The 2023–24 season is the 104th season of East Bengal Football Club and their fourth season in the Indian Super League, the top flight of Indian football.

Background 

After the end of the 2022–23 season, the club parted ways with the head coach Stephen Constantine after poor results, and appointed former Indian Super League winner Carles Cuadrat as the new head coach for the team on a two-year contract. The club also roped in the services of Odisha winger Nandhakumar Sekar and Chennaiyin midfielder Edwin Sydney Vanspaul for the season. The club also roped in three Spaniards – Javier Siverio and Borja Herrera from Hyderabad, and Saúl Crespo from Odisha for the season. On 3 June, East Bengal announced the departure of eleven players, whose contract period ended and were not renewed, which included the five foreign players from last season apart from Cleiton Silva and Indian players – Jerry Lalrinzuala, Semboi Haokip, Suvam Sen, Himanshu Jangra, Amarjit Singh Kiyam and Naveen Kumar. East Bengal also roped in club legend Harmanjot Singh Khabra who had spent seven years with the club previously from 2009–2016 and also left back Mandar Rao Dessai for the season.

On 10 June, the club announced the signing of Nandhakumar Sekar on a three-year deal on a free transfer from Odisha. On 12 June, East Bengal announced the signing of Spanish midfielder Borja Herrera on a one-year contract in a free transfer. On 14 June, the club announced the signing of defender Nishu Kumar from Kerala Blasters on a one-year loan deal. On 17 June, the club announced the signing of Spanish duo Javier Siverio and Saúl Crespo on a one-year contract. On 19 June, the club announced the signings of three players – Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Harmanjot Singh Khabra and Mandar Rao Dessai.

Transfers

Incoming

Loan in

Outgoing

Loan out

Team

First-team squad
 The below list contains the names and details of the first team squad for East Bengal.

Current technical staff 
East Bengal appointed former Indian Super League winner Carles Cuadrat as the new head coach for the club on a two-year contract. The club also extended the contract with assistant coach Bino George till 2026, as he would also remain as the head coach of the reserves and developmental squad. The club also appointed former Indian Super League winner Dimas Delgado as the assistant coach on a two-year contract. The club also roped in three more Spaniards into the backroom – Goalkeeper coach Javier Pinillos, Physiotherapist Senen Alvarez and Sports Scientist Albert Martinez Bernat.

Pre-season and friendlies
East Bengal started their preseason under Bino George and later under Carles Cuadrat in July. East Bengal played their first preseason friendly against Indian Navy on 30 July and won 2–1 with Lalchungnunga and Mandar Rao Dessai scoring for East Bengal in the match ahead of the Durand Cup.

Matches

Competitions

Overall record

Durand Cup

East Bengal shall be participating in the 2023 Durand Cup and was grouped into Group A along with Mohun Bagan SG, Punjab, and Bangladesh Army and would play their group stage matches in Kolkata. On 6 August, East Bengal began their campaign against Bangladesh Army at the Salt Lake Stadium and managed a 2–2 draw. East Bengal took a 2–0 lead at halftime with Saúl Crespo and Javier Siverio scoring for the team but Nishu Kumar received a red card in the second half as Bangladesh Army scored two late goals to make it 2–2 and the points were shared. On 12 August, East Bengal faced their arch—rivals Mohun Bagan SG in the Kolkata Derby fixture at the Salt Lake Stadium and managed a 1–0 win courtesy of a solitary goal from Nandhakumar Sekar in the second half. On 16 August, East Bengal defeated Punjab 1–0 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan to secure the top spot in the group and qualify for the quarterfinals. Javier Siverio scored the only goal of the match. On 25 August, East Bengal faced Gokulam Kerala at the Salt Lake Stadium in the quarterfinals and won 2–1. Jordan Elsey scored for East Bengal in the very first minute but Gokulam Kerala equalized in the second half courtesy of a goal from Aminou Bouba. However, East Bengal found the winner in the seventy-eighth minute when Nishu Kumar's cross deflected off Aminou Bouba into the net as East Bengal managed to hold onto the 2–1 lead to progress into the semifinals. On 29 August, East Bengal faced NorthEast United in the semifinals at the Salt Lake Stadium, where after the match ended 2–2, East Bengal managed to progress into the finals after winning the penalty shootout 5–3. East Bengal went 2–0 behind with goals from Míchel Zabaco and Konsam Phalguni Singh however, they rallied from behind with goals from Naorem Mahesh Singh and Nandhakumar Sekar to equalize the match to take it to the penalty shootout. East Bengal scored all five of their penalty kicks but Parthib Sundar Gogoi missed the penalty for NorthEast United as East Bengal won the shootout and progressed into the final for the first time since 2004.

Group stage

Knockout stage

Matches

Indian Super League

League table

Calcutta Football League

Summary
East Bengal shall be participating in the 2023 Calcutta Premier Division and was drawn into group B for the first phase of the tournament where twenty-six teams were divided into two groups of thirteen teams each. East Bengal would be mainly fielding their Reserve squad for the tournament with coach Bino George taking charge of the team. In the opening match on 13 July, East Bengal faced ASOS Raibow at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan and were held onto a goalless draw to start their campaign. On 17 July, East Bengal faced West Bengal Police and achieved their first win of the season as they won 4&ndash2 at the Bankimanjali Stadium in Naihati. Bunando Singh, Sarthak Golui, Dip Saha and Abhishek Kunjam scored for East Bengal. On 20 July, East Bengal faced Kidderpore and won 2–0. Tuhin Das and Shyamal Besra scored for East Bengal as they latched up consecutive wins. On 24 July, East Bengal faced BSS at Naihati and were held to a 1–1 draw. East Bengal went down to 10 men after Tuhin Das was given a straight red card in the first half, however, it was East Bengal who took the lead in the ninetieth minute through a direct freekick strike from Dip Saha. BSS scored the equalizer in the seventh minute of injury time as East Bengal had a settle for a draw. On 27 July East Bengal faced Eastern Railway at the East Bengal Ground and won 5–1. Aman C. K. scored a brace while Avishek Kunjam, Vanlalpeka Guite, and Razibul Mistry scored one each as East Bengal registered their third win of the campaign. On 31 July, East Bengal faced Wari at the East Bengal Ground and won 5–0. Avishek Kunjam scored a brace while Dip Saha, Tanmay Das and Aman C. K. scored one each as East Bengal registered their fourth win of the campaign. On 3 August, East Bengal faced Bhawanipore and drew 1–1, with Dip Saha scoring for East Bengal. On 9 August, East Bengal defeated Railway FC 2–0 with goals from Aman C. K. and Nishu Kumar to earn their fifth win of the campaign. On 14 August, East Bengal defeated Police AC 2–1 with goals from Avishek Kunjam and P. V. Vishnu to grab their sixth win of the campaign. On 19 August, East Bengal defeated Aryan 2–0 with goals from Jesin TK and Aman C. K. as they grabbed their seventh win of the campaign. On 22 August, East Bengal defeated Calcutta Customs 1–0 with a goal from Mahitosh Roy as they grabbed their eighth victory of the campaign and secured a place in the Super–six of the Calcutta League.

League Table

Matches

Statistics

Appearances
Players with no appearances are not included in the list.

Goal Scorers

Assists

Clean Sheets

Disciplinary Record

See also
 2023–24 in Indian football

Notes

References

External links
 Official website 

East Bengal Club seasons
East Bengal FC