ISL 2024-25 Weekly Roundup (December Week 1): Top Performances and Highlights

The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 continues to thrill football fans across the country. The recently concluded Matchweek 11 was full of exciting football and results. From the last week, we see a lot of shifts in the ISL standings, a reflection of how competitive India’s premier football league has been. Let’s look at this week’s highlights, ISL points table, thrilling action as it unfolded, and standout performers.

Six-goal Thriller in Southern Derby Shakes up ISL 2024 Standings

The highlight of last week’s action was the Southern Derby between Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters. Living up to the hype, the match unfolded with a flurry of goals and entertainment. As many as six goals were scored in the game and Bengaluru FC eventually emerged as a winning team. This match reasserted the dominance of Bengaluru FC and shook the ISL 2024 points table. 

Besides, there was plenty of entertainment throughout the week. Five of the six games this week ended with clear winners. Only one match ended in a goalless draw, between Odisha FC and Mumbai City FC.

The likes of FC Goa and Mumbai City FC remain in the hunt with consistent performances, while East Bengal FC shows signs of a return to form this week.

Reltaed The Journey of an Indian Footballer: From Grassroots to ISL

Top Performances and Highlights

  1. Sunil Chhetri’s Hat-Trick: The jewel of Indian football, Sunil Chhetri continues to defy age at 40 years. A dazzling hat-trick for Bengaluru FC in the Southern derby win over Kerala Blasters made him the oldest player in ISL history to score a hat-trick. A reminder of why Sunil Chhetri remains one of Indian football’s greatest superstars.
  2. Bengaluru FC catapult to the top of ISL 2024-25 standings: Under the inspired leadership of Chhetri, Bengaluru FC has climbed to the top of the ISL 2024-25 points table.
  3. Manolo Marquez celebrates the 100th ISL match as coach with a win: FC Goa’s head coach Manolo Marquez celebrated his 100th ISL match with a comprehensive away win against his former club Hyderabad FC. On a winning streak to four games, FC Goa remains one of the ISL frontrunners this season.
  4. East Bengal FC on the charge: East Bengal FC secured back-to-back wins and both with clean sheets to lift themselves to 11th place.
  5. Mohammedan SC set an unwanted record: It is the inaugural ISL season for Mohammedan SC and it has been a rocky ride. Their recent loss to Punjab FC ties them with the 2019-20 Hyderabad FC team for the most losses (7) in the first 10 games of an ISL season.
  6. Mohun Bagan SG rules the roost: Mohun Bagan SG has been dominant from the start of this season. This week, they secured their seventh win of the season against NorthEast United FC. Mohun Bagan SG has solidified its position as a title contender with winning momentum in the Indian Super League 2024.

Related The Role of Football Academies in India’s Talent Pipeline

 ISL 2024 Fixtures and Points Table

Here’s the list of upcoming fixtures of the 2024-25 Indian Super League, from 11 December to 30 December 2024

DateTime
(IST)
StadiumMatch
Wed, 11 Dec19:30Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, ChennaiChennaiyin FC vs Hyderabad FC
Thu, 12 Dec19:30Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, KolkataEast Bengal FC vs Odisha FC
Fri, 13 Dec19:30JRD Tata Sports Complex, JamshedpurJamshedpur FC vs Punjab FC
Sat, 14 Dec17:00Sree Kanteerava Stadium, BengaluruBengaluru FC vs FC Goa
19:30Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, KolkataMohun Bagan SG vs Kerala Blasters FC
Sun, 15 Dec19:30Kishore Bharati Krirangan, KolkataMohammedan SC vs Mumbai City FC
Tue, 17 Dec19:30Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, KolkataEast Bengal FC vs Punjab FC
Fri, 20 Dec19:30Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, GoaFC Goa vs Mohun Bagan SG
Sat, 21 Dec17:00Mumbai Football Arena, MumbaiMumbai City FC vs Chennaiyin FC
19:30Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, KolkataEast Bengal FC vs Jamshedpur FC
Sun, 22 Dec19:30Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, KochiKerala Blasters FC vs Mohammedan SC
Mon, 23 Dec19:30G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium, HyderabadHyderabad FC vs NorthEast United FC
Thu, 26 Dec19:30Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New DelhiPunjab FC vs Mohun Bagan SG
Fri, 27 Dec19:30Kishore Bharati Krirangan, KolkataMohammedan SC vs Odisha FC
Sat, 28 Dec17:00G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium, HyderabadHyderabad FC vs East Bengal FC
19:30Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, ChennaiChennaiyin FC vs Bengaluru FC
Sun, 29 Dec19:30JRD Tata Sports Complex, JamshedpurJamshedpur FC vs Kerala Blasters FC
Mon, 30 Dec19:30Mumbai Football Arena, MumbaiMumbai City FC vs NorthEast United FC

