Template:Infobox football league season
The 2020–21 I-League (known as the Hero I-League for sponsorship reasons) was the 14th season of the I-League, one of the top tier Indian professional football leagues, since its establishment in 2007. The tournament was hosted in bio-secure bubble across four venues in Kolkata due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation in India.
Mohun Bagan was declared the champion of the 2019–20 season after the cancellation of matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic, since the second placed team could not catch up even if all 20 games were completed.[1] However, following Mohun Bagan's merger with Indian Super League (ISL) club ATK, the club began competing in the ISL from the 2020–21 ISL season.[2]
Throughout the First Phase, Churchill Brothers kept its dominance with an unbeaten run of 11 games, while in the Second Phase, Gokulam Kerala, Churchill Brothers and TRAU traded the lead several times throughout the Championship Stage. Entering the final matchday, Gokulam Kerala were ahead on goal difference. However, with the Gokulam and TRAU facing off, either team could claim the title with a win. A draw in the Gokulam Kerala–TRAU match and a win were needed for Churchill Brothers to be crowned champions. The game ended in a 4–1 win for Gokulam, giving the Malabarians their first I-league title and qualification for the AFC Cup. NEROCA finished bottom of the Relegation Stage and were to relegated, but were reinstated by AIFF after the viewing the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Changes from last season
Changes in rules and regulations
- AIFF has implemented the '3+1' foreigners rule from this season. Under this rule, each club will be allowed to field a maximum of four foreign players and one of those four foreign players must be from an AFC affiliated country.[4]
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this season's league format was shortened. All teams will face each other once in the first leg of the league, then they will be divided into two different groups. According to points table from first leg, top six teams will face each other once again in the Championship stage, where the team with most points (cumulative points collected from all fifteen matches) will be declared the winner of the league and qualify for the 2022 AFC Cup group stage. The other five teams will play against each other in a Relegation stage where the team with the lowest points (cumulative points collected from all fourteen matches) will be relegated to the 2nd Division League.[5]
Number of clubs
All India Football Federation (AIFF) issued an invitation to accept bids for new clubs from non I-League cities, like Delhi, Gangtok, Ranchi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mangalore, Bhopal, Lucknow, Kanpur, Ahmedabad and Calicut among many others, to join the league from 2020 onwards. The invitation mentioned that the entity which wins the bid will be granted the right to own and operate a new football club.[6] On 12 August, AIFF announced that Sudeva of Delhi would join the league from this season and Sreenidi Deccan, which is based in Hyderabad, will be playing from Visakhapatnam from the following season.[7][8][9]
East Bengal and Mohun Bagan moved to the Indian Super League, when East Bengal joined the league as an expansion team, while Mohun Bagan and ATK, the champions of 2019–20 ISL season, merged to play as ATK Mohun Bagan in the ISL.[10][11]
Promoted clubs
Promoted from the 2020 I-League qualifiers
Relegated clubs
Relegated from the 2019–20 I-League
- None
Teams
<section end="map" /> Template:Maplink <section end=map />
Stadiums and locations
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all the matches will be played in a single venue. AIFF declared Kolkata as the venue on 14 August.[13] Matches will be played in Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kishore Bharati Krirangan and Mohun Bagan Ground[14] in Kolkata, and Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani.[15]
| Stadium | Capacity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | 85,000 | Salt Lake, Kolkata |
| Kishore Bharati Krirangan | 12,000 | Jadavpore, Kolkata |
| Mohun Bagan Ground | 20,000 | Maidan, Kolkata |
| Kalyani Municipal Stadium | 20,000 | Kalyani, Nadia |
Personnel and sponsorship
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Template:Abbr | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gokulam Kerala | Template:Flagicon Fernando Santiago Varela | End of contract | 17 August 2020 | [32] | Pre-season | Template:Flagicon Vincenzo Alberto Annese | 19 August 2020 | [33] |
| Churchill Brothers | Template:Flagicon Mateus Costa | End of interim period | 23 September 2020 | [34] | Template:Flagicon Fernando Santiago Varela | 23 September 2020 | [34] | |
| Chennai City | Template:Flagicon Akbar Nawas | Mutual consent | 26 October 2020 | [35] | Template:Flagicon Satyasagara | 10 December 2020 | [36] | |
| Aizawl | Template:Flagicon Stanley Rozario | Mutual consent | 18 January 2021 | [37] | 10th | Template:Flagicon Yan Law | 19 January 2021 | [37] |
| Mohammedan | Template:Flagicon José Hevia | Mutual consent | 19 February 2021 | [38] | 7th | Template:Flagicon Sankarlal Chakraborty | 19 February 2021 | [39] |
Transfers
Foreign players
Minimum of three and maximum of four foreign players including one player from AFC—affiliated country per team.[40] Indian Arrows cannot sign any foreign players as they are a part of AIFF's developmental program. The newly joined team, Sudeva Delhi will field an all-Indian squad for its debut I-League season.[41]
