Delinker at 13:17, 31 July 2023

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{{About|the club from Kerala that was sponsored by Chirag|the Kolkata sponsored club|Prayag United S.C.|}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2013}}

'''Chirag United Club Kerala''', (formerly known as '''Viva Kerala Football Club'''),<ref>[http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/chirag-united-kerala-season-review-20011-12/ Chirag United Kerala Season: 2011-12 I-League] ''The Hard Tackle''. Retrieved 2 July 2021</ref> was an [[India]]n professional [[association football]] club based in the city of [[Kochi]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]. The club was originally formed in 2004, as ''Viva Kerala''. They played in the [[I-League]], the top tier of [[Football in India|Indian Football]] alongside [[Kerala Premier League]]. The club was dissolved in 2012.
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Viva Kerala
| image = Chirag United Club Kerala.jpg
| image_size = 180px
| fullname = Chirag United Club Kerala<ref>[https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/chirag-united/ Chirag United Club Kerala] ''worldfootball.net''. Retrieved 23 February 2021</ref>
| nickname = ''United''
| founded = 9 May 2004
| owner = Chirag United Sports Pvt Ltd<ref>[https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/sports/the-new-chirag-united-club-kerala#aoh=16140782539491&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s The new Chirag United Club Kerala] ''Sportskeeda''. Retrieved 23 February 2021</ref>
| dissolved = 2012
| ground = [[EMS Corporation Stadium]]<br>[[Jawahar Municipal Stadium]]<br>[[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| capacity = 80,000 (EMS Stadium)<br>30,000 (JM Stadium)<br>80,000 (JLN Stadium)
| pattern_la1 =
| pattern_b1 =
| pattern_sh1 =
| pattern_ra1 = |
| leftarm1 = 0030C0
| body1 = FFFF00
| shorts1 = FFFF00
| rightarm1 = 0030C0
| socks1 = FFFF00
| pattern_la2 = _whiteborder
| pattern_b2 = _whitecollar
| pattern_ra2 = _whiteborder
| pattern_sh2 = |
| leftarm2 = FFFFFF
| body2 = FFFFFF
| rightarm2 = FFFFFF
| shorts2 = FFFF00
| socks2 = FFFFFF
| Dissolved =
}}

Chirag United Kerala is probably one of the most talented and the youngest sides in the I-League, but they are also referred as the most unlucky sides in the league too.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bera|first=Kaustav|title=Pailan Arrows 1-1 Chirag United Kerala: Pailan Fail To Capitalize On Their Numerical Superiority To Win|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/69380/pailan-arrows-vs-chirag-united-club-kerala/report|work=Goal.com|publisher=Goal.com|access-date=5 May 2012}}</ref>

==History==
{{details|History of Chirag United Club Kerala}} 

Chirag United Club Kerala was formed on 8 August 2004. The club officially took off on 19 August in a ceremony at the FACT grounds. The club was formed by a group of businessmen who felt the need for the state's representation in country's top football league, the [[National Football League (India)|National Football League]] (NFL). Viva Kerala's name is the result of a contest, won by Dr. P Ramakrishnan of [[Ernakulam]].

In 2007 the opportunity for an NFL spot came in the way of Second Division NFL. Viva surprised everyone by finishing second in its group and qualified for the final phase. In the final phase, Viva Kerala finished as runners-up of the Second Division NFL to book their place in the I-League 2007–08 on 6 April 2007. The club were relegated to 2nd division at the end of I-league 2007–08. In the next season Viva Kerala were promoted for the [[I-League 2009–10|2009–10]] season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/lists/i-league-how-newly-promoted-teams-have-performed/ma7hveltk8i91ieo2d5oos8jg|title=I-League: How newly-promoted teams have performed|website=Goal.com|access-date=12 May 2021}}</ref>

In 2010 it was announced that I-League clubs needed to complete the AFC club licensing criteria; Viva signed P.K Kunhikrishnan (A-licensed coach) as the new head coach. In August 2011, Chirag Computers was announced as the to be new majority owners and the club name would change to Chirag United Club Kerala.

[[File:Pradeep and chintha.jpg|thumb|NP pradeep and chintha chandrashekhar Rao of Chirag United in 2011]]
In June 2011 '''Chirag Computers''' bought the financially troubled Viva Kerala FC. They took over a 60% stake in the club while original owners retained a 40% stake. They also changed the name of the club to Chirag United Club Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 8, 2012|first=Vineeth |last=Krishnan |title=New owners for Chirag United Kerala? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/New-owners-for-Chirag-United-Kerala/articleshow/13045346.cms|access-date=2020-06-29|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> Chirag Computers have also said that they might move the team to [[Kolkata]] if they do not find a suitable stadium in [[Kerala]].<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/article2299628.ece</ref> The name of the team was officially changed to '''Chirag United Club Kerala''' on 6 August 2011. While the new owners announced that team will be based in Kerala for the [[2011-12 I-League]], there were talks of shifting the team to Kolkata after the season. This would leave the state of Kerala without representation in the [[I-League]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=I-League: Viva Kerala Hope To Stay In Kerala; Club Fans Ridicule Idea Of Shifting Base|url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2011/07/02/2556395/|access-date=2020-06-29|website=www.goal.com}}</ref> Many supporters of the club had come out strongly against this idea. Finally the club got dissolved in 2012.