Related Grassroot Football: How It’s Shaping Future Stars

ISL 2024 Points Table

PositionClubPWDLGFGAGDPointsForm
1Mohun Bagan Super Giant10721198+1123W W W D W
2Bengaluru FC117222113+823W L W D L
3Punjab FC9603169+718W W L L W
4FC Goa105321913+618W W W W D
5Odisha FC114432316+716D W W D L
6NorthEast United FC114342118+315L L W D W
7Jamshedpur FC95041420-615W L L L W
8Mumbai City FC103521313014D W L D W
9Chennaiyin FC113351618-212L L L D W
10Kerala Blasters FC113261721-411L L W L L
11East Bengal FC9216712-57W W D L L
12Hyderabad FC10217719-127L L L W L
13Mohammedan SC10127518-135L L L D L

Golden Boot Standings

RankPlayerClubGoals Scored
1A. AjaraieNorthEast United FC11
2A. SadikuMumbai City FC8
2S. ChhetriBengaluru FC8
2Jesús JiménezFC Goa8
5Diego MaurícioOdisha FC7

Golden Glove Standings

RankPlayerClubClean Sheets
1V. KaithMohun Bagan Super Giant6
2G. Singh SandhuBengaluru FC5
3H. TiwariOdisha FC3
3P. GillKerala Blasters FC3
3P. LachenpaMumbai City FC3

What to Expect in the coming weeks?

Indian Super League continues to enthrall football fans. At the mid-way stage, there is still a lot to play for and every game is crucial in the race for the playoffs.

Stay tuned to follow the action live on ISL 2024 fixtures, updates, and ISL points table with us as the action unfolds.

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ISL 2024 Mid-Season Review: Who’s Leading the League?

The Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season has been nothing short of entertainment thus far. At mid-season, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Bengaluru FC lead the standings with 17 points each.

To the surprise of many, new teams NorthEast United FC and Punjab FC are among others who have put in some memorable performances and are challenging the table toppers.

We are in for a treat in the second half of the league season as there remains a fierce battle to seal semi-final and playoff spots.

At the end of the league, the top two teams will qualify for the semi-finals while those finishing between 3rd and 6th will vie for the other two semi-finalists spots in playoffs.

How each ISL team has fared so far?

Bengaluru FC:  The Blues are one of the title contenders at this juncture. Sunil Chhetri is delivering once again.

Punjab FC: The Shers have been a revelation with local talents Leon Augustine and Nihal Sudeesh putting on impressive performances.

Jamshedpur FC: A promising ISL season so far with incredible resilience and comebacks.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant: Dimitri Petratos has hit form but there is a concern about consistency.

FC Goa: The top line looks good but the defense needs to do better to get results consistently.

NorthEast United FC: Alaeddine Ajaraie has been a star but the defense is struggling.

Kerala Blasters FC: Not at their best but Noah Sadaoui’s form gives them a glimmer of hope.

Chennaiyin FC: Lacking creativity and as a result, there is a goal drought. Farukh Choudhary has hit form of late.

Odisha FC: Hugo Boumous and Diego Mauricio have been brilliant. The defense has been poor.

Mohammedan SC: Barring Alexis Gomez, the unit has not put in promising performances.

Mumbai City FC: The heavyweights have struggled and may find their feet if they are able to overcome defensive struggles.

Hyderabad FC: A couple of wins recently but other than that there were lackluster performances.

East Bengal FC: Winless so far! They need to regroup and do better at both ends of the pitch.