First phase
Standings
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Fixtures and results
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Positions by matchday
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Results by games
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Second phase
Championship stage (Group A)
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Fixtures and results
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Positions by matchday
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Results by games
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Relegation stage (Group B)
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Fixtures and results
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Positions by matchday
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Results by games
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Final standings
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Season statistics
Scoring
Top scorers
The table includes only the top 10 goalscorers of this season.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Bidyashagar Singh | TRAU | 12 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Luka Majcen | Churchill Brothers | 11 |
| Template:Flagicon Denny Antwi | Gokulam Kerala | ||
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Clayvin Zuniga | Churchill Brothers | 8 |
| 5 | Template:Flagicon Chencho Gyeltshen | Punjab | 7 |
| 6 | Template:Flagicon Komron Tursunov | TRAU | 6 |
| Template:Flagicon Mason Robertson | Real Kashmir | ||
| Template:Flagicon Pedro Manzi | Mohammedan | ||
| Template:Flagicon Lukman Adefemi | Real Kashmir | ||
| 10 | Template:Flagicon Philip Adjah | Gokulam Kerala | 5 |
| Source: I-League | |||
Top Indian scorers
The table includes only the list of top Indian goalscorers with more than 2 goals in this season.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bidyasagar Singh | TRAU | 12 |
| 2 | MC Malsawmzuala | Aizawl | 3 |
| Lalremsanga Fanai | Aizawl | ||
| William Pauliankhum | Sudeva Delhi | ||
| Harsh Patre | Indian Arrows | ||
| Vineeth Velmurugan | Chennai City | ||
| Konsam Phalguni Singh | TRAU | ||
| Brandon Vanlalremdika | Aizawl | ||
| Kean Lewis | Sudeva Delhi | ||
| Danish Farooq Bhat | Real Kashmir | ||
| Emil Benny | Gokulam Kerala | ||
| Songpu Singsit | NEROCA | ||
| Source: I-League | |||
Top assists
The table includes only the top 10 assist providers of the season.
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Denny Antwi | Gokulam Kerala | 7 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Komron Tursunov | TRAU | 6 |
| 3 | Template:Flagicon Sena Ralte | Real Kashmir | 5 |
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Joseph Olaleye | TRAU | 4 |
| Template:Flagicon Tirthankar Sarkar | Mohammedan | ||
| Template:Flagicon Deepak Devrani | Gokulam Kerala | ||
| 7 | Template:Flagicon Songpu Singsit | NEROCA | 3 |
| Template:Flagicon Luka Majcen | Churchill Brothers | ||
| Template:Flagicon Nathaniel Garcia | NEROCA | ||
| Template:Flagicon Bryce Miranda | Churchill Brothers | ||
| Source: Global Sports Archive | |||
Hat-tricks
| Player | Club | Against | Goals | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon Bidyashagar Singh | TRAU | Mohammedan | 3 | 5 March 2021 |
| Real Kashmir | 10 March 2021 | |||
| Template:Flagicon Clayvin Zuniga | Churchill Brothers | Indian Arrows | 3 | 10 January 2021 |
| Template:Flagicon Lukman Adefemi | Real Kashmir | NEROCA | 3 | 13 February 2021 |
Clean Sheets
Template:Updated The table includes only the list of top goalkeepers with more than 1 cleansheet in this season.
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Kiran Chemjong | Punjab | 7 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Mithun Samanta | Real Kashmir | 5 |
| Template:Flagicon Rakshit Dagar | Sudeva Delhi | ||
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Shibinraj Kunniyil | Churchill Brothers | 4 |
| Template:Flagicon Ubaid Kadavath | Gokulam Kerala | ||
| 6 | Template:Flagicon Subham Roy | Mohammedan | 3 |
| Template:Flagicon Lalmuansanga | Aizawl | ||
| Template:Flagicon Bishorjit Singh | NEROCA | ||
| 9 | Template:Flagicon Shilton Paul | Churchill Brothers | 2 |
| Template:Flagicon Ahan Prakash | Indian Arrows | ||
| Template:Flagicon Amrit Gope | TRAU | ||
| Template:Flagicon Zothanmawia | Aizawl | ||
| Source: I-League | |||
Discipline
- Most yellow cards: 5[42]
- Lalrindika Ralte (Real Kashmir)
- Sairuat Kima (Sudeva Delhi)
- Most red cards: 2[42]
- Vincy Barretto (Gokulam Kerala)
Awards
- Match 1 - Match 55 = First Phase
- Match 56 - Match 80 = Second Phase
Hero of the Match
Season awards
| Award | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Hero of the League | Template:Flagicon Bidyashagar Singh[43] | TRAU |
| Golden Boot | Template:Flagicon Bidyashagar Singh[43] | TRAU |
| Golden Glove | Template:Flagicon Kiran Chemjong[43] | Punjab |
| Jarnail Singh Award (Best Defender) | Template:Flagicon Hamza Kheir[43] | Churchill Brothers |
| Best Midfielder | Template:Flagicon Konsam Phalguni Singh[43] | TRAU |
| Syed Abdul Rahim Award (Best Coach) | Template:Flagicon Leimapokpam Nandakumar Singh[43] | TRAU |
| Emerging Player of the League | Template:Flagicon Emil Benny[43] | Gokulam Kerala |
Team of the season
Template:Football squad on pitch Source: arunfoot.com
See also
References
- ↑ League Committee sends its recommendations to the AIFF Executive Committee | Hero I-League. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ↑ Bengaluru FC to play in AFC Cup playoffs as AIFF confirms all three continental spots for ISL teams. Scroll.in(4 June 2020).
