2020–21 I-League

The 2020–21 Hero I-League is the 14th season of the I-League, one of the top Indian professional football leagues, since its establishment in 2007.

Hero I-League
Season2020–21
Dates9 January 2021 – 28 March 2021
Matches played30
Goals scored70 (2.33 per match)
Top goalscorerClayvin Zuniga
(5 goals)
Biggest home winReal Kashmir 6–0 Indian Arrows
(4 February 2021)
Biggest away winIndian Arrows 0–4 NEROCA
(20 January 2021)
Chennai City 0–4 Sudeva Delhi
(3 February 2021)
Highest scoringIndian Arrows 2–5 Churchill Brothers
(10 January 2021)
Gokulam Kerala 4–3 Punjab
(14 January 2021)
Longest winning runChurchill Brothers
(2 games)
Longest unbeaten runChurchill Brothers
(6 games)
Longest winless runIndian Arrows
(6 games)
Longest losing runIndian Arrows
(3 games)
2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 4 February 2021.

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, ATK, a club which played in the Indian Super League (ISL), merged with Mohun Bagan and will be playing in the 2020–21 ISL season.[2]

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.[3]
  • Due to 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 maximum 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. Whereas 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.[4]

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.[5] On 12 August, AIFF announced that Sudeva FC of Delhi would join the league from this season and Sreenidhi FC, which is based in Hyderabad, will be playing from Visakhapatnam from the following season.[6][7][8]

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.[9][10]

Promoted from the 2nd Division League

Relegated clubs

Relegated from the I-League

Teams
Locations of the I-League clubs

Stadiums and locations

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, all the matches will be played in a single venue. AIFF declared Kolkata as the venue on 14 August.[12] Matches will be played in Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kishore Bharati Krirangan and Mohun Bagan Ground[13] in Kolkata, and Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani.[14]

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
Team Location
Aizawl Aizawl, Mizoram
Chennai City Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Churchill Brothers Margao, Goa
Gokulam Kerala Calicut, Kerala
Indian Arrows Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mohammedan Kolkata, West Bengal
NEROCA Imphal, Manipur
Real Kashmir Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
TRAU Imphal, Manipur
Sudeva Delhi New Delhi, Delhi
Punjab Ludhiana, Punjab

Personnel and sponsorship
Team Head coach Captain Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
Aizawl Yan Law Alfred Jaryan Vamos[15] NECS Limited[16]
Chennai City Satyasagara Charles Anandraj Nivia Sports[17] TVS Group
Churchill Brothers Fernando Santiago Varela Bazie Armand Nivia Sports[17] Churchill
Gokulam Kerala Vincenzo Alberto Annese Mohamed Awal SEGA[18] Sree Gokulam Group[19]
Indian Arrows Shanmugam Venkatesh Lalchhanhima Sailo SIX5SIX[20] Hero MotoCorp
Mohammedan José Hevia[21] Kingsley Obumneme Trak Only[22] BunkerHill Sports[23]
NEROCA Gift Raikhan Bishorjit Loitongbam Ambition Sportswear[24] Grow Manipur Team[25]
Punjab Curtis Fleming Bikramjit Singh T10 Sports[26] RoundGlass Sports[27]
Real Kashmir David Robertson Mason Robertson Adidas[28] Hotel CH2[28]
Sudeva Delhi Chencho Dorji Ajay Singh Puma[29] Liquid Life[30]
TRAU Nandakumar Singh Phalguni Konsam Romi Bag[31] HVS Foundation

Head coaching changes
Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Ref. Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment Ref.
Gokulam Kerala Fernando Santiago Varela End of contract 17 August 2020 [32] Pre-season Vincenzo Alberto Annese 19 August 2020 [33]
Churchill Brothers Mateus Costa End of interim period 23 September 2020 [34] Fernando Santiago Varela 23 September 2020 [34]
Chennai City Akbar Nawas Mutual consent 26 October 2020 [35] Satyasagara 10 December 2020 [36]
Aizawl Stanley Rozario Mutual consent 18 January 2020 [37] 10th Yan Law 19 January 2020 [38]

Transfers
Further information: List of 2020–21 I-League season roster changes

Foreign players

Minimum of three and maximum of four foreign players including one player from AFC—affiliated country per team.[39] 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.[40]