Indian Super League 2024-25 Points Table

(As of 26 November 2024)

ClubPlayedWonDrawLostGFGAGDPointsForm
1Mohun Bagan Super Giant8521168817W D W W W
2Bengaluru FC8521136717D L W W D
3NorthEast United FC94322115615W D W W L
4Punjab FC8503149515W L L W L
5Odisha FC93331914512W D L D W
6FC Goa83321613312W W D L D
7Chennaiyin FC93331615112L D W L D
8Jamshedpur FC84041119-812L L L W W
9Kerala Blasters FC93241516-111W L L L W
10Mumbai City FC82421213-110L D W D W
11Hyderabad FC8215716-97L W L W L
12Mohammedan SC7124311-85D L L L W
13East Bengal FC7016412-81D L L L L

Related The Role of Football Academies in India’s Talent Pipeline

Top goalscorer ISL 2024-25 Season

(Stats as of 26 November)

PlayerGoals
A. Ajaraie11
A. Sadiku8
Jesús Jiménez7
W. Jordán6
Diego Maurício5

Related Youth Football in India: Challenges and Opportunities

Most Assists in ISL 2024-25 Season

(Stats as of 26 November 2024)

PlayerAssists
G. Stewart4
H. Boumous4
C. Shields4
J. Madathil Subran4
A. Ajaraie4

Related Grassroot Football: How It’s Shaping Future Stars

Most Clean Sheets in ISL 2024-25 Season

PlayerClean Sheets
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu5
Vishal Kaith4
Ravi Kumar2
Gurmeet Singh Chahal2
Bhaskar Roy1

Indian Football is going places year after year, with better and better quality of football with each passing season. Sure the remainder of the Indian Super League 2024-25 will keep fans on the edge of their seats. Stay tuned for the most thrilling ISL season ever! 

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Indian Super League Stats, Salaries, Prize Money, Key Details

There is no denying the fact that Indian Super League has injected a new life into the Indian football scene. Whether you’re a passionate football fanatic or an average sports fan, you’d agree that ISL movement has revolutionized the sport in India.

When did Indian Super League start?

The Indian Super League (ISL) started on 12 October 2014. Year after year, ISL has grown by leaps and bounds. In October 2019, it was officially recognized by FIFA and the AFC as the country’s main football league.

Among its stakeholders are esteemed organizations like Reliance, Star India, and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The league’s 13 teams are based in cities like Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Jamshedpur.

How ISL has changed Football in India?

India’s top football competition, in ISL, is a big part of making Indian football better and exciting! With ISL came grassroots programs to find and develop young talent. Then, there is a focus on the refurbishing of stadiums, facilities, and sports infrastructure. This presents a huge opportunity for the next generation of football stars in India! And, then there is a dream to make Indian Super League as competitive as the world’s top leagues.

ISL Winners since 2014

SeasonChampionsCup Winners
2014Atlético de Kolkata
2015Chennaiyin
2016Atlético de Kolkata
2017–18Chennaiyin
2018–19Bengaluru
2019–20GoaATK
2020–21Mumbai CityMumbai City
2021–22JamshedpurHyderabad
2022–23Mumbai CityATK Mohun Bagan
2023–24Mohun Bagan SGMumbai City
2024–25

Which is the most successful team in ISL?

The most successful team in the Indian Super League (ISL) is Mumbai City FC, with a total of 4 titles. They have won the League Shield twice in the seasons 2020-21 and 2022-23, along with 2 Cup victories in 2021 and 2024.

Other notable successful teams include ATK, which has won 3 titles but with no League Shield, and Mohun Bagan, which claimed its first League Shield in the 2023-24 season, and one Cup title in 2023. Teams like Chennaiyin and Goa also have a strong history, with Chennaiyin winning the Cup twice and Goa winning the League Shield once in 2019-20.


Related The Journey of an Indian Footballer: From Grassroots to ISL

Owners of Indian Super League Teams

TeamOwner(s)
Mumbai City FCCity Football Group, Ranbir Kapoor, Bimal Parekh, Etihad Group
NorthEast United FCJohn Abraham, Shillong F.C, Aizawl F.C
Kerala Blasters FCBlasters Sports Ventures Pvt Ltd (Chiranjeevi, Nimmagadda Prasad, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Allu Aravind)
Odisha FCGMS Inc, Kalinga Sports Pvt Ltd, Utkal Group
Goa FCJaydev Mody, Akshay Tandon, Virat Kohli, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Ashish Kapadia
Chennaiyin FCChennaiyin FC Pvt Ltd (Vishwanathan and friends)
Bengaluru FCJSW Group
Jamshedpur FCTata Group
SC East BengalShree Cement, East Bengal F.C Pvt Ltd
Punjab FCN/A
Hyderabad FCVijay Madduri, Varun Tripuraneni, Rana Daggubati, Sunrisers Hyderabad
ATK Mohun BaganRP Sanjiv Goenka Group, Sourav Ganguly, Utsav Parekh, Mohun Bagan
Mohammedan SCBunkerhill Private Limited (30.5%), Shrachi Sports (30.5%), Mohammedan SC Pvt Ltd (39%)
Photo by Rubina A. Khan/Getty Images

