Football in Kerala explained

Football is one of the most popular sports in Kerala.[1] It was introduced to the land of Kerala during the pre-independence period by British officers of the Malabar Special Police (MSP) in the 20th century. MSP was camped in Malappuram and soon the natives began adopting the sport, which was mostly played in post-harvest paddy fields.[2] Kerala enjoyed a golden age from 1985 to 1995 by making it to Santhosh Trophy finals seven times consecutively, and football became an iconic sport ever since in the south Indian state.[3] FIFA released the film Maitanam - The Story of Football in Kerala, quoting: Football in the Indian state of Kerala runs through the fabric of its society, where football is life and life is football.[4] Kerala state football team appeared in the Santosh Trophy finals 15 times and won the trophy 7 times, latest in 2022 by defeating Bengal in the final on 2 May at the Payyanadu Stadium in Malappuram. Gokulam Kerala FC won the 2020–21 I-League to become the first ever club from Kerala to win an I-League title and they created history by becoming the first team in the I-League era to defend its title, being 2021-22 I-League Champions.[5] Gokulam Kerala FC is also the first club from Kerala to qualify for a continental competition, the AFC Cup.[6] Kerala Blasters, the Indian Super League club based in Kochi, are one of the most widely supported clubs in Asia and with one of the largest social media following among the football clubs from the continent.[7] Travancore Royals Football Club (TRFC), founded on 29 November 2018, is India's first fans-owned club.[8]

Kerala Premier League, together with Kerala Super League, is the official state level tournament, succeeding Kerala State Club Football Championship, both organized by the Kerala Football Association. SBI Kerala FC is the most successful Kerala League team becoming champions 6 times while Travancore Titanium FC is most successful in the Championship, winning it 10 times.

The Sait Nagjee Cup Football Tournament is a popular international club football tournament held in Kozhikode which has been attracting large crowd since 1952. Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho has served as the brand ambassador for the Sait Nagjee Football Tournament.

Famous international footballers including Ronaldinho,[9] Maradona,[10] Roberto Carlos,[11] Thomas Tuchel[12] visited Kerala for different reasons. David James and Dimitar Berbatov managed Kerala Blasters in different season. The Hero Super Cup of 2023 was held in Kerala.

Shortlisted clubs

Most of the clubs still functioning in Kerala are founded after 1970s.

!Club!Hometown!Founded!Best form
R B Ferguson ClubThrissur1899
Cannanore Spirited Youth's Club Kannur1941
Hindu-Muslim-Christian Club (HMC Club)Thiru-Kochi1945
Kerala football teamState football team1948
Kozhikode Young Challengers Kozhikode1940s
Gymkhana Kannur, Brothers Club Kannur, Lucky Star FC Kannur, Seesa Club KannurKannur
Traders Club, Flying ArrowsKochi
Young Challengers Alappuzha, Rovers Club, Police Club Alappuzha, Town Club AlappuzhaAlappuzha
Ever Green Sports Club Tirur, Moidu Rubber Estate teamMalappuram1950s
Eagles FCKochi1955
Alind KundaraKundara
Premier Tyres football teamKochi1971[13]
Keltron FCKannur
FACT FCKochi
KSEB FCThiruvananthapuram
Travancore Titanium FCThiruvananthapuram1973
Kerala United FC[14] Kozhikode1976
Kerala Police football teamThiruvananthapuram1984
SBI Kerala FCThiruvananthapuram1986
FC KochinKochi1997
Chandni FCKozhikode2000
Viva Kerala Football ClubKozhikode, Kochi2004
Malabar United FCKozhikode2007
Josco FCKochi2007
Kovalam Football ClubThiruvananthapuram2009
Golden Threads FCKochi2010
FC KeralaThrissur2014
Kerala Blasters FCKochi2014
Gokulam Kerala FCKozhikode2017
Real Malabar FCKondotty 2021

Stadiums

StadiumCapacity
Calicut Corporation EMS Stadium, Kozhikode100,000
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi)50,000
Greenfield International Stadium Trivandrum
Malappuram District Sports Complex Stadium
Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium

Notable players

I M Vijayan, V. P. Sathyan, C. V. Pappachan, Jo Paul Ancheri, Victor Manjila, E.N. Sudhir, Mohammed Rafi, C.K. Vineeth, Anas Edathodika, Sahal Abdul Samad, Rino Anto, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Ashique Kuruniyan, N.P Pradeep, Krishnan Nair Ajayan, Zakeer Mundampara, Usman Ashik, Muhammed Sagar Ali, Denson Devadas, C. S. Sabeeth, Mohamed Irshad, Asif Kottayil, Sushanth Mathew.

Notable tournaments

List of state level champions

!!(KFL/KPL) Champions !(KFL/KPL) Championship season!Club Football Championship!Club Football Championship seasons
SBI Kerala FC62000/01, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2008, 2015, 2016 5
FC Kochin 21998/99, 1999/00-
KSEB22004/05, 20173
Gokulam Kerala22018, 2020/21-
Viva Kerala12005/06-
Eagles FC 12014-
Indian Navy12018/19-
Kerala Blasters FC Reserves12019/20-
Golden Threads12021/22-
Titanium FC--10
Kerala Police--7
KSRTC--3
Premier Tyres FC--3
AGORC,Thiruvananthapuram--2
Central Excise RC--1
Keltron FC--1
FC Kochin--1
Kochin Port Trust--1
Josco FC--1