  • Players name in bold indicates the players who are capped for their respective national team.
Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 AFC Player Former Player
Aizawl Alfred Jaryan Richard Kasagga Princewill Emeka
Chennai City Vladimir Molerović Demir Avdić Elvedin Škrijelj Iqbal Hussain
Churchill Brothers Clayvin Zuniga Bazie Armand Luka Majcen Hamza Kheir
Gokulam Kerala Philip Adjah Denny Antwi Mohamed Awal Sharif Mukhammad
Mohammedan Kingsley Obumneme John Chidi Pedro Manzi Jamal Bhuyan Mohammed Fatau
Raphael Onwrebe
NEROCA Varney Kallon Nathaniel Garcia Judah Garcia
Punjab Chencho Gyeltshen Baba Diawara Joseba Beitia Kiran Chemjong Danilo Quipapá
Real Kashmir Aser Pierrick Dipanda Lukman Adefemi Mason Robertson Zohib Islam Amiri
TRAU Helder Lobato Joseph Olaleye Bruno Rodrigues Komron Tursunov

First Phase

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Churchill Brothers 6 3 3 0 9 3 +6 12 Promote to Championship Stage
2 Real Kashmir 5 2 3 0 10 2 +8 9
3 Sudeva Delhi 6 2 2 2 8 4 +4 8
4 Aizawl 5 2 2 1 5 3 +2 8
5 Punjab 6 2 2 2 6 5 +1 8
6 Gokulam Kerala 5 2 1 2 9 8 +1 7
7 Mohammedan 5 1 4 0 3 2 +1 7 Demote to Relegation Stage
8 TRAU 6 1 4 1 7 7 0 7
9 Chennai City 5 2 0 3 3 9 −6 6
10 NEROCA 5 1 2 2 7 7 0 5
11 Indian Arrows 6 0 1 5 3 20 −17 1
Updated to match(es) played on 3 February 2021. Source: I-League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots

Fixtures and results
Home \ Away AIZ CNC CHB GOK IDA MDS NER PUN REK SDA TRAU
Aizawl — — — 2–0 1–1 18 Feb — — 23 Feb 14 Feb —
Chennai City TBA — 18 Feb — 1–0 — — — 0–2 0–4 —
Churchill Brothers 0–0 — — — — — 24 Feb — 8 Feb 2–0 1–1
Gokulam Kerala — 1–2 TBA — 19 Feb — — 4–3 0–0 — —
Indian Arrows — — 2–5 — — 14 Feb 0–4 9 Feb — — 24 Feb
Mohammedan — 23 Feb 0–0 8 Feb — — 0–0 — TBA — —
NEROCA 1–2 8 Feb — 1–4 — — — TBA — — 1–1[lower-alpha 1]
Punjab 1–0 13 Feb 0–1 — — 0–0 — — — 0–0 —
Real Kashmir — — — — 6–0 — 13 Feb 18 Feb — 1–1 1–1
Sudeva Delhi — — — 23 Feb 3–0 0–1 19 Feb — — — TBA
TRAU 9 Feb 2–0 — 13 Feb — 2–2 — 0–2 — — —
Updated to match(es) played on 15 January 2021. Source: I-League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
  1. Imphal Derby

Positions by matchday

The table lists the positions of teams after each round mentioned in official fixtures.[41]

Matchday12345678910
Aizawl9106734
Chennai City2791079
Churchill Brothers111111
Gokulam Kerala8510346
Indian Arrows11111111111111
Mohammedan333467
NEROCA79461010
Punjab468995
Real Kashmir522552
Sudeva Delhi1045883
TRAU687228
Promotion to the Championship Round
Demotion to the Relegation Round
Source: I-League

Results by games
Match12345678910
AizawlLWDWD
Chennai CityWLLWL
Churchill BrothersWDWWDD
Gokulam KeralaLWLWD
Indian ArrowsLLLDLL
MohammedanWDDDD
NEROCADWLLD
PunjabWLLDDW
Real KashmirDWDDW
Sudeva DelhiLWDLDW
TRAUDDDWDL
Source: I-League
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Second Phase

Championship Stage (Group A)
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Champion and Qualification for 2022 AFC Cup group stage
2 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots

Relegation Stage (Group B)
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to 2021-22 2nd Division League
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots

Season statistics

Scoring
As of 4 February 2021

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Clayvin Zuniga Churchill Brothers 5
2 Chencho Gyeltshen Punjab 4
3 Denny Antwi Gokulam Kerala 3
Luka Majcen Churchill Brothers
Judah Garcia NEROCA
Dipanda Dicka Real Kashmir
Philip Adjah Gokulam Kerala
4 Mason Robertson Real Kashmir 2
Komron Tursunov TRAU
Ngangbam Naocha Sudeva Delhi
Naorem Mahesh Singh Sudeva Delhi
Shaiborlang Kharpan Sudeva Delhi
MC Malsawmzuala Aizawl
Bidyashagar Singh TRAU
Elvedin Škrijelj Chennai City
5 Joseph Olaleye TRAU 1
Richard Kasagga Aizawl
Sharif Mukhammad Gokulam Kerala
Haroon Fakhruddin Real Kashmir
Lukman Adefemi Real Kashmir
Helder Lobato Ribeiro TRAU
Source: I-League

