2021–22 I-League

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Hero I-League
Season2021–22
DatesDecember 2021 – April 2022
2022–23 →

The 2021–22 I-League (also known as Hero I-League for sponsorship reasons) will be the 15th season of I-League, one of the top tier Indian professional football leagues, since its establishment in 2007. The tournament will be hosted in Kolkata due to COVID-19 pandemic situation in India. Two teams of I-League 2021-22 will be offered promotion to ISL, and champions will qualify for 2023 AFC Cup.

Gokulam Kerala are the defending champions of 2020–21 season.[1]

Changes from last season[]

[]

One club will be promoted from the 2020–21 I-League 2nd Division.

Via bidding[]

On 5 June 2020, All India Football Federation issued an invitation to accept bids for new clubs to join the League from 2020 onwards,[2] and on 12 August Sreenidi Deccan FC were granted playing rights directly in 2021–22 I-league.[3]

Relegated clubs[]

NEROCA were relegated after finishing 11th in the previous season, but were reinstated by AIFF after viewing the situation of COVID-19 pandemic in India.[4]

Format[]

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, this season's league format is shortened, just like the last season. All teams will face each other once in first leg of the league, then they will be divided into two different groups. According to points table from first leg, top seven teams will face each other once again in the championship stage, where the team with most points (cumulative points collected from all eighteen matches) will be declared league winner and qualify for 2023 AFC Cup group stage. The other six teams will play against each other in relegation stage, where team with the lowest points (cumulative points collected from all seventeen matches) will be relegated to .[5]

Teams[]

Locations of the I-League clubs
Mohammedan
Sreenidi Deccan
Sreenidi Deccan
Aizawl
Aizawl
Chennai City
Chennai City
Sudeva Delhi
Sudeva Delhi
Punjab
Punjab
Imphal
Imphal
Imphal teams NEROCA TRAU
Imphal teams
NEROCA
TRAU
Real Kashmir
Real Kashmir
Churchill Brothers
Churchill Brothers
Indian Arrows
Gokulam Kerala
Gokulam Kerala
Locations of the I-League clubs

Stadiums and locations[]

Team Location
Aizawl Aizawl, Mizoram
Chennai City Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Churchill Brothers Margao, Goa
Gokulam Kerala Kozhikode, Kerala
Indian Arrows Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mohammedan Kolkata, West Bengal
NEROCA Imphal, Manipur
Real Kashmir Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
TRAU Imphal, Manipur
Sreenidi Deccan Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Sudeva Delhi New Delhi, Delhi
Punjab Ludhiana, Punjab
Winner of 2020–21 I-League 2nd Division

Personnel and sponsorship[]

Team Head coach Captain Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
Aizawl Liberia Alfred Jaryan Philippines Vamos[6] NECS Limited[7]
Chennai City India Nivia Sports[8] TVS Group
Churchill Brothers Romania Petre Gigiu India Nivia Sports[8] Churchill
Gokulam Kerala Italy Vincenzo Alberto Annese Afghanistan Sharif Mukhammad India SEGA[9] Sree Gokulam Group[10]
Indian Arrows India Shanmugam Venkatesh India Lalchhanhima Sailo India SIX5SIX[11] Hero MotoCorp
Mohammedan Russia Andrey Chernyshov[12] Serbia Nikola Stojanović Denmark Hummel BunkerHill Sports[13]
NEROCA India Khogen Singh[14] India Nivia Sports[15] Grow Manipur Team[16]
Punjab England Ashley Westwood India SIX5SIX[17] RoundGlass Sports[18]
Real Kashmir Scotland David Robertson Scotland Mason Robertson Germany Adidas[19] Hotel CH2[19]
Sreenidi Deccan Spain Fernando Santiago Varela[20] India TYKA Britannia
Sudeva Delhi Bhutan Chencho Dorji India Sairuat Kima Denmark Hummel Liquid Life[21]
TRAU India Nandakumar Singh Brazil Helder Lobato Ribeiro India
Winner of I-League 2nd Division 2020-21

Head coaching changes[]

Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Ref. Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment Ref.
Mohammedan India Sankarlal Chakraborty End of contract 10 May 2021 Pre-season Russia Andrey Chernyshov 12 May 2021 [22]
Churchill Brothers Spain Fernando Santiago Varela End of contract 20 April 2021 Romania Petre Gigiu 18 June 2021
NEROCA India Gift Raikhan End of contract 30 June 2021 India Khogen Singh 03 July 2021 [14]
Punjab Republic of Ireland Curtis Fleming End of contract 01 June 2021 England Ashley Westwood 15 July 2021 [23]
Aizawl India Yan Law End of contract

Foreign players[]

AIFF allowed maximum of four foreign players including one from AFC-affiliated country per team.[24] Indian Arrows cannot sign any foreign player as they are part of AIFF's developmental program.

Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 AFC Player Former Player
Aizawl Argentina Matías Verón Liberia Alfred Jaryan
Chennai City
Churchill Brothers Brazil Guilherme Escuro Guinea Sekou Sylla Lebanon Shadi Skaf
Gokulam Kerala Cameroon Aminou Bouba Ghana Rahim Osumanu Nigeria Chisom Chikatara Afghanistan Sharif Mukhammad
Mohammedan Serbia Nikola Stojanović Serbia Stefan Ilić Trinidad and Tobago Marcus Joseph Syria Shaher Shaheen
NEROCA Brazil Danilo Quipapá Spain Juan Mera Spain Sergio Mendigutxia Lebanon Mohamad Kdouh
Punjab England John Johnson England Kurtis Guthrie Spain Joseba Beitia Australia Travis Major
Real Kashmir Scotland Mason Robertson
Sudeva Delhi
TRAU Brazil Helder Lobato Ribeiro Brazil Thales Lima Nigeria Joseph Olaleye / Brazil Bruno Rodrigues Uzbekistan Akobir Turaev
Sreenidi Deccan FC

First phase[]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Aizawl 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Championship stage
2 Chennai City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Churchill Brothers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Gokulam Kerala 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Indian Arrows[a] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 I-League 2nd Division winners 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Mohammedan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 NEROCA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation stage
9 Punjab 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Real Kashmir 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Sreenidi Deccan[b] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Sudeva Delhi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 TRAU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source:[citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
Notes:
  1. ^ Indian Arrows were exempted from relegation, as they are an AIFF developmental team.
  2. ^ Sreenidi Deccan FC will be exempted from relegation for this season, as they had achieved direct league entry.[25]


Second phase[]

Championship stage (Group A)[]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Champion, qualification for 2023 AFC Cup[26]
2 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:[citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots

Relegation stage (Group B)[]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:[citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots

Awards[]

  • Match 1 - 78 = First phase
  • Match 79 - 114 = Second phase

Hero of the match[]

Match No. Hero of the match Match No. Hero of the match Match No. Hero of the match
Player Club Player Club Player Club
Match 1 Match 2 Match 3
Match 4 Match 5 Match 6
Match 7 Match 8 Match 9
Match 10 Match 11 Match 12
Match 13 Match 14 Match 15
Match 16 Match 17 Match 18
Match 19 Match 20 Match 21
Match 22 Match 23 Match 24
Match 25 Match 26 Match 27
Match 28 Match 29 Match 30
Match 31 Match 32 Match 33
Match 34 Match 35 Match 36
Match 37 Match 38 Match 39
Match 40 Match 41 Match 42
Match 43 Match 44 Match 45
Match 46 Match 47 Match 48
Match 49 Match 50 Match 51
Match 52 Match 53 Match 54
Match 55 Match 56 Match 57
Match 58 Match 59 Match 60
Match 61 Match 62 Match 63
Match 64 Match 65 Match 66
Match 67 Match 68 Match 69
Match 70 Match 71 Match 72
Match 73 Match 74 Match 75
Match 76 Match 77 Match 78
Match 79 Match 80 Match 81
Match 82 Match 83 Match 84
Match 85 Match 86 Match 87
Match 88 Match 89 Match 90
Match 91 Match 92 Match 93
Match 94 Match 95 Match 96
Match 97 Match 98 Match 99
Match 100 Match 101 Match 102
Match 103 Match 104 Match 105
Match 106 Match 107 Match 108
Match 109 Match 110 Match 111
Match 112 Match 113 Match 114
Source: The AIFF

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Gokulam Kerala script incredible comeback to win maiden I-League". Times of India. 27 March 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  2. ^ "AIFF invites bids for new clubs to join Hero I-League 2020 onwards". AIFF. 5 June 2020. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Sudeva and Sreenidhi granted playing rights in Hero I-League from 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  4. ^ "AIFF likely to keep relegation on hold in I-League". 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Hero I-League 2020-21 to start on January 9 with a new shorter format". the-aiff.com. 7 November 2020. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Aizawl FC announce Vamos as Kit Sponsor". 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  7. ^ Das Sharma, Amitabha (19 January 2018). "Aizawl looks to build future with own hands". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nivia Sports Official Website". Nivia Sports. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Gokulam Kerala sign new kit sponsorship deal with SEGA Shoes". Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  10. ^ "The Club - Gokulam Kerala FC". gokulamkeralafc.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  11. ^ "NEW YEAR, NEW KIT FOR INDIAN FOOTBALL". 19 December 2018. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Mohammedan Sporting appointed Andrey Chernyshov as head coach". IFTWC.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Mohammedan Sporting Club - Official Website". Mohammedan. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "I-League – Former I-League winning coach Khogen Singh signs for NEROCA FC". IFTWC. 4 July 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  15. ^ NEROCA F.C. [@NerocaFC] (2 September 2021). "We are glad to announce Nivia Sports as the official kit partner of Neroca FC" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 September 2021 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "The launching pad is on!". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  17. ^ RoundGlass Punjab FC [@SIX5SIXSport] (17 September 2021). "We are excited to welcome @RGPunjabFC to the @SIX5SIXSport family for the next 3 years!" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 September 2021 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "Real Kashmir FC: Official Website". Arunava Chaudhuri. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "Real Kashmir FC: Official Website". Real Kashmir FC. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Sreenidhi FC appoint Fernando Varela as head coach for I-League 2021-22 season". Sportskeeda. 20 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Our Sponsors & Partners". Sudeva Delhi FC. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Mohammedan Sporting appointed Russian Andrey Chernyshov as their head coach |". IFTWC.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ "AIFF Implements '3+1' rule for I-League 2020-21". Indo-Asian News Service. Times Now. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Sudeva FC wins bid for direct entry into the I-League - All you need to know | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  26. ^ "AFC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPROVE INDIAN FOOTBALL ROADMAP". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
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