Template:Infobox football league season
The 2021–22 I-League (also known as Hero I-League for sponsorship reasons) was the 15th season of I-League, last as the top tier of Indian football league system, since its establishment in 2007. All the matches were hosted in a bio-secure bubble in West Bengal due to COVID-19 pandemic in India.
After the commencement of the first match-week of the league on 27 December 2021, the tournament got suspended on 29 December due to reports of numerous COVID-19 cases among the players and staff.[1] All India Football Federation released new dates on 1 February 2022, with a revised schedule of the league resuming from 3 March.
The AIFF allowed spectators in the second phase of the league.[2] On final matchday, with only a draw needed, Gokulam Kerala defeated Mohammedan by 2–1 to successfully defend the title, becoming the first team to do so in I-League and first time in 14 years to do so in the Indian football league's history.[3]
Changes from last season
Number of clubs
The total number of clubs participating increased from 11 in the previous season to 13 in this season.
In 2020 the 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.[4] On 12 August 2020, the AIFF announced that Sreenidi Deccan, which is based in Visakhapatnam would join from this season.[5][6]
On 4 December 2021, the AIFF replaced Chennai City by Kenkre.
Promoted clubs
Promoted from the 2021 I-League Qualifiers
Through Direct entry
Relegated clubs
Relegated from the 2020–21 I-League
- NoneTemplate:Efn
Notes: Template:Notelist
Format
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament's format was shortened last season, and the same format is being followed. 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 seven teams will face each other once again in the Championship stage, where the team with most points (cumulative points collected from all seventeen matches) will be declared the winner of the league and qualify for the Playoffs for 2023–24 AFC Cup group stage. The other six teams will play against each other in a Relegation stage where the team with the lowest points (cumulative points collected from all sixteen matches) will be relegated to 2nd Division League.[7]
Teams
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Stadiums and locations
AIFF declared West Bengal as the venue for the second straight season on 26 June,[8] with all matches being played at Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani and Naihati Stadium in Naihati.[9] The final match of the league was later rescheduled to be hosted at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
Personnel and sponsorship
Managerial changes
Transfers
Foreign players
AIFF allowed maximum of six foreign players including one from AFC-affiliated country per team but only four can be part of matchday squad.[27] Indian Arrows cannot sign any foreign player as they are part of AIFF's developmental program.
Phase 1
Standings
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Fixtures and results
All matches were played at neutral venues. The "home" and "away" are designated to identify Team 1 and Team 2 respectively. Script error: No such module "sports results".
Positions by round
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Results by games
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Phase 2
Championship stage (Group A)
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Relegation stage (Group B)
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Fixtures and results
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Positions by round
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Results by games
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Final standings
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Season statistics
Top scorers
- As of 15 May 2022
Note: Only top 10 goalscorers of the season has been listed below.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Marcus Joseph | Mohammedan | 15 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Kurtis Guthrie | RoundGlass Punjab | 13 |
| Template:Flagicon Luka Majcen | Gokulam Kerala | ||
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Sergio Mendigutxia | NEROCA | 10 |
| Template:Flagicon David Castañeda | Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Template:Flagicon Kenneth Ikechukwu | Churchill Brothers | ||
| 7 | Template:Flagicon Mason Robertson | Real Kashmir | 9 |
| Template:Flagicon Jourdaine Fletcher | Gokulam Kerala | ||
| 9 | Template:Flagicon Tiago Adan | Real Kashmir | 7 |
| 10 | Template:Flagicon Ogana Louis | Sreenidi Deccan | 6 |
| Template:Flagicon Komron Tursunov | Churchill Brothers |
Top assists
- As of 14 May 2022
Note: Only top 3 assist providers have been listed below.
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Nikola Stojanović | Mohammedan | 9 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Luka Majcen | Gokulam Kerala | 7 |
| 3 | Template:Flagicon Travis Major | RoundGlass Punjab | 5 |
| Template:Flagicon Juan Mera | NEROCA | ||
| Template:Flagicon Lalchungnunga | Sreenidi Deccan |
Hat-tricks
Note: The score of the player's team is displayed first in the result column.
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon Sergio Mendigutxia | NEROCA | Sreenidi Deccan | 3–2 | 27 December 2021 |
| Template:Flagicon Luka Majcen | Gokulam Kerala | Kenkre | 6–2 | 12 March 2022 |
| Sudeva Delhi | 4–0 | 15 April 2022 | ||
| Template:Flagicon Lalromawia | Sreenidi Deccan | Gokulam Kerala | 3–1 | 10 May 2022 |
Clean sheets
- As of 14 May 2022
Note: Only top 5 goalkeepers with most cleansheets have been listed below.