Top Indian scorers
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Bidyasagar Singh TRAU 2
MC Malsawmzuala Aizawl
Ngangbam Naocha Sudeva Delhi
Naorem Mahesh Singh Sudeva Delhi
Shaiborlang Kharpan Sudeva Delhi
2 Sajad Hussain Parray Indian Arrows 1
Chesterpoul Lyngdoh Real Kashmir
Danish Farooq Bhat Real Kashmir
Manvir Singh Sudeva Delhi
Faisal Ali Mohammedan
Bryce Miranda Churchill Brothers
Songpu Singsit NEROCA
PC Laldinpuia Aizawl
Jestin George Gokulam Kerala
Pritam Singh Punjab
Vijay Nagappan Chennai City
Vanlalruat Thlacheu Indian Arrows
Gurkirat Singh Indian Arrows
Rupert Nongrum Punjab
Lalrindika Ralte Real Kashmir
Varun Thokchom NEROCA
Kean Lewis Sudeva Delhi
Nikhil Kadam Mohammedan
Hira Mondal Mohammedan
Lalrammawia Rammawia Aizawl
Varney Kallon NEROCA
Khaiminthang Lhungdim NEROCA
Source: I-League

Top assists
Rank Player Club Assists
1 Deepak Devrani Gokulam Kerala 3
Songpu Singsit NEROCA
2 Sena Ralte Real Kashmir 2
Nathaniel Garcia NEROCA
Komron Tursunov TRAU
Denny Antwi Gokulam Kerala
Luka Majcen Churchill Brothers
Bryce Miranda Churchill Brothers
Joseph Olaleye TRAU
3 Iqbal Hussain Chennai City 1
Source: Global Sports Archive

Hat-tricks
No.PlayerClubAgainstGoalsDate
1 Clayvin Zuniga Churchill Brothers Indian Arrows 3 10 January 2020

Clean Sheets
As of 4 February 2021
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Kiran Chemjong Punjab 4
2 Rakshit Dagar Sudeva Delhi 3
Subham Roy Mohammedan
Mithun Samanta Real Kashmir
Shibinraj Kunniyil Churchill Brothers
3 Bishorjit Singh NEROCA 2
4 Rafique Ali Sardar Mohammedan 1
Shilton Paul Churchill Brothers
Lalmuansanga Aizawl
Zothanmawia Aizawl
Ubaid CK Gokulam Kerala
Kabir Thaufiq Chennai City
Soram Anganba TRAU
Source: I-League

Discipline
As of 30 January 2021

Player

Awards

Hero of the Match
Match Hero of the Match Match Hero of the Match Match Hero of the Match
Player Club Player Club Player Club
Match 1 Faisal Ali Mohammedan Match 32 Match 62
Match 2 Pritam Singh Punjab Match 33
Match 3 Vijay Nagappan Chennai City Match 34
Match 4 Helder Lobato Ribeiro TRAU Match 35
Match 5 Clayvin Zuniga Churchill Brothers
Match 6 Denny Antwi Gokulam Kerala
Match 7 Kean Lewis Sudeva Delhi
Match 8 Bryce Miranda Churchill Brothers
Match 9 Dipanda Dicka Real Kashmir
Match 10 Yumkhaibam Singh NEROCA
Match 11 Hamza Kheir Churchill Brothers
Match 12 Komron Tursunov TRAU
Match 13 Shaiborlang Kharpan Sudeva Delhi
Match 14 MC Malsawmzuala Aizawl
Match 15 Judah Garcia NEROCA
Match 16 Bidyashagar Singh TRAU
Match 17 Sajad Hussain Parray Indian Arrows
Match 18 Ruivah Hormipam Punjab
Match 19 Luka Majcen Churchill Brothers
Match 20 Philip Adjah Gokulam Kerala
Match 21 Kiran Chemjong Punjab
Match 22 Elvedin Škrijelj Chennai City
Match 23 Bidyashagar Singh TRAU
Match 24 PC Laldinpuia Aizawl
Match 25 Emil Benny Gokulam Kerala
Match 26 Ngangbam Naocha Sudeva Delhi
Match 27 Subham Roy Mohammedan
Match 28 Lalmuansanga Aizawl
Match 29 Dipanda Dicka Real Kashmir
Match 30 Chencho Gyeltshen Punjab Match 61 Match 91
Match 31 Source: The AIFF

