Top 10 Football Clubs in India: ISL, I-League and Historical Teams
The roar of the Salt Lake Stadium during a derby? Nothing quite like it. If you have stood in those stands, felt the concrete vibrate under the collective weight of a hundred thousand screaming fans, you understand.
Football in India operates on a different frequency. It is raw, chaotic, and deeply emotional. To the fans, this organisation operates less like a sports team and more like a religion.
Identifying the best football club in India is a tricky business. Do you measure it by silverware? Fan loyalty? Or simply the ability to survive a century of turmoil?
Let’s take a walk through the annals of Indian football history. From the colonial-era giants of Kolkata to the corporate-backed powerhouses of the modern Indian Super League (ISL), here are the clubs that define the game on the subcontinent.
1. Mohun Bagan Super Giant
- Founded: 15 August, 1889
- League: Indian Super League, AFC Champions League Two, I-League
- Stadium: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata
The National Club of India. When Mohun Bagan defeated the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1911 to win the IFA Shield, they didn’t win a trophy; they sparked a nationalist movement. This club carries the weight of history on its shoulders.
They are the oldest football club in India currently in operation (Calcutta FC is older but less active in the top tier). Today, flush with investment and star power, they dominate the ISL, yet the spirit remains unchanged. The maroon and green jersey commands respect everywhere it goes.
2. East Bengal FC
- Founded: 1 August, 1920
- League: Indian Super League (ISL), National Football League
- Stadium: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata
You cannot mention Mohun Bagan without East Bengal. The yin to their yang. Born from the emotion of struggle and migration, the “Red and Gold” brigade represents a fierce, undying resilience. Their Torch symbolises a flame that refuses to flicker out. While recent years saw them struggle to adapt to the ISL ecosystem initially, their fanbase is one of the most vociferous in Asia. A derby day against Bagan? It stops the city of Kolkata cold.
3. Mohammedan SC
- Founded: 22 February, 1891
- League: Indian Super League (ISL)
- Stadium: Kishore Bharati Krirangan/Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
The third giant. For decades, the “Big Three” of Kolkata ruled the roost, and Mohammedan SC was the artist among fighters. They were the first Indian club to win the Calcutta Football League continuously in the 1930s. After years in the wilderness of the second division, the Black Panthers have clawed their way back to the top tier (ISL) for the 2024-25 season. Their return restores a balance to the cosmos of Kolkata football.
4. Bengaluru FC
- Founded: 20 July, 2013
- League: Indian Super League (ISL)
- Stadium: Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
Before 2013, Indian clubs ran on passion and patronage. Bengaluru FC arrived and ran on professionalism. They changed the blueprint. Two I-League titles and an ISL trophy in their first few years? Unheard of. The “West Block Blues” created a European-style fan culture, chanting for 90 minutes, win or lose. They proved that a new club could build a legacy without a hundred years of history.
5. Kerala Blasters FC
- Founded: 27 May, 2014
- League: Indian Super League (ISL)
- Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi
Have you seen the Yellow Sea? The Manjappada (Yellow Army) brings an atmosphere that rivals Dortmund or Liverpool. In a state where football is life, the Blasters are the heartbeat. They have reached the ISL finals multiple times only to face heartbreak, yet the stadium fills up every single time. It is a testament to the sheer love Kerala has for the beautiful game. They haven’t won the big one yet, but they have won the streets.
Halftime: From the Stands to the Turf
Watching Sunil Chhetri or Lallianzuala Chhangte tear up the wing inspires you, right? It makes you want to lace up your boots. But where do you go?
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6. Mumbai City FC
- Founded: 30 August, 2014
- League: Indian Super League (ISL)
- Stadium: Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai
Part of the City Football Group (yes, the Manchester City owners), this club brings tactical superiority and heavy investment to the table. They play a brand of possession-based football that is pleasing to the eye and devastating to opponents. Two ISL Shields and Cups later, they have established themselves as the modern gold standard. The “Islanders” might play in a smaller arena, but their game is massive.
7. FC Goa
- Founded: 26 August, 2014
- League: Indian Super League (ISL)
- Stadium: Fatorda Stadium, Margao
Goa and football are inseparable. The Gaurs represent the flair, the “susegad” lifestyle mixed with Brazilian-style creativity on the pitch. They were the first Indian club to qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage. While the trophies have been elusive in recent seasons, their consistency in reaching the playoffs is unmatched. They play to entertain, and the drums at Fatorda never stop beating.
8. Chennaiyin FC
- Founded: August 28, 2014
- League: Indian Super League (ISL)
- Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
The “Marina Machans” are the comeback kings. Two-time ISL champions, they have a knack for turning impossible seasons into trophy runs. They are gritty, tenacious, and known for finding diamonds in the rough. Chennai might be a cricket crazy city, but when the boys in blue take the field, the noise level is deafening.
9. Aizawl FC
- Founded: June 14, 1984
- League: I-League
- Stadium: Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl
In 2017, this modest club from Mizoram did the unthinkable: they beat the rich heavyweights to win the I-League title. It was a victory for the hills, for the Northeast. They rely heavily on local talent, churning out pacy wingers and tireless midfielders who eventually move on to bigger football clubs in India.
10. Churchill Brothers FC Goa
- Founded: 1988
- League: I-League, Goa Football League, IFA Shield
- Stadium: Tilak Maidan, Vasco
Before the ISL glitz, there was the National Football League, and the Churchill Brothers were the team to beat. Owned by a political family in Goa, they have won the I-League twice and the Durand Cup three times. They represent the “Old Goa”. They are still fighting in the I-League, reminding everyone of their pedigree.
Training to be the Best
You look at these top football clubs in India and wonder, what separates the pros from the Sunday league warriors? It is not talent. It is conditioning.
Modern Indian football has changed for good. It requires elite-level fitness.
Football stamina training Pros don’t run laps endlessly. They use interval training mimicking the stop-start nature of a match. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on the turf improves your VO2 max, allowing you to sprint for that loose ball in the 90th minute while your opponent is gasping for air.
Top mental conditioning techniques. The pressure in a Kolkata derby is suffocating. How do players cope? Visualisation. Before the game, elite players visualize every pass, every tackle, and every scenario. They practice mindfulness to stay present, ignoring the screaming fans to focus on the ball. If you want to elevate your game, train your mind as hard as your legs.
What’s Your Next Move?
The history of Indian football is being written right now, and the landscape changes every season. Which of these clubs captures your imagination?
FAQs
Which Indian football club has won the most trophies?
Mohun Bagan Super Giant is the most successful club in the country, with over 250 titles. It includes multiple National League championships, Federation Cups, and the legendary 1911 IFA Shield victory.
What is the oldest football tournament in Asia?
The Durand Cup from 1888 holds the title of Asia’s oldest existing football tournament and the fifth oldest in the world.
What is the difference between ISL and I-League?
The Indian Super League (ISL) is the top-tier premier competition in the national hierarchy. The I-League operates as the second division, with its champions earning promotion to the ISL since the 2023-24 season.
How do Indian clubs qualify for AFC competitions?
The ISL League Shield winners qualify directly for the AFC Champions League Two group stage. Meanwhile, the winners of the Kalinga Super Cup secure a spot in the AFC Challenge League qualifiers.
When does the Indian football season usually begin?
The domestic calendar normally kicks off in July or August with the Durand Cup. The major leagues generally run from late September through April of the following year.
