmbernath United Atlanta17+4
2023–24Sporting BengaluruDempoSudeva Delhi8

Performance by clubs

Club Titles Runners-up Third place Winning seasons Runners-up seasons Third place seasons
ONGC2002010, 2012
Mohammedan12120202008, 20132012
Shillong Lajong11120112022–232009
Dempo1102015–162023-24
NEROCA1012016–172015–16
Delhi1012022–232021
Mumbai1002008
Salgaocar1002009
Rangdajied United1002013
Royal Wahingdoh1002014
Aizawl1002015
Real Kashmir1002017–18
TRAU1002018–19
Rajasthan United1002021
Sporting Bengaluru1002023–24
Bhawanipore0212014, 20202013
Viva Kerala0102009
HAL0102010
Sporting Goa01 02011
United Sikkim0102012
Lonestar Kashmir0102015
Minerva Punjab01 02015–16
Southern Samity0102016–17
Hindustan0102017–18
Chhinga Veng01 02018–19
Mumbai Kenkre0102021
Vasco0022010, 2011
Ozone0022017–18, 2018–19
United0012008
Kalighat MS0012014
Chanmari0012015
Delhi United0012016–17
Bengaluru United0012020
Ambernath United Atlanta0012022–23
Sudeva Delhi0012023-24

Sponsorship and media coverage

Sponsorship

From 2008 to 2011 the league was sponsored by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and was named the ONGC I-League 2nd Division. ONGC was also the title sponsor of the I-League. In October 2011 ONGC was dropped as a sponsor.

PeriodSponsorTournament
2008—2011ONGCONGC I-League 2nd Division
2011—2017I-League 2nd Division
2017—2023Hero I-League 2nd Division / I-League Qualifiers (2020)

Broadcasters

PeriodTV telecastOnline streaming
2007–2010Zee Sports
2010–2017Ten Action, Ten SportsDittoTV
2017–2019JioTV
2019–2022Facebook, JioTV
2022–YouTube

Winning coaches

Head coachClubWinsWinning years
L. Nandakumar SinghRoyal Wahingdoh, TRAU22014, 2018–19
Dave BoothMumbai 12008
Peter ValesSalgaocar2009
Caetano PinhoONGC2010
Pradyum ReddyShillong Lajong2011
Philippe De RidderUnited Sikkim2012–13
Karsing KurbahRangdajied United 2013–14
Hmingthana ZadengAizawl2014–15
Mauricio AfonsoDempo2015–16
Gift RaikhanNEROCA2016–17
David RobertsonReal Kashmir2017–18
Yan Law
(sacked midway)
Mohammedan SC2020
Vikrant SharmaRajasthan United2021
Surinder SinghDelhi FC2022-23
Chinta Chandrashekar RaoSC Bengaluru 2023-24

Top scorers

SeasonTop scorerClubGoals
2008 Fredrick OkwagbeHAL6
2009 Badmus BabatundeViva Kerala6
2010 Badmus BabatundeONGC4
Joy FerraoVasco
2011 Stanley OkoroigweTechno Aryan6
2012 Daniel BedemiUnited Sikkim11
2013 Badmus BabatundeRangdajied United8
Hudson Lima Da SilvaBhawanipore
2014 Daniel BedemiBhawanipore8
2015Mohammedan11
2015–16 Felix Chidi OdiliDempo7
Atinder ManiLonestar Kashmir
2016–17 Odafa OkolieSouthern Samity9
Felix Chidi OdiliNEROCA
2017–18 Robert de Souza RibieroOzone10
2018–19 Phillip AdjahMohammedan10
Princewill EmekaTRAU
2020 Syed Shoaib AhmedARA7
Ekombong Victor PhilipGarhwal
2021 Anwar Ali Jr.Delhi FC4
2022–23 Irfan YadwadBengaluru United13
2023–24 Thomyo L ShimraySporting Bengaluru11
Sahil HarijanUnited SC

Awards

Prize money

As updated on 19 May 2023:

Champions 70 lakhs
Runners-up 50 lakhs
Match winner 50,000
Hero of the match 20,000

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hero I-League Qualifiers. 2021-09-04. www.the-aiff.com. 6 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211006160908/https://www.the-aiff.com/competitions/hero-i-league-qualifiers. live.
  2. Web site: 27 September 2022. Marcus. Mergulhao. AIFF set to ban foreign players from lower leagues. TNN. Panaji, Goa. 27 September 2022. The Times of India. en. 27 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927185737/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/aiff-set-to-ban-foreign-players-from-lower-leagues/articleshow/94490651.cms?from=mdr. live.
  3. News: Shillong Lajong return to Hero I-League after four years . New Delhi . 22 May 2023 . the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. 21 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522180522/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/shillong-lajong-return-to-hero-i-league-after-four-years . 22 May 2023 .
  4. News: Shillong Lajong Promoted to I-League After Four Years With 2–1 Win Over Bengaluru United . Press Trust of India . 22 May 2023 . news18.com. News18 Sports . 21 May 2022 . New Delhi . Vivek . Ganapathy . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522180246/https://www.news18.com/football/shillong-lajong-promoted-to-i-league-after-four-years-with-2-1-win-over-bengaluru-united-7880203.html . 22 May 2023 .
  5. https://www.kolkatafootball.com/ileague_2nd_division_2016-17/news.html I-League 2nd Division 2016-17
  6. Web site: Hero I-League Qualifier 2020 to get underway on October 8 Hero I-League. 2020-10-08. en-US. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512151951/https://i-league.org/hero-i-league-qualifier-2020-to-get-underway-on-october-8/. live.
  7. Web site: AIFF League Committee meeting chaired online by Lalnghinglova Hmar . 2022-12-17 . www.the-aiff.com . 16 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221216165348/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/aiff-league-committee-meeting-chaired-online-by-lalnghinglova-hmar . live .
  8. Web site: Change in format for I-League 2nd division . Abhishek Jain . 26 August 2015 . 4 September 2015 . 27 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150827202341/http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/change-format-i-league-2nd-division . live .
  9. Web site: Hero I-League | Football Calendar Will be Bolstered with Second Division League Qualifiers . 4 September 2015 . 21 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150921215137/http://i-league.org/football-calendar-will-be-bolstered-with-second-division-league-qualifiers/ . live .
  10. Web site: AIFF LEAGUE COMMITTEE MEETS AT FOOTBALL HOUSE . 19 February 2018 . 19 February 2018 . 19 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219212322/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=8773 . live .
  11. Web site: LEAGUE COMMITTEE MEETS AT AIFF HQ IN NEW DELHI. AIFF. 7 December 2018. 8 December 2018. 9 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124743/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9352. live.
  12. Web site: AIFF League Committee meeting chaired online by Lalnghinglova Hmar . 17 December 2022 . 16 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221216165348/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/aiff-league-committee-meeting-chaired-online-by-lalnghinglova-hmar . live .