See also

References
  1. "League Committee sends its recommendations to the AIFF Executive Committee | Hero I-League". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  2. "Bengaluru FC to play in AFC Cup playoffs as AIFF confirms all three continental spots for ISL teams". Scroll.in. 4 June 2020.
  3. Banerjee, Debkalpa (8 May 2020). "ISL, I-League brace for upheaval as AIFF considers altering foreign player rules". The Indian Express. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. "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.
  5. "AIFF invites bids for new clubs to join Hero I-League 2020 onwards". AIFF. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  6. "Sudeva and Sreenidhi granted playing rights in Hero I-League from 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively". AIFF. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  7. "Sudeva FC becomes first club from Delhi to play in I-League | Football News - Times of India". The Times of India. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  8. "Sreenidhi Football Club". AIFF. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  9. "East Bengal to play in ISL 2020-21 - Mamata Banerjee". ISL. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  10. "Mohun Bagan, ATK announce merger; to play ISL next season". Sportstar. The Hindu. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  11. "Mohammedan secure coveted Hero I-League return after 2-0 win over Bhawanipore". i-league.org. AIFF. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  12. "Hero I-League and Hero 2nd division Qualifiers to be held in Kolkata". www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  13. "Fixtures Page | Hero I-League". Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  14. "Sudeva Delhi FC, Mohammedan SC to get Hero I-League 2020-21 underway on January 9". www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  15. "Aizawl FC announce Vamos as Kit Sponsor". 20 November 2020.
  16. Das Sharma, Amitabha (19 January 2018). "Aizawl looks to build future with own hands". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  17. "Nivia Sports Official Website". Nivia Sports. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  18. "Gokulam Kerala sign new kit sponsorship deal with SEGA Shoes". Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  19. "The Club - Gokulam Kerala FC". gokulamkeralafc.com. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  20. "NEW YEAR, NEW KIT FOR INDIAN FOOTBALL". 19 December 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  21. Majumber, Ajay (24 October 2020). "Jose Hevia Joins Mohammedan As Head Coach". mohammedansportingindia.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  22. "Mohammedan Sport club announce Trak Only as new kit sponsor". Facebook.com. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  23. "Mohammedan Sporting Club - Official Website". Mohammedan. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  24. NEROCA F.C. [@NerocaFC] (25 September 2020). "We are proud that Ambition Sportswear is the official partner of 20-21 kit sponsorship of NEROCA FC" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020 – via Twitter.
  25. "The launching pad is on!". Facebook.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  26. "RoundGlass Punjab Football Club". T10 Sports. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  27. "Real Kashmir FC: Official Website". Arunava Chaudhuri. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  28. "Real Kashmir FC: Official Website". Real Kashmir FC. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  29. "Sudeva announce Puma as new Kit partner". Sudeva Delhi FC. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  30. "Our Sponsors & Partners". Sudeva Delhi FC. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  31. "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.
  32. "GKFC bid adieu to Fernando Santiago Varela". gokulamkeralafc.com. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  33. Ajith Kumar, P.K. (1 August 2020). "Gokulam Kerala FC appoints Italian Vincenzo Annese as coach". Sportstar. The Hindu. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  34. Joshi, Rutvij. "Fernando Santiago Varela appointed new Churchill Brothers head coach". khelnow.com. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  35. "Chennai City FC and coach Akbar Nawas part ways". Sportstar. The Hindu. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  36. "Chennai City FC name Satyasagara as new head coach". The Times of India. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  37. https://m.timesofindia.com/sports/football/i-league/aizawl-fc-part-ways-with-rozario/amp_articleshow/80341739.cms
  38. https://m.timesofindia.com/sports/football/i-league/aizawl-fc-part-ways-with-rozario/amp_articleshow/80341739.cms
  39. "AIFF Implements '3+1' rule for I-League 2020-21". Indo-Asian News Service. Times Now. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  40. "Sudeva to field an all-Indian team in Hero I-League 2020-21, confirms President Anuj Gupta". i-league.org. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  41. "I-League 2020-21 Fixtures Out: Debutants Sudeva Delhi FC and Mohammedan SC to Kickstart Season". News18. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  42. "Statistics | Hero I-League".
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