- ↑ AIFF likely to keep relegation on hold in I-League. The Times of India(29 April 2021).
- ↑ ISL, I-League brace for upheaval as AIFF considers altering foreign player rules. The Indian Express(8 May 2020). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ↑ Hero I-League 2020-21 to start on January 9 with a new shorter format. the-aiff.com(7 November 2020). Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ↑ AIFF invites bids for new clubs to join Hero I-League 2020 onwards. AIFF(5 June 2020). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ↑ Sudeva and Sreenidhi granted playing rights in Hero I-League from 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
- ↑ Sudeva FC becomes first club from Delhi to play in I-League. The Times of India(2020-08-12). Retrieved 2020-08-12.
- ↑ Sreenidhi Football Club. AIFF. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ↑ East Bengal to play in ISL 2020-21 - Mamata Banerjee. ISL(9 September 2020). Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ↑ Mohun Bagan, ATK announce merger; to play ISL next season. The Hindu(16 January 2020). Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ↑ Mohammedan secure coveted Hero I-League return after 2-0 win over Bhawanipore. i-league.org. AIFF(16 October 2020). Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ↑ Hero I-League and Hero 2nd division Qualifiers to be held in Kolkata. www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
- ↑ Fixtures Page | Hero I-League. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
- ↑ Sudeva Delhi FC, Mohammedan SC to get Hero I-League 2020-21 underway on January 9. www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
- ↑ Aizawl FC announce Vamos as Kit Sponsor. Facebook(20 November 2020).
- ↑ Aizawl looks to build future with own hands. The Hindu(19 January 2018). Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Nivia Sports Official Website. Nivia Sports. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ Gokulam Kerala sign new kit sponsorship deal with SEGA Shoes. Facebook. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ↑ The Club - Gokulam Kerala FC. gokulamkeralafc.com. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ↑ NEW YEAR, NEW KIT FOR INDIAN FOOTBALL(19 December 2018). Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ↑ Mohammedan Sport club announce Trak Only as new kit sponsor. Facebook.com. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- ↑ Mohammedan Sporting Club - Official Website. Mohammedan. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ Template:Cite tweet
- ↑ The launching pad is on!. Facebook.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ↑ RoundGlass Punjab Football Club. T10 Sports. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ Real Kashmir FC: Official Website. Arunava Chaudhuri(11 April 2020). Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Real Kashmir FC: Official Website. Real Kashmir FC. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ Sudeva announce Puma as new Kit partner. Sudeva Delhi FC. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ↑ Our Sponsors & Partners. Sudeva Delhi FC. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ ROMI BAG will be the kit partner for TRAU for this edition of I League.. facebook.com/officialtraufc. TRAU FC (facebook). Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ↑ GKFC bid adieu to Fernando Santiago Varela. gokulamkeralafc.com(17 August 2020). Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ↑ Gokulam Kerala FC appoints Italian Vincenzo Annese as coach. Sportstar(1 August 2020). Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Fernando Santiago Varela appointed new Churchill Brothers head coach. khelnow.com(24 September 2020). Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ↑ Chennai City FC and coach Akbar Nawas part ways. Sportstar(26 October 2020). Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ↑ Chennai City FC name Satyasagara as new head coach. The Times of India(10 December 2020). Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 Aizawl FC part ways with Rozario | Football News. The Times of India.
- ↑ Mohammedan SC sack Jose Hevia, copy official statement from NorthEast United. The Bridge(2021-02-20). Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ↑ I-League Live Streaming, Mohammedan Sporting Vs Chennai City: Preview, When And Where To Watch. www.outlookindia.com/. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ↑ AIFF Implements '3+1' rule for I-League 2020-21. Times Now(14 May 2020). Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ↑ Sudeva to field an all-Indian team in Hero I-League 2020-21, confirms President Anuj Gupta. i-league.org. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Statistics | Hero I-League.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 43.6 I-League 2020-21: List of Award Winners as TRAU FC Win Maximum Accolades. News18(27 March 2021). Retrieved 2021-03-27.
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