East Bengal F.C.

1920-1930s

On 28 July 1920 Mohun Bagan were scheduled to play Jorabagan in the Coochbehar Cup.^[2] Jorabagan sent out their starting eleven but with the notable exclusion of defender Sailesh Bose who was dropped from the squad for reasons not disclosed.^[2] The vice-president of Jorabagan, Suresh Chandra Chaudhuri, asked for Bose to be included in the line-up but the club coaches did not listen.^[2] Chaudhuri left the club due to this and along with Raja Manmatha Nath Chaudhuri, Ramesh Chandra Sen, and Aurobinda Ghosh, formed East Bengal on 1 August 1920; 98 years ago.^[2]

The club then participated in their first tournament in the same month of their formation in the Hercules Cup which was a 7-a-side tournament.^[2] East Bengal won the tournament. After the tournament the club became affiliated with the Indian Football Association. The club then entered league play in the IFA Second Division.^[2] The club finished in third place in the first season in the Second Division.^[2] East Bengal first ever clashed against Mohun Bagan on 8 August 1921 in Cooch Behar Cup semifinal match which ended in a goalless draw.

In 1924 the club won the Second Division to gain promotion to the IFA First Division after finishing in second place to Cameroons "B".^[2] Due to Cameroons "A" being in the First Division already the "B" team could not gain promotion and thus East Bengal were next in line for promotion.^[2] However more controversy arose after it was found out that the IFA only allowed two Indian based clubs in the IFA First Division (back then the IFA was British organization) and during the governing body meeting the nine British clubs approved of allowing East Bengal. After this the IFA removed the Indian club limit rule.^[2]

1940s–1970s

It took the club till 1942 to win their first IFA First Division title.^[3] Then in 1943 the club won their first IFA Shield. The club then achieved the double in 1945 by winning both the Calcutta Football League and IFA Shield.^[3] The club then went on to win the 1949 Rovers Cup and the Durand Cup in 1951. Within that time the club also won three straight IFA Shields (1949, 1950, 1951).^[3] The club then partook in a tour to the Soviet Union and Romania in 1953, where they were heavily defeated by Soviet side by a margin of 13–1.^[3] Again the club won Rovers Cup several times during this era (1962, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1975) as well as Durand Cup in (1952, 1956, 1960, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1978). The club stunned everyone by winning the 1970 IFA Shield against Pas Club of Iran by 1–0. Later the club gained more respect by winning 1973 IFA Shield against Pyongyang City SC of North Korea^[4] The club then grew their reputation after winning the Calcutta Football League for six straight years from 1970 to 1975.^[4] It is on record, that throughout the '70s decade, East Bengal humiliated their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, many a times, including a massive 5–0 humiliation of Mohun Bagan in the hands of East Bengal. Legends have it, that the Mohun Bagan players escaped from the fury of their fans and spent an entire month, hidden from public view.

1980s–1990s

Then in 1984 Mr. Dipak Das came into the club and revamped it. He brought in professionalism and turned the club into a professionally ran company.^[4] The club won Federation Cup in 1980 and again in 1985. They also became the first Indian club to play in the newly redone Asian Club Championship in 1985–86.^[4] The club then won their first treble in 1990 by winning the IFA Shield, Rovers Cup, and Durand Cup in one season.^[4] The club also won the "Stafford Cup" (1986), "McDowell's Cup" (1995, 1997). In 1993, East Bengal FC won its first ever international title i.e. Wai Wai Cup in Nepal.^[4] The club also won Federation Cup (India), IFA Shield, Calcutta Football League, Durand Cup and Rovers Cup, several times during this period. In 1996 the club became the founding members of the first nationwide football league in India, the National Football League.^[5]

In 1998, "Das" signed with Vijay Mallya's United Breweries Group which then formed a new Private Limited Company called "United East Bengal Football Team Private Limited".^[4] The club also renamed itself as Kingfisher East Bengal FC from then on.^[4]

1990 to 2018

The club then entered the 21st century in style winning the 2000–01 National Football League season.^[6] Then they became the first club to win back to back titles after winning the 2002–03 and 2003–04 versions of the league and coming runners up in 2010–11 and 2011–12 in the I-League.^[6] The club then went on to win the Federation Cup (India) again in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.^[6] They also won the Indian Super Cup in 2006 and 2011.^[6] The club had won another international trophy in 2003, ASEAN Club Championship, in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The club went in the semi-finals of the reputed AFC Cup in 2013 where they lost against Kuwait SC of Kuwait.^[7]

The club has the achievement of winning the Calcutta Football League title 8 consecutive times from 2010 to 2017. (Indian football record).

Recent History

On 5th of July, 2018, Quess Corp Ltd signed an agreement with the East Bengal Club, a premier football club based in Kolkata, leading to the formation of a new entity named "Quess East Bengal FC Pvt. Ltd." (QEBFC)^[8] In a media release, Quess ^[9]said this investment in a 98-year old iconic football club will help it to develop its brand and also contribute to the development of football in the country.

Records

*(Including Friendlies,walkovers & non-competitive matches).

Salt Lake Stadium

The Salt Lake Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal. The stadium is the second largest non-auto racing stadium in the world and the largest in India. It is currently used for mainly football matches. The stadium was built in 1984, has got a capacity of 85,000 people. The stadium has three tiers.^[11] The stadium includes a unique running track, long jump track, electronic scoreboard, natural turf, floodlighting arrangement, air conditioned VIP rest room and Conference Hall along with Medical Room & Doping Control Room.^[11] Other features of the stadium are boxes for TV along with several platforms for TV cameras, press boxes, air conditioned player's changing rooms.

