Mahindra United FC

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Template:Infobox football club

Mahindra United Football Club (abbreviated as MUFC) was an Indian professional football club based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.[1] Mahindra United played in the I-League, the AFC–affiliated top tier football league in India before closing down at the end of 2009–10 season.[2][3]

The club was popularly referred as India's MU after the English Premier League powerhouse Manchester United.[4] Club was one of the most popular football clubs in the country and was known for its consistent good performance in the last four decades of its existence.[5] The club had won many major tournaments in India.[6][7]

History

Formation and journey

The club was founded in 1962 as the Mahindra & Mahindra Allied Sports Club under the patronage of Mahindra Group.[8] The club secured admission into Bombay's Harwood League in 1964.

In leagues of Mumbai

Since their inception, Mahindra became a member of Western India Football Association (WIFA) and later in 1983, became affiliated with Mumbai District Football Association (formerly BDFA). They participated in later editions of Bombay Harwood League alongside Maharashtra Football League, and won the Harwood League four times in 1970, 1982, 1984 and 1985.[9][10]

Mahindra later participated in W.I.F.A. Super Division from 1990 to 1999 and clinched WIFA title in 1995.

They later participated in MDFA Elite Division and lifted trophies consecutively from 2000 to 2004 and 2006 to 2009.[10][11]

NFL and other domestic competitions

From 2002 to 2003, Czech coach Karel Stromšík managed club in the National Football League.[12] In the summer of 2006, it was renamed to Mahindra United. The shirt colour was also changed from orange to red.

Team played its NFL home matches at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai,[13][14][15] but due to the bad state of the stadium, as of February 7, 2006, they had to play almost all of their NFL games at away venues.

Mahindra were crowned champions of NFL Premier Division for the first time in club's history in the 2005–06 season, with two games to spare.[16] They followed it up by beating their arch-rivals, Air India for the first time in the season. They are also two-time winners of the Indian Federation Cup, having won the title in 2003 and 2005.[17][18] The win in 2005 ensured that Mahindra became the first club in the history of Indian football to win the Federation Cup and National Football League double in the same season.[19][20] They did however lose the NFL Super Cup to East Bengal by a margin of 1–2.

Later years

In the 2006 edition of IFA Shield, Mahindra United emerged as champions, defeating Mohun Bagan AC by 1–0 in Kolkata.[21]

File:I League Daniel of Chirag United SC Mahindra United Salt Lake Kolkata.jpg
Mahindra United players blocking a freekick in an I-League match against ONGC.

Head coach of the team was Derrick Pereira. Players like Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, Manjit Singh and Surojit Bose have been associated with the team. The club also tried forming under-15 and under-19 teams in order to nurture the young talent in the country.[19]

Stadium

Template:Main

File:Cooperage Football Ground.jpg
Cooperage Football Ground before renovation

Mahindra United used the Cooperage Ground, located in Mumbai,[22] During the National Football League days, it had a capacity of nearly 12,000 spectators.[23]

Disbanding the club

In 2010, it was announced that club will be disbanded after the end of the 2009–10 I-League.[24][25] The decision was a major blow for football in Mumbai. Alan Durante, the chairman of Mahindra United, who's been with the team since 1991 and under whom Mahindra have won almost everything in Indian football, said it wasn't about costs.

Template:Quote box

Ruzbeh Irani, executive vice-president said: It was in line with our group’s philosophy and shift, from taking part in professional sport to developing it. We feel we can make much difference to sport in India at the school level in football, instead of running a professional team.[26]

Achievements

Mahindra United had won almost all the major competitions in India.[27] It was the only team from Mumbai to win Durand Cup, the second oldest football competition in the world, twice. It was also the first team from Maharashtra to win the Harwood League and Nadkarni Cup three times in a row. The club has also been two times winner of IFA Shield and Federation Cup. There are several other championships like Mammen Mappillai Cup, Rovers Cup, Chief Minister's Cup and Super Cup where Mahindra United has registered victories.[19]

On international level, Mahindra United became the first Indian club to reach the quarter-finals of the 2007 AFC Cup, before losing 4–5 on aggregate to Lebanese side Al-Najmeh SC.[28][29][30]

