Football in Kerala

Football is one of the most popular sports in Kerala.[1] Football 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]

Manjappada displaying a tifo and banners during a Kerala Blasters' match at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi)
Kozhikode Corporation EMS Stadium

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 has 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 league tournament and Kerala State Club Football Championship is the official state-level knockout tournament in Kerala, 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.

Clubs

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

Club Home town Founded Best form
R B Ferguson Club Thrissur 1899
Cannanore Spirited Youth's Club Kannur 1941
Hindu-Muslim-Christian Club (HMC Club) Thiru-Kochi 1945
Kerala football team State football team 1948
Kozhikode Young Challengers Kozhikode 1940s
Gymkhana Kannur, Brothers Club Kannur, Lucky Star FC Kannur, Seesa Club Kannur Kannur
Traders Club, Flying Arrows Kochi
Young Challengers Alappuzha, Rovers Club, Police Club Alappuzha, Town Club Alappuzha Alappuzha
Ever Green Sports Club Tirur, Moidu Rubber Estate team Malappuram 1950s
Eagles FC Kochi 1955
Alind Kundara Kundara
Premier Tyres football team Kochi 1971[13]
Keltron FC Kannur
FACT FC Kochi
KSEB FC Thiruvananthapuram
Travancore Titanium FC Thiruvananthapuram 1973
Kerala United FC Formally Calicut Quartz FC,[14] Kozhikode 1976
Kerala Police football team Thiruvananthapuram 1984
SBI Kerala FC Thiruvananthapuram 1986
FC Kochin Kochi 1997
Chandni FC Kozhikode 2000
Viva Kerala Football Club Kozhikode, Kochi 2004
Malabar United FC Kozhikode 2007
Josco FC Kochi 2007
Kovalam Football Club Thiruvananthapuram 2009
Golden Threads FC Kochi 2010
FC Kerala Thrissur 2014
Kerala Blasters FC Kochi 2014
Gokulam Kerala FC Kozhikode 2017
Travancore Royals FC Thiruvananthapuram 2018

Stadiums
Stadium Capacity
Calicut Corporation EMS Stadium, Kozhikode 100,000
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi)
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 FC 6 2000/01, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2008, 2015, 2016 5
FC Kochin 2 1998/99, 1999/00 -
KSEB 2 2004/05, 2017 3
Gokulam Kerala 2 2018, 2020/21 -
Viva Kerala 1 2005/06 -
Eagles FC 1 2014 -
Indian Navy 1 2018/19 -
Kerala Blasters FC Reserves 1 2019/20 -
Golden Threads 1 2021/22 -
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

Football academies
  • Milan Academy Kozhikode[20]
  • KBFC Young Blasters[21]
  • Gokulam Football Foundation[22]
  • Prathibha Football Club, Trivandrum
  • Kovalam Football Club
  • Valiyathura Football Academy
  • KMHS Mevalloor, Kottayam
  • Association of Promotion of Football Talents, Palakkad
  • Beypore Football Academy, Kozhikode
  • G.H.S.S, Nadakkavu, Kozhikkode
  • Jawahar Sports & Arts Club, Mavoor, Kozhikkode
  • V.P Sathyan Socker School, Kozhikode
  • G.H.S.S, Udinoor Trikkarippur, Kasaragod

References
  1. Kumar, PK Ajith (2022-12-22). "Following the football World Cup craze in Kerala". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  2. "How Kerala shrunk football to make it its own | Football News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  3. Kumar, Laxmi Mohan (2022-11-10). "Football Fever: Recollecting Kerala's Craze For The Sport Amidst Cut-Out Wars & World Cup Debates". thelogicalindian.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  4. "Kerala's passion for football and its links to anti-imperialism". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  5. PTI (2022-05-14). "Gokulam Kerala become first team to defend title in I-League era, beating Mohammedan SC 2-1". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  6. Dey, Sayak Dipta. "Gokulam Kerala FC win I-League, qualify for AFC Cup". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  7. "'ചരിത്രമെഴുതി മഞ്ഞപ്പട'; 'ഏഷ്യയില്‍' അഞ്ചാം സ്ഥാനവുമായി കേരളാ ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്‌സ്". News18 Malayalam (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  8. "The Travancore Royals Football Club Is Amplifying Women's Presence In The Field Of Sports Through Their Women's Day Campaign". PinkLungi. 2022-03-04. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  9. "Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho arrives in Kerala". sportstar.thehindu.com. 2016-01-24. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  10. "Throwback: When Diego Maradona visited Kerala | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  11. admin (2021-05-19). "Roberto Carlos - People Of Kerala Were Like Brazillian Football Fans | IFTWC - Indian Football Team For World Cup". Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  12. "'Ayurvedic rejuvenation': Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel explains reason behind visit to India". Hindustan Times. 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  13. "Fifty years to those memories; Premier Tires Football Club Celebrates Golden Jubilee | Sports | Deshabhimani". Time News. 2022-05-25. Archived from the original on 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  14. Kumar, Ajith (26 September 2012). "Quartz SC goes on signing spree". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  15. "Major triumphs by football clubs from Kerala". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  16. "I-League 2020-21: Gokulam Kerala crowned champions". ESPN.com. 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  17. "Gokulam Kerala beat Mohammedan to the 2021-22 I-League championship | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  18. "Gone are the glory days". sportstar.thehindu.com. 2013-07-12. Archived from the original on 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  19. "പ്രീമിയർ ടയേഴ്സ് ഫുട്ബോൾ ടീമിന് 50 വയസ്സ്". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  20. "Milan Academy Kozhikode". AC Milan. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  21. "Young Blasters – Kerala Blasters FC". Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  22. "Gokulam Football Foundation". Gokulam Kerala FC. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
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