List of Indian football champions

rdf:langString List of Indian football champions

rdf:langString The Indian football champions are the winners of the highest league in Indian men's football, which since 2022–23 is the Indian Super League. Though Indian football tournaments dates back to the eighteenth century, a proper league system was established in 1996 with the commencement of National Football League (NFL). Since its inception in the 1996–97 season, the champions of the NFL were considered as the national champions. However, after the 2006–07 season of the NFL, the league was rebranded as the I-League. Since 2007–08 season, the I-League champions were considered the national champions until 2016–17 season. Since 2017–18 season the ISL became the joint premier football league of the country along with I-League. The ISL regular season premiers represents India in the AFC Champions League group stage, the I-League champions represents India in the AFC Cup group stage, and the winner of the Indian Super League's play-offs gets a slot into the AFC Cup play-offs. However, the winners of the ISL play-offs are considered as the ISL champions since its inception in 2014. There are 12 clubs who have won either the National Football League or the I-League and 5 clubs who have won the Indian Super League since the league became the joint top division in India. JCT were the first club to have won any championship, winning the 1996–97 NFL. Mohun Bagan and Dempo are the most successful clubs, winning championships five times each. Mohun Bagan won the NFL thrice and the I-League twice, whereas, Dempo won the NFL twice and the I-League thrice. Also, Bengaluru is the only club who has won both the I-League and the ISL at least once; they won the I-League twice and the ISL once.