The Salt Lake Stadium

The Salt Lake Stadium hosts the home games of East Bengal in I-League and AFC Cup.

East Bengal Ground

The East Bengal Ground is another stadium in Kolkata, India. This stadium has natural grass turf. This stadium is associated with the club and is actually East Bengal F.C.'s home ground. The stadium lies on the Maidan (Kolkata) area on the northern side of Fort William and near to the Eden Gardens. Other features of the stadium are like floodlights, elevator, commentary box, press box, etc. The club has got air conditioned dressing rooms for players, modern gymnasium, coffee shop and other advanced facilities. This stadium is currently used mostly for football matches of Calcutta Football League and is the home stadium of East Bengal in most of the Calcutta Football League matches. The stadium holds 23,500 people.^[11]

Barasat Stadium

Barasat Stadium is also a stadium used by East Bengal club to play some of its regional matches, especially in cases where the Salt Lake Stadium or East Bengal Ground cannot be used for any reason.

This stadium has artificial grass turf and comes with proper floodlights to support night matches, too.

Kanchenjunga Stadium

Kanchenjunga Stadium, a multipurpose stadium based in Siliguri has been used several times to host football matches for East Bengal Club.

First-team squad

Acosta at the FIFA World Cup 2018.

As of 31 May 2018.^[12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Rakshit Dagar GK Ubaid CK GK Abhra Mondal GK Mirshad Michu DF Johnny Acosta DF Kingshuk Debnath DF Kamalpreet Singh DF Lalramchullova DF Borja Gómez Pérez DF Mehtab Singh Sandhu DF Lalrozama Fanai DF Salam Ranjan Singh DF Samad Ali Mallick DF Koushik Sarkar DF Gurmukh Singh DF Manoj Mohammed DF Rahul Ghosh DF Hira Mandal MF Mahmoud Amnah MF Surabuddin Mollick

No. Position Player MF Kassim Aidara MF Laldanmawia Ralte MF Lalrindika Ralte MF Bidyasagar Singh MF Brandon Vanlalremdika MF Richard Costa MF Ginkaholen Haokip MF Prakash Sarkar MF Sanchayan Samaddar FW Jobi Justin FW Enrique Esqueda FW Bali Gagandeep FW Yami Longvah FW Telem Suranjit Singh FW Tetepuia Lalchanhima FW Sujoy Datta

Under-18 squad

As of 31 May 2018.^[13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Ayan Roy GK Bishal Chakraborty GK Sourav Toppo Amrit Pal Singh Chiranjeet Gogoi Gurmukh Singh Monoj Mohammed Mohamad Esha Rahul Dey Jhantu Prasad Loyangamba Singh Meitalkeishangbam Roger

No. Position Player PC Rohlupuia Mohamad Esha Meitalkeishangbam Clinton T. Suranjit Singh Sourav Mondal S. Bikash Singh Subhonil Ghosh Akash Mukherjee Lalcchanhima Dip Saha Soumen Oraw N. Naresh Singh S.R. Lalruatkima

International

• Wai Wai Cup

Champions (1): 1993

• ASEAN Club Championship

Champions (1): 2003

• San Miguel International Cup

Champions (1): 2004

National

• National Football League (renamed as I-League from 2007)

Champions (3): 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04

• Federation Cup

Champions (8): 1978, 1980, 1985, 1996, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012

• Indian Super Cup

Champions (3): 1997, 2006, 2011

• Calcutta Football League

Champions (39): 1942, 1945, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1961, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

• IFA Shield

Champions (29): 1943, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1958, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975,1976, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2012, 2018

• Durand Cup

Champions (16): 1951, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1967, 1970, 1972,1978, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2004

• Rovers Cup

Champions (10): 1949, 1962, 1967, 1969,1972. 1973, 1975, 1980, 1990, 1994

• D.C.M Trophy

Champions (7): 1950,1952,1957,1960,1973,1974,1983

• Bordoloi Trophy

Champions (5): 1968,1972,1973,1978,1992

• All Airlines Gold Cup

Champions (7): 1987,1988,1990,1992,1995,1998,2001

Trophy Count

Tournament	No. of times Won
International
ASEAN Club Championship	1
Wai Wai Cup 1993	1
San Miguel International Cup 2004	1
Domestic
National Football League (renamed as I-League from 2007)	3
Federation Cup	8
Indian Super Cup	3
Calcutta Football League	39
IFA Shield	29
Durand Cup	16
Rovers Cup	10
Bordoloi Trophy	5
DCM Trophy	7
All Airlines Gold Cup	7
Total	130

Quadruples & Quintuples

Special Achievements

• East Bengal was adjudged to be the best club in Asia by English FA in their Almanac 1951-52.^[15]
• East Bengal was invited by Soviet Union and Romania for Bucharest Football Festival in 1953, after then President of India late Dr. Rajendra Prasad recommended East Bengal as the best club in India.
• East Bengal was the first Indian club after Independence to defeat a foreign opponent to win a Major Trophy
  

East Bengal 1-0 PAS Club of Iran in the 1970 IFA Shield Final at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Parimal Dey scored the winner.

• East Bengal twice won the Calcutta Football League without conceding a single goal: 1972 & 1991
• East Bengal won the 2009 Federation cup without conceeding a single goal.
  
• East Bengal was the first and still the only Indian football team to win any Major Trophy at a Foreign Soil:
  

East Bengal 3-1 BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand, 2003 ASEAN Club Championship, held at Jakarta, Indonesia.

• East Bengal holds the record for the most number of appearances by an Indian football team in AFC competitions: 81 Matches.