ISL Golden Boot Winners

PlayerTeamSeasonMatches PlayedGoalsTime Played
Diego MauricioOdisha2022-2321121536 Mins
Bartholomew OgbecheHyderabad2021-2219181616 Mins
Igor AnguloGoa2020-2121141645 Mins
Nerijus ValskisChennaiyin FC2019-2020151620 Mins
CoroGoa2018-1920161784 Mins
CoroGoa2017-1820181730 Mins
Marcelo PereiraOdisha201615101274 Mins
John Stiven Mendoza ValenciaChennaiyin FC201516131206 Mins
Elano BlumerChennaiyin FC2014118826 Mins

Indian Super League Golden Glove Winners

PlayerTeamSeasonMatches PlayedSavesSaves per Game (M/G)Time Played
Vishal KaithATK Mohun Bagan2022-232467115.532195 Mins
Prabhsukhan GillKerala Blasters2021-22194281.701634 Mins
Arindam BhattacharjaATK Mohun Bagan2020-212359108.952070 Mins
Gurpreet Singh SandhuBengaluru2019-201949122.141710 Mins
Gurpreet Singh SandhuBengaluru2018-19206196.321830 Mins
Subrata PaulJamshedpur FC2017-181847102.471537 Mins
Amrinder SinghMumbai City201668180.00540 Mins
Apoula EdelChennaiyin FC2015133790.001170 Mins
Jan SedaChennaiyin FC20141442143.331290 Mins

Related The Role of Football Academies in India’s Talent Pipeline

Most Appearances in Indian Super League

PlayerMatches PlayedYears
1Pritam Kotal (India)1672014–
1Amrinder Singh (India)1672015–
3Lenny Rodrigues (India)1632014–
4Sunil Chhetri (India)1602014–
5Mandar Rao Dessai (India)1562014–
6Rahul Bheke (India)1552014–
7Lallianzuala Chhangte (India)1482015–
8Subhasish Bose (India)1472017–
9Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (India)1432017–
10Jerry Lalrinzuala (India)1412015–

Top 10 Goalscorers in Indian Super League

(As on 12 November 2024)

PlayerGoalsAppsGoal RatioYears
1Sunil Chhetri (India)641540.422015–
2Bartholomew Ogbeche (Nigeria)63980.642018–2023
3Roy Krishna (Fiji)571120.512019–
4Coro (Spain)48570.842017–2020
5Diego Maurício (Brazil)41760.542020–
6Cleiton Silva (Brazil)36840.432020–
7Lallianzuala Chhangte (India)351290.272016–
8Hugo Boumous (France)301080.282018–
9Iain Hume (Canada)29690.422014–2019
10Jorge Pereyra Díaz (Argentina)29620.472021–

Most Hattricks by Players in Indian Super League

(As on 12 November 2024)

PlayerHat-tricks
1Bartholomew Ogbeche4
2Iain Hume3
3Stiven Mendoza2
3Dudu Omagbemi2
3Coro2
3Marcelinho2
3Sunil Chhetri2
3Modou Sougou2

ISL Coach of All ISL Teams

Head CoachClub
Panagiotis Dilberis (Greece)Punjab
Oscar Bruzon (Spain)East Bengal
Sergio Lobera (Spain)Odisha
Juan Pedro Benali (Spain)NorthEast United
Manolo Márquez (Spain)Goa
Thangboi Singto (India)Hyderabad
Owen Coyle (Scotland)Chennaiyin
Petr Kratky (Czech Republic)Mumbai City
Gerard Zaragoza (Spain)Bengaluru
Khalid Jamil (India)Jamshedpur
José Francisco Molina (Spain)Mohun Bagan

Home Stadium of All Indian Super League Teams

ClubHome StadiumCapacity
BengaluruSree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore25,800
ChennaiyinMarina Arena, Chennai30,000
East BengalSalt Lake Stadium, Kolkata85,000
Mohun BaganSalt Lake Stadium, Kolkata85,000
GoaThe Fatorda, Margao30,000
HyderabadG.M.C.B Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad30,000
JamshedpurJRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur24,424
Kerala BlastersJawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi41,000
MohammedanKishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata12,000
Mumbai CityMumbai Football Arena, Mumbai6,600
NorthEast UnitedIndira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati25,000
OdishaKalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar12,000
PunjabJawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi60,000

