Bengaluru FC

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. The team is currently owned by Mumbai-based company, JSW Group and its managing director is Sajjan Jindal. The club's home ground is the 24,000 seater Sree 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 John Killa.

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. 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. 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.

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. 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. The winning bids would be announced in March and they will also be replacements for the institutional clubs Air India and ONGC.

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. 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. On 15 May 2013 it was announced that the All India Football Federation had officially received three-bids for the two direct-entry spots. The bids came from JSW Group, Dodsal Group, and a consortium from Kerala.

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. 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. 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. 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.

Ashley Westwood Era (2013–2016) 
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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. After a scoreless first-half Bengaluru scored their first ever official goal in the 49th minute to take the lead through Sean Rooney. 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. 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.

Bengaluru FC then played their very first away match ever on 26 October 2013 against East Bengal F.C. at the Kalyani Stadium. 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. 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. Goals from Johnny Menyongar and Beikhokhei Beingaichho lead Bengaluru FC to a historic 2–1 victory.

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. 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. 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.

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.

In 2014–15 season, Bengaluru FC won their first ever Federation Cup by defeating Dempo 2–1 in the final on 11 January 2015. The club began I-League campaign as defending champions and seemed on track to defend the title until the dying minutes of the last game against Mohun Bagan, who scored an equalizer in 87th minute, enough to secure their first I-League title. However, Bengaluru FC ended the season with 13 games unbeaten streak. Bengaluru FC also participated in the AFC championship for the first time, where the played in the qualifying round in 2016 AFC Champions League and reached Round of 16 in 2016 AFC Cup.

In 2015–16 season, Bengaluru secured its second I-League title by beating Salgaocar F.C 2–0 at home on 17 April 2016. Bengaluru FC also made it to the quarter finals of the AFC Cup for the very first time in the history after defeating Kitchee S.C. 3–2 in Round of 16. At the end of the season, Ashley Westwood and the club decided to part ways on mutual consent.

Albert Roca Era (2016–present) 
Bengaluru FC appointed former FC Barcelona assistant coach Albert Roca as the head coach for two seasons.

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

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors 

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

Kit evolution

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. The Bangalore Football Stadium is a 15,000 capacity football stadium which uses astroturf. From the 2014–15 season the club playing their matches at the 24,000 capacity Sree Kanteerava Stadium

Players

First-team squad

Current technical staff 

As of 11 July 2016.

Support 
Bengaluru FC is reputed for one of the most vocal fanbases in India. The fans are often called West Block Blues, named such after West Block A in the Bangalore Football Stadium. The players and the coach have often acknowledged the fans' support in the success and called them The 12th Man.

Team Records

Overview

Overall records

Head Coach's Record

Honours

Domestic 
 I-League
Winners (2): 2013–14, 2015–16
Runner Up (1): 2014–15
 Federation Cup
Winners (1): 2014–15

International

Performance in AFC competitions 

 AFC Champions League: 1 Appearance
 2015: Preliminary round 1
 AFC Cup: 2 Appearances
 2015: Round of 16
 2016: Semi Finals (ongoing)

See also 
 JSW Group
 I-League
 AFC Cup

Footnotes

External links 
 

Bengaluru FC
Association football clubs established in 2013
Football clubs in India
Karnataka football clubs
I-League clubs
2013 establishments in India
JSW Group
Sport in Bangalore
Football clubs in Bangalore