Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC
Full name Bengaluru Football Club
Nickname(s) The Blues
Founded 20 July 2013; 1 year ago[1]
Ground Sree Kanteerava Stadium,
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Capacity 24,000
Owner JSW Group
Managing Director Parth Jindal
Manager Ashley Westwood
League I-League
2013–14 I-League, 1st
Website Club home page

Bengaluru Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The club participates in the I-League, India's top-tier football league. It is the first ever club to have won the I-League in its debut season.[1] The team is currently owned by Mumbai-based company, JSW Group and its managing director is Sajjan Jindal.[1]The club's home ground is the 24,000 seater Kanteerava Stadium.

Formed in July 2013, the club has established itself as a premier footballing establishment in the country with a strong community focus, modeled on the lines of the football club structure in England and other European countries. The club has launched various programs for the football loving youth of the city. In April 2014, the club launched the first BFC Soccer School in the city with an aim to capture budding young football talent. Other initiatives include the BFC in the Community program which is mainly a social responsibility program for the club support around the city. The program is currently headed by Richard Hood.

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 2013–14 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 2013–14 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 2013–14 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 Bengaluru.[5] It was also reported that AR Khaleel, a senior official with the AIFF, had suggested that Bengaluru 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 Bengaluru and that it would be spearheaded by the companies sports branch, JSW Sports.[7] The team would play all home games in Bengaluru 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 (2013–)

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 club's 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 1–1 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 1–1 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 3–0 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] Unfortunately that match would also turn out to be the very first match that Bengaluru FC would lose in, after they fell 2–0 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 2–1 victory.[16]

Then, in January 2014, the club participated in their first ever senior domestic cup tournament when they took part in the 2013–14 Indian Federation Cup.[17] The team was placed in Group B along with East Bengal, Rangdajied United, and Sporting Goa. The club's first match of the tournament occurred on 15 January 2014 against Sporting Goa at the Malappuram District Sports Complex Stadium in which the team won the match by a scoreline of 5–3.[18] However, that would turn out to be Bengaluru FC's only victory of the tournament as they would go on to draw and lose their next matches, thus knocking them out.[19]

On 21 April 2014, the club beat Dempo FC 4–2 in a thrilling encounter to claim the I-League and also the club's first trophy.[20]

On 11 January 2015, Bengaluru secured its first Federation Cup by defeating Dempo 2–1 in the final.

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.[21] The pride, resilience, and pride of the people of Bengaluru 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.[21] The use of the Gandaberunda is from the coat of arms for the state of Karnataka and is the symbol of the state.[21] On 24 January 2015, Bengaluru revealed Eddie The Eagle as its official mascot.[22]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2013—2014 None JSW
2014—present Puma

In July 2014, Bengaluru signed a deal with Puma as their official kit sponsors from the 2014–15 season.[23]

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 2013–14 I-League season.[1] The Bangalore Football Stadium is a 15,000 capacity football stadium which uses astroturf.[24] For the 2014–15 season the club will play their matches at the 24,000 capacity Sree Kanteerava Stadium[25]

Players

Sunil Chhetri, the first captain of Bengaluru FC.
As of 12 December 2014[26]

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

No. Position Player
1 India GK Pawan Kumar
2 India DF Nanjangud Shivananju Manju
3 India DF Vishal Kumar
4 Kenya DF Curtis Osano
5 India DF Gurtej Singh
6 England DF John Johnson
7 Australia FW Sean Rooney
8 India MF Malemngamba Meetei
9 India FW Robin Singh
10 England MF Josh Walker
11 India FW Sunil Chhetri (captain)
12 India MF Thoi Singh
13 India DF Rino Anto
14 India MF Eugeneson Lyngdoh
No. Position Player
15 India MF Darren Caldeira
16 India MF Shankar Sampingiraj
17 India FW Karan Sawhney
18 India MF Beikhokhei Beingaichho
19 India MF Siam Hanghal
20 India DF Keegan Pereira
21 India FW Udanta Singh
23 India DF Lalchhuan Mawia
24 India DF Manpreet Singh
25 India GK Soram Anganba
28 India GK Lalthuammawia Ralte
30 India GK Ricardo Cardozo
31 India FW C.K. Vineeth
32 India MF Shilton D'Silva

Current technical staff

Ashley Westwood, the very first head coach of Bengaluru FC.
As of January 2014. [27]
Position Name
Head Coach England Ashley Westwood
Assistant Coach Scotland Pradyum Reddy
Goalkeeping Coach Turkey Ali Uzunhasanoglu
Performance Coach England Malcolm Purchase
Head of Youth Development India Richard Hood
Head Physiotherapist England Stephen Corner


Team Records

Overall records

As of 23 April 2015
Season I-League Top Scorer
P W D L GF GA Pts Position Player Goals
2013–14 24 14 5 5 42 28 47 1st India Sunil Chhetri 14
2014–15 14 7 4 3 24 15 25 3rd

Head Coach's Record

As of 11 January 2015
NameNationalityFromToPWDLGFGAWin%
Ashley Westwood  England 2 July 2013 Present 36 21 9 6 63 41 58.33

Honours

Winners (1): 2013–14
Winners (1): 2014–15

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "JSW Sports launches Bengaluru FC". I-League. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Dodsal FC might get a direct entry in next year's I-League". Kick Off India. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mergulhao, Marcus. "AIFF chief proposes direct entry for teams in I-League". Times of India. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "AIFF lifts ban on Mohun Bagan, let off with Rs 2 crore fine". Times of India. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Babu Cyriac, Biju. "I-League: Jindal Group back in talks". Times of India. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "JSW, two others bid for new I-League clubs". Business Standard. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mazumdar, Rakhi. "JSW bags franchisee rights for Bengaluru team in I-league, group forays into football". Economic Times. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Indian Football Transfer Gossip: Thoi Singh to shift his base from Mumbai Tigers to JSW Bangalore, Malswamtulunga set to join hands with East Bengal". Kick Off India. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "Ashley Westwood appointed JSW coach for upcoming I-League season". NDTV Sports. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "JSW add Premier League touch to squad". I-League. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "India captain Sunil Chhetri signs for I-League new entrants JSW". NDTV Sports. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Bengaluru FC vs Indian national team". bengalurufc.com.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Bengaluru FC hold Mohun Bagan to 1-1 draw". IBN Live. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "Bengaluru FC eases past Rangdajied United". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "East Bengal end Bengaluru's unbeaten run in I-League". NDTV Sports. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Bengaluru FC move to second spot in I-League". Times of India. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  17. ↑ "Federation Cup 2013-14 to kickoff on Jan 14 with 16 teams". Zee News. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "Federation Cup: Bengaluru FC register 5-3 win over Sporting Clube de Goa". NDTV Sport. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "Federation Cup: East Bengal knock out Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan to play Churchill". NDTV Sports. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  20. ↑ "Bengaluru FC edge past Dempo SC 4-2 to win maiden I-League title". CNN-IBN. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "The club crest decoded: Everything BFC stands for". Bengaluru FC (Facebook). Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  22. ↑ "The big signing we told you about has just walked the field - Eddie the eagle! BFC now has a new mascot, people! #BFCvDEM". Twitter. 24 January 2015.
  23. ↑ "Puma is the official kit sponsor of Bengaluru FC". goal.com. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  24. ↑ Ameerudheen, TA. "Turf inauguration put off in Bangalore football stadium". Times of India. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  25. ↑ "Move on Stadium May Hit Football Future". 5 March 2014.
  26. ↑ "Squad". Bengaluru Football Club. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  27. ↑ "Bengaluru FC add experienced foreign flavour to Coaching staff!". 3 January 2014.

External links