Reigning Indian Super League champions East Bengal have announced the appointment of decorated Spanish coach Antonio Lopez Habas as their new head coach for the 2026-27 season. Habas, known for his successful stints in Indian football, returns to familiar territory as the club prepares to defend its maiden ISL League Shield amidst ownership uncertainties.
Defending champions East Bengal FC secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Churchill Brothers in their Indian Super League season opener on Sunday. Goals from Dani Ramirez, Edmund Lalrindika, and a brace from substitute Bipin Singh sealed the win for Antonio Habas' side, making a strong statement for their campaign.
East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan are set to clash in the IFA Shield final on Thursday, a highly anticipated Kolkata derby. East Bengal aims to avenge last year's defeat and secure their 30th title, while Mohun Bagan seeks to retain the Shield and claim their 22nd. The match comes amidst a demanding schedule for both teams, particularly Mohun Bagan, with players returning from national duty, adding to the tactical challenges for coaches Panagiotis Dilmperis and Antonio Habas.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated arch-rivals East Bengal 1-0 in the IFA Shield final on Thursday, with Samir Zeljkovic scoring the decisive goal. This victory marks Mohun Bagan's 22nd IFA Shield title and provides a significant boost ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League season, while also avenging their earlier Durand Cup final defeat to East Bengal.
The Indian Super League 2026-27 season is set to begin with renewed optimism after a turbulent previous season.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated arch-rivals East Bengal 1-0 in the Durand Cup opener, thanks to a decisive goal from Sahal Abdul Samad and a strong defensive performance led by goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. The pre-season derby saw Mohun Bagan combine clinical finishing with resolute defending to secure the win.
East Bengal secured their spot in the Durand Cup final by defeating SC Delhi 5-3 in a thrilling penalty shootout, following a goalless draw in regulation time. Captain Mohammed Rashid scored the decisive fifth penalty, sending East Bengal to their record-equalling 17th final appearance.
East Bengal secured a historic 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Mohun Bagan in the Durand Cup final, with Edmund Lalrindika scoring a sensational hat-trick. This triumph marks East Bengal's 17th Durand Cup title, bringing them level with Mohun Bagan's record in Asia's oldest football competition.
Reigning Indian Super League champions East Bengal are set to face Kuwaiti league runners-up Al Arabi SC in a critical AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage knockout fixture. The single-leg qualifier will determine a spot in the group stage, with East Bengal navigating squad challenges under new coach Antonio Lopez Habas.
East Bengal, fresh from their AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-off victory, are set to face a formidable Indian Army Football Team in the Durand Cup quarterfinals. The match, crucial for a spot in the semi-finals, will test East Bengal's momentum against the Army's disciplined play. Another quarterfinal features unbeaten SC Delhi against debutants FC Raengdai.
Emami Group has officially concluded its role as an investor and manager in East Bengal Football Club, transferring all shares and voting rights back to the club. The group will, however, continue its association with East Bengal FC as a sponsor, reaffirming its commitment to Indian football. This transition follows a successful period for the club under Emami's ownership, marked by significant victories for both men's and women's teams.
East Bengal staged a stunning comeback from 0-1 down to beat Al Arabi SC 4-1 in extra time and seal their place in the AFC Champions League Two group
Chennaiyin FC, unbeaten in their last three Indian Super League games, are set to face Inter Kashi, with coach Clifford Miranda highlighting the competitiveness of the league and the challenge posed by the opposition.
Inter Kashi secured a 1-0 victory over Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Indian Super League, with Mohammed Asif's first-half goal proving to be the difference.
Inter Kashi FC defeated Chennaiyin FC 2-1 in an Indian Super League match, with Alfred Moya scoring twice. The win moves Inter Kashi up the table, while Chennaiyin remains lower in the standings.
Setting an example and cracking the whip on indiscipline, the All India Football Federation suspended Atletico de Kolkata head coach, Antonio Lopez Habas for four matches while Goa FC's marquee player Robert Pires and Kolkata's Fikru Lemessa have been banned for two matches each for breaching the disciplinary code during the ongoing Indian Super League.
