History of Bengaluru FC

Updated on Dec 12, 2023

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This page chronicles history of Bengaluru FC since its inception in 2013.

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.

2013–14

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.

2014–15

Bengaluru FC began 2014–15 season with Durand Cup, playing the tournament for the first time. Bengaluru FC won the group B very closely, based on number of goals scored (points and goal difference being the same) with the second placed team SESA F.A.. In the semi-finals, Bengaluru faced Group A winner Salgaocar. Both sides failed to score in the regular time and extra-time. In the penalty shoot-out, Sunil Chhetri missed the second penalty and Bengaluru's Durand Cup campaign ended after losing 5–4 in the penalty shoot-out. Salgaocar went on to win the trophy. Bengaluru FC then participated in 2014–15 Indian Federation Cup and won the Federation Cup for the first time by defeating Dempo 2–1 in the final and the skipper Sunil Chhetri ended the tournament as joint top-scorer and Bengaluru FC remained unbeaten in the tournament.

Bengaluru FC 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.

As the winner of I-League in the previous season, Bengaluru FC also participated in AFC championships for the first time. They played in 2015 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off against 2014 Malaysia Super League winner Johor Darul Ta'zim. The game ended at 2–1 in favour of Johor Darul Ta'zim after extra time. Bengaluru FC then went on to play in 2015 AFC Cup, where they qualified for round of 16 knockout stage, but lost 2–0 to South China AA.

2015–16

After the heart-break of the previous season, Bengaluru FC struck back to win their second I-League title in 2015–16, their second title in three years of existence. Though Bengaluru FC trailed the defending champions Mohun Bagan for most of the season, Bengaluru FC capitalized with consistent performances when the defending champions faltered at the business end of the season. Bengaluru FC secured the title on 17 April 2016 when they defeated Salgaocar 2–0 at home with a match to spare.

However, the busy schedule took its toll in the 2015–16 Indian Federation Cup, where Bengaluru FC were defending champions, but were knocked out by Aizawl in the quarter-finals when the relegated I-League side defeated the I-League champions on 3–5 aggregates loss in home and away legs.

As the winner of the previous season's Federation Cup, Bengaluru FC were awarded a spot in AFC Cup group stage. Bengaluru FC reached quarter finals for their first time in their history after defeating Hong Kong team Kitchee S.C. 3–2 in the round of 16 game.

On 31 May 2016, Ashley Westwood and the club decided to part ways by mutual consent after three successful years, where the team won two I-League titles and a Federation Cup trophy.