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Bhaskar Roy | Rajasthan United | 8 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Rakshit Dagar | Gokulam Kerala | 7 |
| 3 | Template:Flagicon Zothanmawia | Mohammedan | 6 |
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Sachin Jha | Sudeva Delhi | 5 |
| 5 | Template:Flagicon Aryan Niraj Lamba | Sreenidi Deccan | 4 |
| Template:Flagicon Loitongbam Bishorjit Singh | TRAU |
Discipline
Player
- Most yellow cards: 7
- Template:Flagicon Mauro dos Santos (Rajasthan United)
- Most red cards: 2
- Template:Flagicon Robert Primus (Aizawl)
Club
- Most yellow cards: 35
- Most red cards: 5
Awards
- Match 1 - 78 = First phase
- Match 79 - 114 = Second phase
Hero of the Match
Season awards
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Hero of the League | Template:Flagicon Marcus Joseph (Mohammedan) |
| Golden Boot | Template:Flagicon Marcus Joseph (Mohammedan) |
| Golden Glove | Template:Flagicon Bhaskar Roy (Rajasthan United) |
| Jarnail Singh Award (Best Defender) | Template:Flagicon Aminou Bouba (Gokulam Kerala) |
| Best Midfielder | Template:Flagicon Jithin MS (Gokulam Kerala) |
| Syed Abdul Rahim Award (Best Coach) | Template:Flagicon Vincenzo Alberto Annese (Gokulam Kerala) |
| Emerging Player of the League | Template:Flagicon Jiteshwor Singh (NEROCA) |
| Fair Play Award | Indian Arrows |
I-League All Stars
A combined all Indian squad of this season's I-League was prepared to play to a friendly against India national football team.[28][29]
- Goalkeepers: Bhaskar Roy, Shubham Dhas.
- Defenders: Manoj Mohammad, Mohammed Salah, Chungnunga Lal, Lalramchullova, Suresh Meitei, Asheer Akhtar, Gurmukh Singh, Tanmoy Ghosh.
- Midfielders: Faisal Ali, Sweden Fernandes, William Pauliankhum, Freddy Lallawmawma, Konsam Phalguni Singh, Maheson Singh, Jijo Joseph, Kabir Nath, Jiteshwor Singh.
- Forwards: Ranjeet Singh Pandre, Parthib Sundar Gogoi.
See also
References
- ↑ I-League likely to be suspended for two weeks after many players test positive for Covid-19 dgtl. anandabazar.com. Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ↑ Fans to be Allowed in Selected Areas for Hero I-League 2021-22 Phase 2 Matches(18 April 2022). Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ↑ Gokulam Kerala 2-1 Mohammedan SC Highlights: GKFC becomes 1st club in 15 years to defend the I-League, TEAM SPORTSTAR, 21:22 IST. sportstar.thehindu.com. Sportstar(14 May 2022). Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Sreenidhi Football Club. AIFF. Retrieved 13 August 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.
- ↑ I-League 2021-22 to be held in Kolkata: Everything you need to know | Goal.com. www.goal.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ↑ I-League to kick off on Boxing Day in Kolkata; 13 teams to compete this season. Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ↑ Aizawl FC announce Vamos as Kit Sponsor. Facebook(20 November 2020). Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ↑ Aizawl looks to build future with own hands. The Hindu(19 January 2018). Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ↑ Un viaje en busca de la fortuna [A journey in search of fortune], Ruiz, Bernardo. muchodeporte.com. Fútbol Regional(15 February 2022). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ I-LEAGUE: Introducing shirt sponsors of every I-league club for 2021-22 season, Zaidi, Waseem. www.khelnow.com. Khel Now(21 January 2022). Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ↑ NEW YEAR, NEW KIT FOR INDIAN FOOTBALL(19 December 2018). Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ↑ Mohammedan Sporting appointed Andrey Chernyshov as head coach. IFTWC.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ↑ Mohammedan Sporting Club - Official Website. Mohammedan. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 I-League – Former I-League winning coach Khogen Singh signs for NEROCA FC. IFTWC(4 July 2021). Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ↑ Template:Cite tweet
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Real Kashmir FC: Official Website. Real Kashmir FC. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ Template:Cite tweet
- ↑ Real Kashmir FC: Official Website. Arunava Chaudhuri(11 April 2020). Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ Our Sponsors & Partners. Sudeva Delhi FC. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ Mohammedan Sporting appointed Russian Andrey Chernyshov as their head coach |. IFTWC.com(12 May 2021). Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Ashley Westwood appointed coach of Punjab Football Club. The Statesman. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- ↑ AIFF Implements '3+1' rule for I-League 2020-21. Times Now(14 May 2020). Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ↑ I-League stars to face national team in friendly. Times of India(24 April 2022).
- ↑ Indian Football team comfortably defeats I-League XI. Football Monk(18 May 2022). Retrieved 17 April 2023.
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