Honours

International

File:Simple cup icon.svg Champions (1): 2003[31]
Quarter-final (1): 2007

Domestic

File:Durand Cup.jpg
The Durand Cup trophy won by Mahindra United for three times in 1998, 2001–02 and 2008.
Template:Gold1 Champions (1): 2005–06[32]
Template:Bronze3 Third Place (2): 2003–04, 2006–07
File:Simple cup icon.svg Champions (3): 1998, 2001–02, 2008[33]
File:Simple cup icon.svg Champions (2): 2003, 2005[34]
Template:Silver2 Runners-up (3): 1991, 1993,[35] 2007
File:Simple cup icon.svg Champions (1): 2003
Template:Silver2 Runners-up (1): 2006[36]
File:Simple cup icon.svg Champions (2): 2006,[37] 2008[38]
File:Simple cup icon.svg Champions (1): 1993[39]
Template:Silver2 Runners-up (2): 1970–71, 1990
  • Mumbai Harwood League
Template:Gold1 Champions (1): 2005[40]
Template:Gold1 Champions (14): 1971, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
File:Simple cup icon.svg Champions (3): 1986, 2001, 2002[41]
Template:Silver2 Runners-up (3): 1968, 1974, 2005
  • Mammen Mappillai Trophy
File:Simple cup icon.svg Champions (1): 1999[42]
  • Bandodkar Gold Trophy
File:Simple cup icon.svg Champions (1): 1980[43]
Template:Silver2 Runners-up (1): 1988

Others

  • 1998 : Chief Ministers Cup

Performance in AFC competitions

Template:See also

2004: Group stage
2006: Group stage
2007: Quarter-finals

Notable former players

For all current and former Mahindra United players, see Mahindra United FC players.

Final staff

Role Name
Head coach Template:Flagicon David Booth
Assistant coach Template:Flagicon Arshad Hussain
Team manager Template:Flagicon Henry Menezes
Physio Template:Flagicon Sandeep Kurale
Medical head Template:Flagicon N. N. Shingornikar

Youth teams

Mahindra United under–19

In an attempt to nurture young talent and promote football in Mumbai, Mahindra United fielded an under-19 team from 2003. The team performed extremely well in the National Football League (Under-19) and reached the semi-finals, beating teams like Churchill Brothers and Salgaocar.

Mahindra United participated in I-league (Under-19), held since 2008.

Under–15 and 17

Spurred by the success of its U-19 team, Mahindra United fielded both U-15 and U-17 teams from 2006. The U-15 team played Manchester United Premier Cup Asian Qualifiers held at Kolkata, where top NFL clubs also participated.

Youth setup has also participated in the Manchester United Premier Cup in 2010.[47]