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More ISL Stats

(As on 12 November 2024)

CategoryRecordTeam/Season
Most Wins in Total92Mumbai City
Most Wins in a Season15Mohun Bagan SG (2023–24)
Most Home Wins in a Season8Mohun Bagan SG (2020–21), Odisha (2023–24)
Most Away Wins in a Season9Mohun Bagan SG (2023–24)
Fewest Wins in a Season1East Bengal (2021–22), NorthEast United (2022–23), Hyderabad (2023–24)
Fewest Home Wins in a Season0Chennaiyin (2020–21), East Bengal (2021–22), Hyderabad (2023–24)
Fewest Away Wins in a Season0Mumbai City (2014), Pune City (2015), NorthEast United (2021–22, 2022–23), Bengaluru (2023–24)
Most Consecutive Wins11Mumbai City (12 Nov 2022 – 27 Jan 2023)
Most Consecutive Matches Without a Win20Hyderabad (9 Mar 2023 – 4 Mar 2024)
Most Defeats in Total83NorthEast United
Most Defeats in a Season16NorthEast United (2022–23), Hyderabad (2023–24)
Most Home Defeats in a Season9Hyderabad (2023–24)
Most Away Defeats in a Season8Hyderabad (2019–20), NorthEast United (2022–23), Bengaluru (2023–24)
Fewest Defeats in a Season2ATK (2016), Mumbai City (2022–23, 2023–24)
Fewest Home Defeats in a Season0Odisha (2016), Bengaluru (2018–19), Odisha (2023–24)
Fewest Away Defeats in a Season1ATK (2016), Mumbai City (2016, 2022–23, 2023–24), Pune City (2017–18), Goa (2020–21, 2023–24), Hyderabad (2020–21, 2021–22), NorthEast United (2020–21), Mohun Bagan SG (2021–22, 2023–24)
Most Consecutive Matches Undefeated18Mumbai City (9 Oct 2022 – 11 Feb 2023)
Most Consecutive Defeats10NorthEast United (8 Oct – 17 Dec 2022)
Most Goals Scored in a Season54Mumbai City (2022–23)
Fewest Goals Scored in a Season10Hyderabad (2023–24)
Most Goals Conceded in a Season51NorthEast United (2022–23)
Fewest Goals Conceded in a Season11Mumbai City (2016)
Best Goal Difference in a Season33Mumbai City (2022–23)
Worst Goal Difference in a Season35NorthEast United (2022–23)
Most Goals Scored at Home in a Season25Goa (2018–19)
Fewest Goals Scored at Home in a Season4Hyderabad (2023–24)
Most Goals Conceded at Home in a Season28NorthEast United (2022–23)
Fewest Goals Conceded at Home in a Season2Kerala Blasters (2014)
Most Goals Scored Away in a Season30Mumbai City (2022–23)
Fewest Goals Scored Away in a Season3Mumbai City (2014)
Most Goals Conceded Away in a Season27NorthEast United (2022–23)
Fewest Goals Conceded Away in a Season5Mumbai City (2016)
Most Consecutive Matches Without Scoring7Chennaiyin (15 Feb – 10 Nov 2019)
Most Goals Scored in Total338Goa
Most Goals Conceded in Total292Odisha

How much do Indian Super League players earn?

The salary cap for each ISL team is Rs 18 crore and each team builds its squad within this salary cap. The top ISL players earn in crores, others in Lakhs.

However, to provide more flexibility, the league has also introduced a new rule: two players, whether domestic or international, can now be signed by a club outside of this salary cap. These new guidelines allow clubs to spend more freely on international players, without having to worry about how their salaries will impact the overall salary cap.

What is Indian Super League Winner Prize Money?

Indian Super League winner receives ₹6 crore in prize money. The runners-up receive ₹3 crore while semi-finalists get awarded ₹1.5 crore. Among the individual awards of 10 lakhs each are the Best Pitch Award, Best Grassroots Award, and Best Elite Youth Program for ground crew and teams.

How to Watch Indian Premier League Live?

Fans in India can catch ISL live telecast on Sports18 3 and Sports18 HD 1 TV channels. Indian Super League 2024-25 can also be live-streamed on JioCinema.

