Football in Kolkata explained

Football is one of the most popular sports in Kolkata, West Bengal.[1] [2] East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan are the heart of Kolkata football. The rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, originating from the Calcutta Football League as the Kolkata derby, is one of the fiercest in the world and considered among the flagship events in the Indian footballing calendar.[3] Kolkata is known to be the Mecca of Indian football,[4] [5] with the two most supported teams in the country being based within the city – Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.[6] [7] The city is also home to the biggest football stadium in India, the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, which as of 2015 has a capacity of 85,000. The record attendance of 131,781[8] came in a match between the said two teams in the semifinal of the 1997 Federation Cup.

Notable footballers who have visited Kolkata

Because it is often called India's football capital, many international footballing personalities have visited Kolkata. In 1977, Mohun Bagan played a friendly match against the famous North American Soccer League club New York Cosmos, which featured Pelé. The match, which took place at Eden Gardens, had an attendance of 80,000. The match ended 2–2. Others who have visited Kolkata are Argentinean footballing legend Diego Maradona and current star Lionel Messi. Lionel Messi made his captaincy debut for his national side in Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on 2 September 2011 against Venezuela. German legends, including Franz Beckenbauer and Oliver Kahn, have also visited. The best goalkeeper in football history, Russian Lev Yashin, visited in 1955 and 1973. English World Cup–winning legend Bobby Moore was the chief guest during the 1984 Nehru Cup. Emeka Ezuego, the Nigerian World Cup player, played for East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting. Majid Bishkar, the Iranian World Cup player, played for East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting from 1980 to 1986. Cameroon footballing legend Roger Milla played for Diamond Club in some exhibition matches in the Centenary Celebration of Mohun Bagan. Uruguay football captain Diego Forlan visited Kolkata in 2010. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge visited in 2010. Julian Caminho visited Kolkata twice—first in 1988 to play for East Bengal and again in 2011. MacDonald Mukansi played for East Bengal in 2007.

Others who have also visited are Terry Paine, Carlos Alberto Torres, Enzo Francescoli, Valencia Ramos, Jorge Burruchaga, Ricardo Gareca, László Kiss, Nicky Butt, Włodzimierz Smolarek, Andrzej Buncol, Eusébio, Ronald Koeman, Paul Breitner, and Swansea City's Neil Taylor.

In July 2023, Argentine World Cup and World Cup Golden Gloves winner Emiliano Martinez also visited the city of Joy, courtesy to Satadru Dutta's initiative. He was grandly welcomed by the citizens and Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.

Footballers from West Bengal

The state of West Bengal has contributed many legends to Indian football, such as:

International football

Arjuna award winners

West Bengal football team

See main article: West Bengal football team.

The West Bengal football team is representing the state of West Bengal in the Santosh Trophy.

They have appeared in the Santosh Trophy finals 43 times, and have won the trophy 32 times, (the most by any team). Prior to 1972, the team competed only as Bengal.

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Football - the passion play in Kolkata. https://web.archive.org/web/20120111155154/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/football--the-passion-play-in-kolkata/211371-55.html. dead. 11 January 2012. IBN Live. 11 August 2014.
  2. Web site: Indian Link — The City of Wonders . 2010 . Sandip . Hor . indianlink.com.au . 28 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130404061736/http://www.indianlink.com.au/travel/the-city-of-wonders/ . 4 April 2013 . dead . dmy-all .
  3. Web site: How football kicked off in India As with the English language, when the British transported the sport to India, they didn't expect the 'natives' to beat them at it. lifestyle.livemint.com. Livemint Delhi. 8 June 2018. 27 January 2022. Manu S. Pillai. Delhi, India. https://web.archive.org/web/20220714153151/https://lifestyle.livemint.com/news/talking-point/how-football-kicked-off-in-india-111645287939737.html. 14 July 2022.
  4. Web site: Durand Cup: 'জান জান মহামেডান', ফুটবল মক্কা চাইছে রেশমি কাবাবের সৌরভ. ekolkata24.com. 2 October 2021. 2 March 2022. bn. https://web.archive.org/web/20220302125336/https://ekolkata24.com/sports-news/durand-cup-final-between-mohammedan-sporting-versus-fc-goa/?amp=1. 2 March 2022.
  5. Book: Majumdar, Boria, Bandyopadhyay, Kausik . 1 February 2006 . Goalless: The Story of a Unique Footballing Nation . . . 9780670058747 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220408140616/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Goalless_the_Story_of_a_Unique_Footballi.html?id=i55oAAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y . 8 April 2022.
  6. Web site: Mohun Bagan VS SC East Bengal. https://web.archive.org/web/20130801091940/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/rivalries/newsid=1414458/index.html. dead. 1 August 2013. FIFA. 11 August 2014.
  7. Web site: Kolkata. Indranil. Banerjie. 15 May 1985. Money, violence and politics enter Calcutta football. India Today. 1 April 2023. 1 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230401133317/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/19850515-money-violence-and-politics-enter-calcutta-football-770046-2013-12-09.
  8. Web site: The Deadly Derby Awaits – Please Fasten Your Seat Belts. www.goal.com. en. 2018-06-02. 20 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140720144403/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2011/11/19/2762641/mohun-bagan-vs-east-bengal-the-deadly-derby-awaits-please-fasten-. live.