Notable academies

Notes and References

  1. News: Kumar . PK Ajith . 2022-12-22 . Following the football World Cup craze in Kerala . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-02-01 . 0971-751X . 2023-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201170330/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/following-the-football-world-cup-craze-in-kerala/article66293290.ece . live .
  2. Web site: How Kerala shrunk football to make it its own . 2023-02-01 . The Times of India . en . 2021-11-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211105133055/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/keralas-small-football-in-sevens-heaven/articleshow/70905729.cms . live .
  3. Web site: Kumar . Laxmi Mohan . 2022-11-10 . Football Fever: Recollecting Kerala's Craze For The Sport Amidst Cut-Out Wars & World Cup Debates . 2023-02-01 . thelogicalindian.com . en . 2023-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201185448/https://thelogicalindian.com/trending/recollecting-keralas-craze-for-football-amidst-cut-out-wars-38575 . live .
  4. Web site: Kerala’s passion for football and its links to anti-imperialism . 2023-02-01 . The New Indian Express . 2023-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201185448/https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/football/2022/nov/27/keralas-passion-for-football-and-its-links-to-anti-imperialism-2522576.html . live .
  5. News: PTI . 2022-05-14 . Gokulam Kerala become first team to defend title in I-League era, beating Mohammedan SC 2-1 . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-02-04 . 0971-751X . 2023-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204144025/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/gokulam-kerala-become-first-team-to-defend-title-in-i-league-era-beating-mohammedan-sc-2-1/article65414930.ece . live .
  6. Web site: Dey . Sayak Dipta . Gokulam Kerala FC win I-League, qualify for AFC Cup . 2023-02-05 . www.sportskeeda.com . en-us . 2021-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210327145259/https://www.sportskeeda.com/indian-football/news-gokulam-kerala-fc-win-i-league-qualify-afc-cup . live .
  7. Web site: 'ചരിത്രമെഴുതി മഞ്ഞപ്പട'; 'ഏഷ്യയില്‍' അഞ്ചാം സ്ഥാനവുമായി കേരളാ ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്‌സ് . 2023-02-08 . News18 Malayalam . ml . 2023-02-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208160346/https://malayalam.news18.com/news/sports/kerala-blasters-become-fifth-asian-club-with-the-biggest-social-media-following-50113.html . live .
  8. Web site: 2022-03-04 . The Travancore Royals Football Club Is Amplifying Women's Presence In The Field Of Sports Through Their Women's Day Campaign . 2023-02-01 . PinkLungi . en-US . 2023-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201194255/https://pinklungi.com/the-travancore-royals-football-club-is-amplifying-womens-presence-in-the-field-of-sports-through-their-womens-day-campaign/ . live .
  9. Web site: 2016-01-24 . Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho arrives in Kerala . 2023-04-08 . sportstar.thehindu.com . en.
  10. Web site: Throwback: When Diego Maradona visited Kerala Goal.com . 2023-04-08 . www.goal.com . en.
  11. Web site: admin . 2021-05-19 . Roberto Carlos - People Of Kerala Were Like Brazillian Football Fans IFTWC - Indian Football Team For World Cup . 2023-04-08 . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2022-10-30 . ‘Ayurvedic rejuvenation’: Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel explains reason behind visit to India . 2023-04-08 . Hindustan Times . en.
  13. Web site: 2022-05-25 . Fifty years to those memories; Premier Tires Football Club Celebrates Golden Jubilee Sports Deshabhimani . 2023-02-02 . Time News . en-US . 2023-02-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202141134/https://time.news/fifty-years-to-those-memories-premier-tires-football-club-celebrates-golden-jubilee-sports-deshabhimani-2/ . live .
  14. News: Kumar. Ajith. Quartz SC goes on signing spree. 26 September 2012. The Hindu. 26 September 2012. 16 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216010316/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/quartz-sc-goes-on-signing-spree/article3935609.ece. live.
  15. Web site: Major triumphs by football clubs from Kerala . 2023-02-01 . OnManorama . 2023-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201191231/https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/football/2022/03/20/major-triumphs-by-football-clubs-from-kerala.html . live .
  16. Web site: 2021-03-27 . I-League 2020-21: Gokulam Kerala crowned champions . 2023-02-01 . ESPN.com . en.
  17. Web site: Gokulam Kerala beat Mohammedan to the 2021-22 I-League championship Goal.com . 2023-02-01 . www.goal.com . 2023-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201175449/https://www.goal.com/en/news/gokulam-kerala-mohammedan-2021-22-i-league-title/bltfa828b59c07171b9 . live .
  18. Web site: 2013-07-12 . Gone are the glory days . 2023-02-02 . sportstar.thehindu.com . en . 2023-02-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202141131/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/magazine/gone-are-the-glory-days/article29712169.ece . live .
  19. Web site: പ്രീമിയർ ടയേഴ്സ് ഫുട്ബോൾ ടീമിന് 50 വയസ്സ് . 2023-02-02 . Mathrubhumi . en . 2023-02-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202141136/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/sports/football/50-years-to-the-premier-tires-football-team-1.7544109 . live .
  20. Web site: Milan Academy Kozhikode . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201192553/https://www.acmilan.com/en/academy/ac-milan-international-academies/milan-academy-kozhikode . 2023-02-01 . 2023-02-01 . AC Milan . en.
  21. Web site: Young Blasters – Kerala Blasters FC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201192548/https://keralablastersfc.in/young-blasters/ . 2023-02-01 . 2023-02-01 . en-US.
  22. Web site: Gokulam Football Foundation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201192556/https://www.gokulamkeralafc.com/gokulam-football-foundation/ . 2023-02-01 . 2023-02-01 . Gokulam Kerala FC . en-US.

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