What led Diamond Harbour FC to their IFL 2025-26 Championship glory?

The Bengal outfit is now set to eye the next ISL

Diamond Harbour FC successfully clinched their ISL promotion by winning the Indian Football League 2025-26 season’s title with a dominant approach. They secured back-to-back three promotions as I-League 3, I-League 2, and now it’s time for the IFL. The Bengal outfit is now ready to shine at the biggest stage of Indian football from the next season.

From Bengal, Diamond Harbour FC is the fourth side to represent itself in the ISL. After Mohammedan SC was relegated this season, after they didn’t make it from the last spot to a safe zone, DHFC will be the newest addition in the ISL journey next season.

Despite the last game loss against Shillong Lajong FC, the team was something very different from others in the league with their sheer control and attacking mindset. Under the guidance of an experienced coach like Kibu Vicuna, they scored the most goals this season. Along with this, many factors explain how the team like Diamond Harbour FC clinched this in their maiden season.

Khel Now is back with another detailed analysis about how DHFC pulled off this task.

5. Consistency throughout this season

The most important thing and aspect for any side to win a league title is their consistency. Football pundits say that ” League is not a race, it’s a marathon”, and in this avatar of marathon consistency is the most important part, which led Diamond Harbour to the Championship glory. The whole season, the players played with all the passion they could, every game, the heat and stakes of the game rose up, but they always delivered.

Their ability to stay focused this season was very good. In this season, they played 14 games, where they lost just three of them, which indicates the composure of their side throughout this season with their brand of football.

4. A very balanced and proven side

For any team to win the league, the squad is the thing that most vital point to look into. Diamond Harbour’s squad is very promising with their depth and a balanced side. With players like Luca Majcen, who was a proven ISL player from Punjab FC.

When he joined their side, it was an instant speed up for their squad as Luca brought years of experience from different leagues he has played. With him, Dheeraj Singh, the goalkeeper for them, is one of the standout players who has the potential to be the best. He played for Mohun Bagan, FC Goa, and Kerala Blasters FC.

With the last line of DHFC’s defence players who have impressed the most in the backline are Ajith, Robilal Mandi, Melroy Asisi and the Spanish bruiser Mikel Kortazar.

In their midfield area, the partnership of Antonio Moyano and Hugo Diaz was something very different and attacking. And in the forward line, Sunday Afolabi and the experience of Joby Justin and Halicharan Narzary made them the IFL champions.

3. Partnership between Antonio Moyano and Hugo Diaz

These two foreign recruitments for Diamond Harbour FC were the best and standout thing all over the season. For any team that can knock the opponent’s door down in the defence, that must have a midfield pairing like an engine. And these two were the success mantra for Kibu Vicuna.

The partnership between Antonio Moyano and Hugo Diaz was the vital key for DHFC head coach Kibu Vicuna, as it’s the mantra of their success in the midfield area. From controlling the game to creating chances, they have done multiple times simultaneously for the team. Hugo Diaz scored around 8 goals in this season, which defines their attacking side of the game.

2. Dominant attacking from both ends

In this season, they scored around 53 goals, which is by far the most by any team. Ruthless attacking style of play by the Diamond Harbour FC players. With the start of the game as a 4-3-3 formation with a compact shape, they find themselves in a 3-man defence with Melroy Asisi, Mikel Kortazar, and Ajith.

Robilal Mandi, the left back of this side, made those overlapping runs to stretch out the opponent’s defence to create that half space for the forward and attacking midfielders. Not only him, but Girik Khosla, Bryce Mirnada’s explosive pace brought the defence out in the second half when they came as substitutes.

But from the very first, Hugo Diaz played the game quite as a false 9 of a kind with Joby and Halicharan on the flanks, rotating their positional play. Both of them create those spaces for other players, as the Indian Football League showed a modern brand of football by Kibu Vicuna and his team.

They showed and delivered in big moments, and their ability to deliver in the big games made the team very special this season.

1. Kibu Vicuna the Mastermind

From the I-League 3 to ISL, the journey has been really special for Kibu Vicuna, as he is the head coach of the new Indian Football League Champions. His second I-League trophy after he clinched his first one in 2019-2020 with Mohun Bagan. His experience led the Bengal outfit to the championship glory. Under his guidance, they secured the ISL promotion. His style of play and the experience that led them to be the best in the league.

From every setback to comeback, he rewrites history yet another time. Right now, ISL is on the cards for them, and Kibu Vicuna will eye a good start from next season.

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