===2011–12 (last season)===
[[File:VivaDefence.jpg|300px|thumb|Viva Kerala players (''in white'') in action during [[Kerala Premier League]] in 2011.]]
Chirag were eliminated from the Federation Cup in the group stages when they lost all three group D matches;<ref name="fed cup">[http://www.goal.com/en-india/results-standings/176/federation-cup/group] Federation Cup 2011 standings</ref> Coach K.P. Kunhikrishan was replaced by Sri Lankan Pakir Ali.<ref name="pakir-ali-appointed">[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/article2507512.ece?css=print] Pakir Ali to coach United Kerala</ref> Pakir was sacked in February after a poor run; Biswajit Bhattacharya was appointed as the technical director and was put in charge of the team.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/article2914420.ece] Desperate Chirag United fires Packeer</ref> Chirag finished second to last at 12th in the 2011–12 I-League season, Pailan Arrows had finished 13th were exempted from relegation as a "developmental team", and so Chirag relegated.<ref name="2012-i-league-tabel">{{cite web |url=http://the-aiff.com/pages/tournament/teamstanding.php?tournamentdetail=75 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-07-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719040025/http://www.the-aiff.com/pages/tournament/teamstanding.php?tournamentdetail=75 |archive-date=19 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }} I League table 2011-12</ref><ref name="relegation">[http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/article3353738.ece] Chirag Kerala relegated</ref> Players may have had difficulty being paid when Chirag Computers may not have released sponsorship money to the club.<ref>[http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2012/05/14/3102700/unpaid-dues-to-players-and-club-haunt-chirag-united-kerala] Unpaid dues to players and club haunt Chirag United Kerala</ref>

==Crest==

The Chirag Crest was very colourful. It shows a yellow shield with the words ''"Chirag United Kerala"'', which is imposed over a [[Coconut tree]] and a [[Soccer ball]].

==Stadiums==
{{Main|EMS Stadium}}
[[File:Kozhikode_EMS_Stadium.jpg|thumb|EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode, used as the hoke ground of Chirag United Club Kerala for the first thee seasons]]
Ever since their creation Chirag United Kerala have played in multiple stadiums. For their first three [[I-League]] seasons Chirag used the [[Municipal Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode|Municipal Corporation Stadium]] which holds a capacity of 80,000 in [[Kozhikode]] and [[Jawahar Municipal Stadium]] which holds a capacity of 30,000 in [[Kannur]].<ref name="Goal.com">{{cite news|title= Viva Kerala Hope To Stay in Kerala; Club Fans Ridicule Idea of Shifting Base|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2011/07/02/2556395/i-league-viva-kerala-hope-to-stay-in-kerala-club-fans|access-date=3 February 2017|work=Goal.com}}</ref>

[[File:Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi).jpg|thumb|alt=|centre|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in [[Kochi]]]]
They then after getting bought by Chirag Computers decided to move to the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi|Jawarharlal Nehru International Stadium]] in [[Kochi]] which boasts a capacity of 70,000 and has working floodlights. They played all their home games of [[2011–12 I-League]] at the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi|Jawarharlal Nehru International Stadium]].

==Ownership==
The club sense founding was ran by Musli Power X-tra (Kunnath Pharmaceuticals) mainly due the Power X-tra being major sponsors of the team. In July 2011 after not signing for then Viva Kerala, Chirag Computers came in and brought full stake in the club and changed the name to Chirag United Club Kerala.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2011/08/07/2608448/i-league-viva-kerala-renamed-as-chirag-united-kerala-its-turning- | title=I-League: Viva Kerala Renamed As Chirag United Kerala – It's Turning Into An Absolute Joke | publisher=Goal.com | date=7 August 2011 | access-date=24 October 2011 }}</ref>

==Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:center"
|-
! Period
! Kit Manufacturers
! Shirt Sponsor
|-
| 2004–2010
|rowspan="2"|''unknown''
|''none''
|-
| 2010–2011
| Musli Power X-tra
|-
| 2011–2012
| RP Clothing
| Chirag Computers
|}

==Honours==
{{details|Chirag United Club Kerala seasons}}

===Domestic===
* '''[[I-League 2nd Division]]'''
:{{SilverMedal}} Runners-up (1): [[2009 I-League 2nd Division|2009]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kolkatafootball.com/i-league-2nd-divn-2009.html|title=ONGC I-LEAGUE (2nd Division) 2008-2009|website=kolkatafootball.com|access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref><ref>[https://int.soccerway.com/national/india/i-league-2nd-division/2009/final-group/r8363/ 2009 I-League 2nd Division results] ''Soccerway.com''. Retrieved 23 February 2021</ref>

==See also==
* [[History of Chirag United Club Kerala]]
* [[Kerala Premier League]]
* [[List of football clubs in India|List of football clubs in Kerala]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://int.soccerway.com/teams/india/viva-kerala/8256/ Chirag United Club Kerala profile] at ''Soccerway.com''

{{I-League}}
{{Chirag United Club Kerala}}
{{Kerala Sports}}

[[Category:Chirag United Club Kerala| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Kerala]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 2004]]
[[Category:I-League clubs]]
[[Category:2004 establishments in Kerala]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:2012 disestablishments in India]]

Chirag United Club Kerala - Revision history

Delinker at 13:17, 31 July 2023