Which teams have won the most consecutive Durand Cup titles?
NorthEast United FC clinched two consecutive Durand Cup titles
Durand Cup is the most decorated and oldest football competition, which was started in 1888. Many clubs around the globe have come across to test their fate in the oldest tournament, as some of them have made their names who have won the title in a consecutive manner.
As a new Durand Cup season awaits from 25th July, several clubs will be aiming to lift the oldest trophy. But only a few clubs have managed to win the tournament in consecutive seasons.
Mohun Bagan and East Bengal FC have won the Durand Cup consecutively. In recent times, NorthEast United FC has also joined them by winning the title back-to-back in 2024 and 2025.
Before independence, the Highland Light Infantry was one of the clubs that had won the cup in a very dominant way.
Here is a list of the clubs who have won the Durand Cup consecutively.
Highland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry or else widely known as the HLI was a historic light infantry regiment of the British Army formed on July 1st, 1981.
They captured the Durand Cup in simla in 1893-1895. Highland Light Infantry also won the Kent Senior Cup which indicates the powerful performance by then.
In 1893 they beat Argyll Highlanders by 2-1 to lift the title. And year after successfully defended the title back to back two times as they defeated Royal Scots and Somerset Light Infantry.
NorthEast United FC
The Highlanders entered the list very late in the 2020s. As they have won the title in 2024 and 2025.
NorthEast United FC are the defending champions of the Durand Cup as they just managed to beat Diamond Harbour FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant consecutively.
In 2024 they beat Mohun Bagan Super Giant on penalties after the game ended with a scoreline of 2-2. And the last Durand Cup title for the Highlanders remained unmatched for them as they thrashed Kibu Vicuna’s side 6-1.
Asheer Akhtar opened the scoring for NorthEast as Parthib Gogoi, Thoi Singh, Jairo Samperio, Andy Rodriguez and Alaaeddine Ajaraie found themselves in the scoresheet.
They successfully defended their crown in 2025 and became the first ISL club to win the Durand Cup consecutively.
East Bengal FC
East Bengal FC joined the party after Mohun Bagan. They just managed to get a hat-trick of title celebration from 1989-91. The Red and Gold Brigade enjoyed a highly successful period during the late 1980s and early 1990s as they played some good brand of football.
The Red and Gold Brigade are the second most successful side in the Durand history as they won the title 16 times.
In 1989 East Bengal FC won the game against Mohun Bagan on penalties by a scoreline of 3-1 to lift the trophy.
And after the year in 1990 they best Mahindra & Mahindra with a demolishing scoreline of 3-2. A 1-1 draw between East Bengal FC and BSF led the Moshal Brigade to their first ever title hat-trick in the Durand Cup.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Mohun Bagan Super Giant are one of the standout performers in the Durand Cup history as they have managed to secure a hat-trick of titles from 1963-1965.
They have also bagged a hat-trick of titles in 1984-86.
The Mariners are the record 17 time champion who have maintained a benchmark. And also the ones who won three consecutive titles on two seperate occasions.
In 1984 Mohun Bagan beat East Bengal by 1-0 as Subrata Bhattacharya scored the solitary goal for the Green and Marron side as they won their 14th Durand Cup title.
And talking about 1985 and 1986 they have also bagged two back to back titles.
No other clubs in Indian Football history has managed to record two seperate runs of these title defending.
Which club has won the most Durand Cup titles?
The club with the most Durand Cup titles is Mohun Bagan Super Giant, having won the tournament a record 17 times.
Which club is the only team to win two separate Durand Cup hat-tricks?
Mohun Bagan remain the only club in Indian football history to win the Durand Cup in three consecutive seasons on two different occasions.
Have any other Indian clubs won back-to-back Durand Cup hat-tricks?
No. While East Bengal FC won three consecutive titles between 1989 and 1991, no other Indian club has managed two separate streaks of three successive titles.
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Rohit Mistri is a sports journalist from Kolkata with over two years of experience in the field. He has extensively covered Indian football, including major tournaments such as the Calcutta Football League and the Indian Super League. His work spans on-ground reporting, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling, along with interviews of prominent sporting personalities. Rohit brings strong communication skills and a deep passion for sports narratives to everything he writes.