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The Journey of an Indian Footballer: From Grassroots to ISL

Arguably the world’s most popular sport, football still plays second fiddle in India. Cricket remains the dominant sport, the go-to pastime for most Indians, yet football has a rich history here. India’s first football club is said to have been established as far back as 1872, and one of the world’s oldest football competitions, the Durand Cup, began in 1888—ten years before Italy’s premier league, Serie A.

Despite its early history, India has yet to see a player play for clubs like Real Madrid, Liverpool, Barcelona, or Bayern Munich. However, the rise of the Indian Super League (ISL) has brought a much-needed structure to Indian football.

Football as a career in India

With esteemed players like Roberto Carlos, Robert Pires, Diego Forlan, Alessandro Del Piero, Nicolas Anelka, and Dimitar Berbatov joining the league, sponsorship and money followed. The monetary rewards have become a major factor in young athletes choosing football as a career. In fact, some players, like Sunil Chhetri, earn crores from ISL salaries alone. So, there’s no shortage of money in the league.

Also Read: 3 All-rounders who might start a bidding war in 2025 IPL Auction

However, the journey of an Indian footballer—from grassroots to the ISL—is one of perseverance, passion, and overcoming numerous challenges. Here, we explore this journey and how an aspiring Indian footballer can make his way to the ISL, provided he has the talent and is ready to put in the effort.

Grassroots – Inculcating Sports Habits

The grassroots level is where the journey begins for most footballers, and at its heart is the school system. Unlike Europe, where education systems are more flexible, most Indian schools are heavily focused on academics. For an aspiring Indian footballer, it’s crucial to find a school with a strong sports program. These schools participate in inter-school tournaments, including football. Enrolling a child in a school with a strong sports structure can help introduce them to football at a very young age.

Developmental Leagues – Next Phase in Journey Of An Indian Footballer

Several organizations, including the All India Football Federation (AIFF), local state football associations, and private academies, run grassroots programs aimed at nurturing young talent. Initiatives like the AIFF Youth Development Programme, Reliance Foundation Youth Sports, and Tata Steel Foundation‘s Youth Football Leagues provide youngsters with the resources, facilities, and exposure they need to grow as footballers. These youth leagues are perfect opportunities for young footballers to play in age-group competitions, such as the Subroto Cup (for school teams), AIFF U-13, U-15, and U-18 Championships, and state-level tournaments.

I League 2 & State Leagues – First Step To Professional Football

The I-League 2nd Division and State Leagues form the backbone of the Indian football system; this is where players take their first steps toward professional football in India. The I-League 2nd Division acts as a promotion league for clubs aiming to play in the I-League, the second tier of Indian football. It’s an essential stage for players looking to become professional footballers.

In addition, state football associations organize regional leagues. For example, the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) runs a two-tier league in Delhi. Other renowned state leagues include the Goa Professional League, the West Bengal State Football League, and the Karnataka State Football League. These leagues provide valuable opportunities for local talent to develop and get scouted by higher-tier clubs.

Most clubs in the I-League 2nd Division and State Leagues also offer professional contracts, which can be the first professional deal for young Indian players.

I-League: India’s 2nd Tier

Before the emergence of the Indian Super League, the I-League was the top-tier professional football competition in India, and it remains a crucial part of the country’s football landscape. Established in 2007, it was the first national league to create a professional structure for clubs across India. The I-League features clubs from various regions and is still considered the most competitive league in terms of footballing culture and history in India.

For young Indian footballers, their journey from grassroots to the ISL often goes through the I-League. This is where things get serious—where average players are filtered out, and talented ones start drawing attention from ISL teams.

Indian Super League (ISL): India’s Premier Football League

The Indian Super League (ISL), launched in 2014, is India’s top-tier football league. With esteemed players featuring in this league, it has become a commercially successful football competition.

The ISL attracts international football stars, coaches, and significant investment, which has helped elevate the quality of football in India. For aspiring Indian footballers, playing in the ISL is the ultimate dream. Good players earn a solid income, while generational talents like Sunil Chhetri can earn crores. From here, the sky’s the limit for Indian footballers. Who knows, one day we might see a footballer catching the attention of European clubs due to his performances in the ISL.

Conclusion

The steps mentioned above are just a reference—there’s no hard and fast rule for a young kid to become a professional footballer in India. ISL clubs also run their own academies and take in young talent. If a player is good enough, they can secure a professional contract with an ISL club and get a chance to play in the league, without needing to go through the lower-tier leagues. Ultimately, it’s all about talent and the player’s intent.

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