Kerala Blasters put themselves back in the semi-finals race as they brushed aside Pune City FC challenge with a 2-1 in an ISL match, in Kochi on Friday.
Churchill Brothers finished above Inter Kashi FC, who are second with 39 points, but the the latter could still win the title on April 28, depending on outcome of AIFF appeal.
The technical committee of the AIFF, headed by former captain IM Vijayan, will meet on Wednesday to shortlist the candidates for the appointment of the head coach of the senior men's national team after the federation received 170 applications for the vacant post.
Defending champions Atletico de Kolkata handed a 4-0 rout to FC Goa to climb atop the table and put one step in the semifinals after a one-sided Indian Super League (ISL) clash.
The result also meant Khalid Jamil is still unbeaten in the competition and extended NorthEast's winning run to ten games.
Defending champions Chennaiyin FC snapped their five-match winless streak as Jeje Lalpekhlua and Davide Succi scored once in each half to beat FC Pune City 2-0 in their Indian Super League football match in Chennai on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old Spanish coach is set to take charge of ATK Mohun Bagan, who parted ways with Antonio Habas on Saturday, after a string of poor results saw the side slip to the bottom half of the points table.
ATK MB's first real opportunity of the game came midway through the first half when Boumous broke free on a counter-attack, shrugged off a challenge from Wangjam and managed to get a shot on target. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, however, got a strong hand to the strike and parried away.
Atletico de Kolkata were guilty of missing too many chances and were held to a goalless draw against FC Pune City in their concluding group encounter of Hero Indian Super League at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata, on Friday.
NorthEast United and Jamshedpur FC finished fourth and fifth in the league stage and they face against each other on Sunday in Shillong to seal the last remaining semi-final spot.
Valskis scored in the 30th and 66th minute while Roy Krishna pulled one back for ATKMB in the 80th minute.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Thursday said current India skipper Virat Kohli's aggression on and off the pitch was two times more his own aggression when he led the national cricket team. "Virat's aggression is two times more than mine," Ganguly told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of Sourav Ganguly Foundation and Sourav Ganguly Cricket School, which is powered by PitchVision Cricket Technology, in Kolkata.
Dudu Omagbemi and Konstantinos Katsouranis scored in each half as FC Pune City beat Atletico de Kolkata 3-1 and snapped the league leaders' unbeaten run in the Hero Indian Super League in Kolkata on Friday.
Two-time champions ATK made their Christmas celebrations special, pipping Bengaluru FC by a David Williams solitary strike to secure their first ever win over the defending champions in the Indian Super League, in Kolkata, on Wednesday.
Atletico de Kolkata's erratic run in away games continued as a spirited Pune City FC held them to a 1-1 draw in an 11th round encounter of the Indian Super League, in Pune, on Saturday.
After watching his first football match at an Indian stadium, Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor said the atmosphere during the lung opener of the ISL in Kolkata matched any top international games.
Chennaiyin FC stormed into the final of the Indian Super League football on 4-2 aggregate against defending champions Atletico de Kolkata despite losing the semi-final second leg 1-2.
FC Goa secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over FC Pune City to climb up from the bottom of the Indian Super League points table in Pune on Thursday. FC Goa were in danger of exiting the league early this season but coach Zico masterminded his first win over a team coached by Antonio Habas as Brazilian striker Rafael Coelho scored the all-important goal from a free-kick in the 32nd minute at Balewadi Sports Complex Stadium here. The win helped FC Goa move to the seventh spot with seven points from eight matches while FC Pune City are now at the bottom with six points from seven matches.
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Atletico de Kolkata spurned the golden opportunity of making best use of home advantage as they were held to a goalless draw by FC Goa in the first-leg semi-final of the Hero Indian Super League in Kolkata.
The merged club will come into existence in June and compete in the ISL 2020-21. The two sides will, however, play separately in the current I-League and ISL seasons.
Karanjit Singh signs one-year contract extension with Kerala Blasters FC
Christmas came early to the 'City of Joy' as the inaugural Indian Super League champions Atletico de Kolkata returned home to a hero's welcome.
ATK's David Williams scored the all-important goal in the 48th minute to seal the win on a day when Chennaiyin FC did everything but score.
