India loves football with all its heart. Many stars joined Indian clubs: Del Piero, Trezeguet, Nesta, Forlan, and others. There is no doubt that the national team of the country will soon get to the World Cup. In this article, we will tell you the history of how Indian football developed over the years.
Timid first steps
Football was brought into India by the British. In 1872, the first football club (Calcutta) appeared in the country. Around the same time, football teams began to emerge in Europe as well.
In the 19th century, there were football teams of sailors, merchants, military men, and priests. The first major success of that time happened in 1892 when Sovabazar FC won the Trades Cup trophy. This went down in Indian history.
The country's first football federation was founded in 1893. It is noteworthy that there were no Indians present in it until the 1930s. In 1937, the All India Federation was created, which joined FIFA almost 10 years later.
In 1950, the Indian team even had the chance to compete in the World Cup, as many teams refused to take part in the tournament. But, unfortunately, the Indians did not have the opportunity to get to Brazil. The national team has never been so close to getting into the World Cup ever since.
The Blue Tigers are going to miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as well. Despite this, many fans are going to watch World Cup matches and bet on them. The best sites for this can be found at https://bookmaker-ratings.com/.
Rise of Indian football
In 1951, Indians achieved their first international success by winning the Asian Games. When the national team defeated Iran in the final match, the whole country took to the streets to celebrate the success of their team with songs and dances.
In 1956, the Indian team came fourth in the Olympics. This success is up to now an inspiration for local footballers.
1964 was marked by second place in the Asian Cup. This period from 1951 to 1964 is considered to be the golden time in Indian football history.
Indian football in the XXI century
After the 1960s, the development of football in the country stalled. There were semi-professional competitions (Federation Cup, Durand Cup, IFA Shield, and others). The first national professional league appeared only in 1996. Since 2007, the championship has become known as the I-League. Scouts of Indian clubs began to invite foreign players, mostly Africans.
In 2013, the Super League appeared. This became another major national championship, where they began to invite world football stars.
Super League facts
European football legends at the end of their careers wanted to earn some extra money and therefore came to the Super League en masse. The pioneers were Del Piero, Anelka, Trezeguet, Ljungberg and Pires. There they received several times more than they could earn in Europe at their age.
Since 2014, Europeans have changed their perception of Indian football. Meanwhile, the country's football clubs have chosen a very effective strategy. They didn't shell out $50 million for older players like Asian clubs did but signed them as free agents.
After the arrival of world stars, European companies (Eurosport, Star TV, Fox Sports) began to broadcast Super League matches.
There are 10 teams in this tournament nowadays. The season lasts from October to March. Interestingly, there is no elimination in the tournament. The most titled club is ATK Kolkata, which accounts for three championships.
So what is Indian football like now?
India is experiencing a football boom: stadiums are being built, children's academies are opening, star footballers are coming to the country. Perhaps in a few years, Indian football will catch up with Asian football, but this will require serious investments in terms of labor and finances.
