Bengaluru Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Bangalore, Karnataka. The club participates in the I-League, India's top-tier football league. It is one of the two direct-entry clubs in the I-League (along with the Mumbai Tigers) who were accepted automatically into the league through payment instead of being promoted from the I-League 2nd Division.[1] The team is currently owned by Mumbai-based company, JSW Group and its managing director is Sajjan Jindal.[1]
History
Inception
Around the beginning of January 2013, word managed to get out that the Mumbai Tigers (then Dodsal FC) had failed to register on time for the upcoming 2013 I-League 2nd Division campaign and that they could instead get direct-entry into the I-League, India's top-tier football league, through a cash payment to the All India Football Federation, the main football association for the sport in India, and a promise to create a stadium within Mumbai, Maharashtra by 2017.[2] Later that month on 12 January it was announced that the All India Football Federation had called for an executive meeting on the 15th to discuss the proposal of handing select companies direct-spots into the 2013β14 I-League.[3] This news came following the uncertainly over the participation of institutional clubs, Air India FC and ONGC and the temporarily banned side Mohun Bagan for the 2013β14 season.[3]
On 15 January 2013 it was officially announced that during the AIFF meeting that, in an effort to make the league more "pan-Indian", the federation would be accepting bids from corporate groups for two new direct-entry clubs for the 2013β14 season.[4] The bidding companies would have to guarantee a team that would play outside both Kolkata and Goa and that would also commit to building-up new infrastructure.[4] The winning bids would be announced in March and they will also be replacements for the institutional clubs Air India and ONGC.[4]
On 8 March 2013 it was reported that the JSW Group were interested in bidding for an automatic place in the I-League after contemplating whether to create one in the past in Bangalore.[5] It was also reported that AR Khaleel, a senior official with the AIFF, had suggested that Bangalore could be a host venue for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, if India wins the hosting rights, and that the corporate team could help build up infrastructure and create a world-class stadium by 2017 in the city.[5] On 15 May 2013 it was announced that the All India Football Federation had officially received three-bids for the two direct-entry spots.[6] The bids came from JSW Group, Dodsal Group, and a consortium from Kerala.[6]
Finally, on 28 May 2013, it was officially announced that JSW Group had won the franchise rights to the direct-club in Bangalore and that it would be spearheaded by the companies sports branch, JSW Sports.[7] The team would play all home games in Bangalore while setting up a youth academy there. They would also try to make better football infrastructure for the city.[7] Then on 20 July 2013, almost two months after winning the bid for a team, JSW launched the team officially as Bengaluru Football Club by throwing a mega-electric event at the Bangalore Football Stadium, which would be announced as the home for Bengaluru FC during the season.[1] Along with the club name and stadium, the club crest and colours were also unveiled as well as the team's home kit for the season and the squad.[1]
Ashley Westwood Era (2013β)
As soon as JSW won the rights to a direct-entry side they went straight into the market for players with one of their first being Thoi Singh who last played for Mumbai Tigers in the I-League 2nd Division.[8] Then on 2 July 2013 it was announced that JSW had signed former Manchester United youth player and former Blackburn Rovers assistant manager Ashley Westwood as the clubs very first head coach ever.[9] The club then made more headlines on 16 July 2013 when it was announced that the side had completed the signings of former Premier League defender John Johnson and former Football League Two defender Curtis Osano as two of its foreign players.[10] Three days later it was confirmed that JSW had signed current India national football team captain and former Major League Soccer player Sunil Chhetri after he was released from Sporting Portugal B, thus further strengthening the side.[11]
Bengaluru then played their first ever match in a friendly against the India national football team on 25 August 2013 in the country's preparation for the 2013 SAFF Championship in which Bengaluru drew 1β1 with Johnny Menyongar scoring the first goal of the match before India equalized through Lenny Rodrigues.[12] The club then played their first ever official match in the I-League on 22 September 2013 against Mohun Bagan A.C. at the Bangalore Football Stadium.[13] After a scoreless first-half Bengaluru scored their first ever official goal in the 49th minute to take the lead through Sean Rooney.[13] However, in injury-time, Mohun Bagan managed to draw a goal back through Chinadorai Sabeeth and thus the match ended in a 1β1 stalemate.[13] The club then won their first ever match in the I-League in their very next match against Rangdajied United F.C. at the Bangalore Football Stadium on 29 September 2013 in which goals from John Johnson, Sean Rooney, and Sunil Chhetri saw the team win the match 3β0 in front of their home fans.[14]
Bengaluru FC then played their very first away match ever on 26 October 2013 against East Bengal F.C. at the Kalyani Stadium.[15] Unfortunetly that match would also turn out to be the very first match that Bengaluru FC would lose in, after they fell 2β0 from a goal by James Moga and an own-goal from Robin Singh.[15] The club would then eventually win their first away match in club history on 26 November 2013 against Salgaocar F.C. at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa, Goa.[16] Goals from Johnny Menyongar and Beikhokhei Beingaichho lead Bengaluru FC to a historic 2β1 victory.[16] Before the mid-season break, the club then won the home game against Salgaocar 2-1 and led the table going into the break.[17]
On 29 August 2013 the groups for the 2013β14 Indian Federation Cup were announced by the All India Football Federation.[18] Bengaluru FC were placed in Group B along with East Bengal, Rangdajied United, and Sporting Goa.[18] Bengaluru FC began their campaign on a positive note by defeating Sporting Goa 5β3, but had to settle for a 1β1 draw against Rangdajied United. Requiring a win in their last match, Bengaluru FC were defeated by East Bengal 0β2 in the last group game and thus were eliminated from the tournament.
Colours and badge
Unveiled during the 21 July JSW launch, the crest features the Bangalore Palace coloured in white in order to symbolize "victory" from when the Wodeyars won the palace back.[19] The pride, resilience, and pride of the people of Bangalore is represented by a picture of a blue Gandaberunda - a mythical two headed bird that is said to possess magical might - in the middle of the crest.[19] The use of the Gandaberunda is from the coat of arms for the state of Karnataka and is the symbol of the state.[19]
Stadium
Bengaluru FC plays all its matches at the Bangalore Football Stadium which is located at the heart of the city. The West stand is the largest and can accommodate maximum number of people. The West stand also houses the VIP boxes during I-League and other major matches. During the launch of the club it was announced that the team would play at the Bangalore Football Stadium for the 2013β14 I-League season.[1] The Bangalore Football Stadium is a 15,000 capacity football stadium which uses astroturf.[20]
Players
- As of 13 December 2013.[21]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Current technical staff
- As of January 2014. [22]
Position |
Name |
Head Coach |
Ashley Westwood |
Assistant Coach |
Pradyum Reddy |
Goalkeeping Coach |
Ali Uzunhasanoglu |
Performance Coach |
Malcolm Purchase |
Head of Youth Development |
Richard Hood |
Head Coach's Record
- As of 22 December 2013
See also
Footnotes
External links
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