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Football is more than just a game in India. Throughout the years, there have been several clubs and players who have ruled the heart of football fans in India. Although, Indian football team is yet to achieve greater heights at international level, we have seen immense growth of Indian football in the last few years.
The football clubs in India have played a monumental role in grooming the aspiring players and making them ready for the international level. In the following listicle, we will have a look at the top 10 football clubs in India.
Top 10 Indian football clubs
10. Odisha FC
Based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Odisha FC was founded in 2014. Earlier it was famous with name of Delhi Dynamos FC. The club has featured some of the famous footballers like Amrinder Singh, Narender Gahlot, Amey Ranawade and Carlos Delgado.
9. Hyderabad FC
Hyderabad FC was founded in 2019 making it one of the newest football clubs in India. In these five years, Hyderabad FC has won the Indian Super League once in 2021-22 season. The club has some famous players like Joao Victor, their captain, Gurmeet Singh, Oswaldo Alanis, Chinglensana Singh and Vignesh Dakshinamurthy in their squad.
8. Northeast United FC
Northeast United FC represents eight northeastern states in India: Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Sikkim. Based in Guwahati, Northeast United FC was founded in 2014. Some famous players like Romain Phillippoteaux, the team captain, Dipesh Chauhan, Dinesh Singh, Tondonba Singh and Michel Zabaco are a part of this club.
7. Jamshedpur FC
Based in Jharkhand, Jamshedpur FC was founded in 2017. Also popular with nicknames like Men of Steel and Red Miners, Jamshedpur FC has some famous footballers in their squad such as Alen Stevanovic, Pronay Halder, Rakshit Dagar, Jitendra Singh, Laldinpuia and Ricky Lallawmawma.
6. FC Goa
Founded in 2014, FC Goa is one of the most popular football clubs in India. They are two-time runners-up of the ISL but are yet to win their first title. Players like Brandon Fernandes, Dheeraj Singh, Sanson Pereira, Sandesh Jhingan and Carl McHugh are a part of FC Goa.
5. Kerala Blasters FC
Kerala Blasters FC is another Indian football club founded in 2014. They have finished as the runners-up three times in the ISL but are yet to win their first title. The club consists of popular footballers like Adrian Luna, Karanjit Singh, Sandeep Singh, Hormipam Ruivah and Jeakson Singh.
4. Chennaiyin FC
Chennaiyin FC is one of the most popular football clubs in India with two ISL titles to their name. Founded in 2014, Chennaiyin FC has players like Samik Mitra, Ankit Mukherjee, Ryan Edwards and Ninthoi Meetei.
3. ATK Mohun Bagan
The oldest football club in India, ATK Mohun Bagan was founded in 1889 Mohun Bagan Sporting Club. However, the name was later changed to ARK Mohun Bagan. It is also one of the most successful football clubs in India and had players like Subhasish Bose, Vishal Kaith, Sumit Rathi, Anirudh Thapa and Anwar Ali.
2. Bengaluru FC
One of the most popular football clubs in India, Bengaluru FC was founded in 2013 and won one ISL title in 2018-19 season, while finishing as the runners-up twice. The club has some iconic players like Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Paras Shrivas, Aleksandar Jovanović and Keziah Veendorp.
1. Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City FC is one of the most famous football clubs in India with a huge fanbase. Founded in 2014, Mumbai City FC have one ISL title to their name, which came in the 2020-21 season. Players like Rahul Bheke, Phurba Lachenpa, Valpuia, Mehtab Singh and Vikram Partap Singh boast of their strength.
