Federation Cup (India)

The Federation Cup (also known as the Hero Federation Cup for sponsorship reasons) is an annual knockout football competition and the premier cup competition in men's domestic Indian football.[1] Established in 1977, it is organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

For the recherished cup competition, see Super Cup (India).

Federation Cup
Organising bodyAll India Football Federation
Founded1977 (1977)
RegionIndia
Number of teamsTBA
Qualifier forAFC Cup
Current championsBengaluru (2nd title)
Most successful club(s)Mohun Bagan (14 titles)
MottoWhere Pride Meets Passion
2024–25

Bengaluru are the defending champions, having defeated Mohun Bagan 2–0 in the 2017 final.[2]

History

In 1977, the All India Football Federation started the Federation Cup as the first club based national tournament in the country. Inaugural champion of the competition was the ITI (Indian Telephone Industries) who defeated Mohun Bagan in the final.[3] In 2015 All India Football Federation announced that Federation Cup will be put on hold to avoid scheduling conflict with Indian Super League and I-League,[4] but after Asian Football Confederation mandated that a club must play at least 18 matches in the season, AIFF decided to revive the tournament under new format.[5] In 2017 AIFF fully abolished the competition and formed Super Cup as the successor. In July 2023 AIFF has decided again to revive the competition in 2024-25 season as the premier cup competition in the country.[6]

Venues

Matches during the Federation Cup were usually held at neutral venues around India. The final was also held in a neutral venue. From 2015–16 season matches were played as two legged (home and away) knockout format.

Results

Federation Cup finals
Year Winners Runners-up Score
1977–78 ITI (Indian Telephone Industries) Mohun Bagan 1–0
1978–79 Mohun Bagan and East Bengal (joint winners) 0–0
1979–80 BSF Mafatlal Mills 2–2, 3–0
1980–81 Mohun Bagan and East Bengal (joint winners) 1–1
1981–82 Mohun Bagan Mohammedan 2–0
1982–83 Mohun Bagan Mafatlal Mills 1–0
1983–84 Mohammedan Mohun Bagan 0–0, 2–0
1984–85 Mohammedan East Bengal 1–0
1985 East Bengal Mohun Bagan 1–0
1986–87 Mohun Bagan East Bengal 0–0 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p)
1987–88 Mohun Bagan Salgaocar 2–0
1988–89 Salgaocar BSF 1–0
1989–90 Salgaocar Mohammedan Sporting 2–1 (a.e.t.)
1990 Kerala Police Salgaocar 2–1
1991 Kerala Police Mahindra & Mahindra 2–0 (a.e.t.)
1992 Mohun Bagan East Bengal 2–0
1993 Mohun Bagan Mahindra & Mahindra 1–0
1994 Mohun Bagan Salgaocar 0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–0 p)
1995 JCT East Bengal 1–1 (a.e.t.) (7–6 p)
1995–96 JCT Mills East Bengal 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p)
1996 East Bengal Dempo 2–1
1997 Salgaocar East Bengal 2–1
1998 Mohun Bagan East Bengal 2–1
1999 Not held
2000
2001 Mohun Bagan Dempo 2–1
2002 Not held
2003 Mahindra United Mohammedan Sporting 1–0
2004 Dempo Mohun Bagan 2–0
2005 Mahindra United Sporting Goa 2–1
2006 Mohun Bagan Sporting Goa 3–1
2007 East Bengal Mahindra United 2–1
2008 Mohun Bagan Dempo 1–0
2009–10 East Bengal Shillong Lajong 0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–0 p)
2010 East Bengal Mohun Bagan 1–0
2011 Salgaocar East Bengal 3–1
2012 East Bengal Dempo 3–2 (a.e.t.)
2013–14 Churchill Brothers Sporting Goa 3–1
2014–15 Bengaluru FC Dempo 2–1
2015–16 Mohun Bagan Aizawl 5–0
2016–17 Bengaluru FC Mohun Bagan 2–0 (a.e.t.)
2017–24 Replaced with Indian Super Cup
2024–25 TBD TBD TBD
  • a.e.t.: After extra time
  • pen.: Score in penalty shootout

Teams reaching final
Club Final
Appearances		 Winner Winning Years Runners-up Runners-up Years
Mohun Bagan20141978*, 1980*, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987
1992, 1993, 1994, 1998
2001, 2006, 2008, 2015–16		 61977, 1983, 1985, 2004, 2010, 2016–17
East Bengal 1681978*,1980*,1985, 1996, 2007, 2009-10, 2010, 201281984,1986,1992, 1995,

1996–97,1997,1998, 2011

Salgaocar S.C. 741988,1989,1997, 201131987,1990,1994
Dempo Sports Club 61200451996#,2001,2008, 2012, 2014–15
Mohammedan S.C. 521983,198431981,1989,2003
Mahindra United 522003,200531991,1993,2007
Sporting Clube de Goa 30-32005,2006,2013–14
Bengaluru FC 222014–15, 2016–170-
JCT Mills F.C. 221995,1995-96#0-
Kerala Police 221990, 1991[7]0-
BSF (Border Security Force) 21197911988
ITI (Indian Telephone Industries) 1119770-
Churchill Brothers 112013–140-
Lajong SSC 10-12009
Aizawl 10-12015–16
  • * : Shared
  • # : There were two federation cups in 1996

Overall top goalscorers
As of 10 January 2015[8]
Rank Player Goals
1 Brazil Jose Ramirez Barreto 27
2 Nigeria Chima Okorie 26*
3 India Bhaichung Bhutia 25
4 Nigeria Chidi Edeh 23
5 Nigeria Ranti Martins 18
6 India I. M. Vijayan 17
Nigeria Odafa Onyeka Okolie

(Note. * Includes 7 goals scored in Eastern Zone Qualifiers at Sibsagar – 1990 Federation Cup)

See also

References
  1. "AIFF Executive Committee inducts five new clubs into Hero I-League, Federation Cup restored". the-aiff.com.
  2. Solomon, Joseph (21 May 2017). "BENGALURU FC CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF HERO FEDERATION CUP". the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  3. "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Federation Cup". IndianFootball.de. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  4. "Why AIFF's decision to scrap the Fed Cup makes sense for Indian football". Firstpost. 24 April 2015. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. "AIFF decides to bring back Federation Cup". 27 November 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  6. "AIFF Executive Committee inducts five new clubs into Hero I-League, Federation Cup restored". the-aiff.com.
  7. Federation Cup. the-aiff.com (archived)
  8. "From the history book, roll of honour". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. 10 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
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