Managerial history

Error creating thumbnail:
Dronacharya coach Syed Nayeemuddin was manager of Mahindra United from 2004 to 2005.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 11th "ONGC Cup" National Football League 2006/07 www.indianfootball.com. Retrieved 1 June 2021
  2. ↑ I League: Rafi is Mahindra United's Player Of The Season - Kerala football news. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Mahindra United FC 2007–2009. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  4. ↑ Mahindra United end pro football stint on winning note. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  5. ↑ A look back into the dysfunctional clubs in the past decade of Indian football. The Bridge. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Glorytales of Indian Football: Mahindra United and their success story under Derek Pereira. sports-nova.com. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  7. ↑ THE DEATH OF MAHINDRA UNITED. inbedwithmaradona.com. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  8. ↑ Indias biggest league. financialexpress.com. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  9. ↑ History: The Harwood League wifa.in. Retrieved 17 August 2021
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 India - List of Mumbai (Bombay) League Champions RSSSF. Retrieved 17 August 2021
  11. ↑ MFA Elite Division 2016–17: The Big Preview. Football Counter(7 December 2016). Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  12. ↑ Karel Stromšík manager profile p2k.itbu.ac.id. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  13. ↑ India File -- Starry opening to National Soccer League. The Indian Express(14 December 1996). Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  14. ↑ JCT wins inaugural Philips NFL title. The Indian Express(17 March 1997). Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  15. ↑ National League all set for kick-off. The Indian Express(17 December 1996). Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  16. ↑ NFL Champions and Goalscorers. Rediff. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  17. ↑ Mahindra United lift Federation Cup The Times of India. Retrieved 20 July 2021
  18. ↑ India – List of Federation Cup Winners Template:Webarchive, RSSSF.com
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Mahindra United – Mahindra United Indian Football Club – Mahindra United Club Football India. Iloveindia.com. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
  20. ↑ India - List of National Champions. RSSSF. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  21. ↑ India Cup Tournaments 2006/07. www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  22. ↑ A Shot in the arm for Cooperage Ground(11 June 2011). Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  23. ↑ FIFA sanctions 2 million grant for Cooperage(15 April 2011). Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  24. ↑ Mahindra United to disband team. Hindustan Times(2010-04-30). Retrieved 2011-01-24.
  25. ↑ Reliving the title run of Mumbai’s only national champions – Mahindra United 2005-06 season. Football Counter. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  26. ↑ Mahindra United to be disbanded - Owners shift focus to the grassroot level; Coach david Booth shocked The Telegraph India. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  27. ↑ Five Indian football clubs fans wish were still in existence. Khel Now. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  28. ↑ Mahindra United FC in AFC Cup last eight Rediff.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  29. ↑ Indian clubs in AFC Champions League and AFC Cup tournaments Goal.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  30. ↑ AFC Cup: Mahindra United vs Najmeh Sporting club Beirut Soccerway.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  31. ↑ Referees and foreign teams to arrive Male' tomorrow. Haveeru Online(12 October 2003). Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  32. ↑ Rise of a new champion: When Mahindra United became the first Mumbai team to win the NFL title. Scroll.in. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  33. ↑ List of Durand Cup tournament winners and runner-ups RSSSF. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  34. ↑ From the history book, roll of honour(10 January 2015).
  35. ↑ [{{{url}}} Bagan keep Federation Cup]. The Indian Express(29 April 1993).
  36. ↑ Mahindra United. iloveindia.com. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  37. ↑ India Cup Tournaments 2006/07. www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  38. ↑ Mahindra strikes. Sportstar.theHindu.com. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  39. ↑ India - List of Rovers Cup Finals. Rsssf.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  40. ↑ Mumbai Harwood League 2005 statistics and archive Indianfootball.de. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  41. ↑ India - List of Nadkarni Cup Finals. Rsssf.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  42. ↑ List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Mammen Mappillai Trophy: Kottayam, Kerala indianfootball.de. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  43. ↑ List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Bandodkar Gold Trophy: Goa indianfootball.de. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  44. ↑ Reliving the title run of Mumbai’s only national champions – Mahindra United 2005-06 season. Footballcounter.com. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  45. ↑ Mahindra United in AFC Cup last eight. m.Rediff.com. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  46. ↑ How have Indian clubs fared in AFC Champions League and AFC Cup?. Goal.com. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  47. ↑ Shillong Lajong FC sign three players. Times of India(4 January 2016).
  48. ↑ Season Ending Transfers In Indian Football: 1998 indianfootball.de. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  49. ↑ ‘I always fight until the final whistle’: Syed Shahid Hakim recovers from COVID-19 The Indian Express. Retrieved 30 July 2021
  50. ↑ Season Ending Transfers In Indian Football: 2001 indianfootball.de. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  51. ↑ Indian Football "HALL OF FAME". indianfootball.de. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  52. ↑ Season Ending Transfers In Indian Football: 2002 indianfootball.de. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  53. ↑ David Booth officially signs 3-year deal with Mahindra United(2009-05-13). Retrieved 2009-06-06.
  54. ↑ Legends Of Indian Football : Sayeed Nayeemuddin. thehardtackle.com(25 July 2013). Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  55. ↑ Derrick to take over as Churchill coach. sportstarlive.com(17 February 2017). Retrieved 23 February 2017.

Template:Durand winners Template:I-League Champions Template:Mahindra Group

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