Looking back at the five most successful I-League clubs

Dempo SC has won all three I-League titles under the guidance of coach Armando Colaco

The I-League has long been a symbol of Indian football, representing the country's unwavering devotion to the sport. It is the birthplace of some of the most cherished tales of zeal, tenacity, and sports triumph because it is a superb professional football league. Since its inception, the I-League has had a significant impact on how football is seen in India, creating fierce competitiveness, everlasting devotion, and relentless enthusiasm for its celebrated clubs.

In this article, we will look at the top five most successful clubs in the I-League competition, who have been sewing a rich thread of history in the competition and producing fantastic successes. Not only have these teams won several I-League titles, but they have also come to embody the heart and passion of Indian football, setting the benchmark for others to follow.

Let us have a look at the clubs who have won the most I-League titles and are regarded the most successful in the I-League.

Dempo Sports Club (3 Titles)

Dempo Sports Club of Panjim, Goa, has long been considered as an eminent pillar of Indian football. Since its inception in 1968, the club has had a historic history filled with various awards and wins, cementing its reputation as one of the most successful and prominent football clubs within the country. The club's outstanding track record includes many domestic league victories as well as major accomplishments in different national and international events, highlighting its powerful position in the Indian football landscape.

Dempo SC have won the I-League three times which is at present the most won by any club till date. Also one of the notable additions within that is, they have won all three titles under Armando Colaco who is also the only manager to have won three I-Leagues at any club.

Dempo won the I-League in 2007-08, following which they were promoted to the AFC Cup, and in their debut season, Dempo SC became the first Indian club to reach the AFC Cup Semi-Finals in 2008. When Dempo returned after ending the AFC Cup run, they won the 2009-10 and 2011-12 seasons, making them one of the most successful clubs in the I-League.

Mohun Bagan (2 Titles)

Mohun Bagan Athletic Club (now Mohun Bagan Super Giants), founded in 1889 is one of the most successful clubs in the realm of Indian football. Mohun Bagan won their first I-League title in the year 2014 under coach, Sanjoy Sen. After Mohun Bagan were struggling losing out the Federation Cup and other cups that is when Sanjoy Sen came and turned things around and guided the team to win their first ever I-League title.

Mohun Bagan won their second I-League title in 2019 under Kibu Vicuna's coaching. Prior to winning the I-League, the Mariners won the National Football League (NFL) three times, propelling them to top-tier competitions such as the AFC and Indian Super League. The club's trophy count did not end there. Mohun Bagan is one of the most successful clubs in the Indian Super League since being promoted. Under coach Juan Fernando, MBSG also won the Indian Super League title in 2022-23.

Churchill Brothers (2 Titles)

Churchill Brothers, the Goan club which was founded in 1988, has won the I-League twice, Durand Cup five times and the Federation Cup once. The squad presently competes in the I-League and was ranked ninth until the 2019–20 campaign was halted. After that season, the team is yet to find their deserving results in the I-League because since the start of I-League, Chruchill Brothers had been one of the successful teams in the long run.

When Zoran Dordevic was their coach in 2008, Churchill Brothers won their first I-League title. Later, during the 2012–13 season, they won their second I-League title with Mariano Dias as their coach. Between these times, the team finished second three times in the I-League, in the league seasons of 2007; 2009; and 2020.

In addition to the I-League, Churchill has also finished as runners up thrice in the National Football League (NFL) in 1996, 1999, and 2010 consecutively, putting the team on the list of one of the most thriving and developing clubs in Indian football.

Bengaluru FC (2 Titles)

Bengaluru FC since its inception in 2013, is the fourth-most successful club in Indian football. It was a remarkable accomplishment for a team so young to win the I-league in their very first season and then build on that success by winning cup events as well. The club has undoubtedly acquired a winning mindset as a result of their early habit of collecting trophies.

In total Bengaluru FC have won the I-League twice under Ashley Westwood in the year 2013 and another one in the 2015-16 I-League campaign. In between 2013 and 2015 the club might have not won the title but finished the 2014 campaign as the I-League runners up.

The club has also participated and won other major trophies like the Durand Cup and also won the Indian Super League trophy in 2018 under coach, Carles Cuadrat who is now the present coach of East Bengal FC. Since then, Bengaluru FC is the only team to have won six trophies after 2013, making it one of the most successful clubs in Indian football.

Gokulam Kerala FC (2 Titles)

Kozhikode, Kerala's Gokulam Kerala Football Club was established in 2017 and they competes in the I-League, the Indian football league system's second tier. In 2020–21, they became the first Kerala club to win the I–League, and in 2021–22, they were the first to successfully defend their title. Additionally, Gokulam is the first and only club in the state of Kerala till date who have earn a spot in the AFC Cup in 2022.

Since the club's foundation, Gokulam Kerala has won the I-League twice in successive years, in 2021 and 2022, under coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese. This was their greatest record in the I-League thus far, and as a result, the team garnered a lot of popularity among the other I-League clubs. Gokulam Kerala is a club that introduces modern playing styles and is thus one of the successful growing teams in the realm of Indian football.