West Bengal football team

Bengal made its debut in the national competitions at the 1941–42 Santosh Trophy. West Bengal have appeared in the Santosh Trophy finals 47 times, having won 33 titles,{{cite news|title=Another Santosh feather in Bengal's cap|url=http://www.the-aiff.com/pages/tournament/index.php?tournamentdetail=22&N_Id=2577|publisher=The All India Football Federation|date=9 July 2011|access-date=9 July 2011|archive-date=11 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111125651/http://the-aiff.com/pages/tournament/index.php?tournamentdetail=22&N_Id=2577|url-status=dead}} the most by any team. Managed by Balaidas Chatterjee, the team won six Santosh Trophy titles between 1949 and 1959.{{cite web|title=Mohun Bagan Ratna — Late Balaidas Chatterjee to receive the award posthumously|url=http://www.mohunbaganac.com/interview-detail/mohun-bagan-ratna-late-balaidas-chatterjee-to-receive-the-award-posthumousl|website=www.mohunbaganac.com|publisher=Mohun Bagan Athletic Club|date=26 July 2013|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035503/http://www.mohunbaganac.com/interview-detail/mohun-bagan-ratna-late-balaidas-chatterjee-to-receive-the-award-posthumousl|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} In 1962, former Indian captain Samar Banerjee guided Bengal winning the trophy.{{Cite web |title=India's star Olympic football captain Samar 'Badru' Banerjee dies |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/indias-star-olympic-football-captain-samar-badru-banerjee-dies/articleshow/93675414.cms |work=The Times of India|date=20 August 2022|access-date=20 August 2022 |location=Kolkata, West Bengal |publisher=Press Trust of India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820102341/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/indias-star-olympic-football-captain-samar-badru-banerjee-dies/articleshow/93675414.cms |archive-date=20 August 2022 |url-status=live}}

Prior to 2003, the team competed as "Bengal football team".{{cite web|title=Santosh Trophy Winners|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/indiasantoshhist.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=2 December 2021|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918131806/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/indiasantoshhist.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |first=Arjun |last=Wadwha |url=http://www.thesportscampus.com/200805197/introduction-to-football/history-indian-football |title=History of Football in India |website=thesportscampus.com |publisher=TheSportsCampus |date=19 May 2008 |access-date=15 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825015957/http://www.thesportscampus.com/200805197/introduction-to-football/history-indian-football |archive-date=2012-08-25 |url-status=dead }} On 16 August 2021, West Bengal played a friendly match against India national team at the Salt Lake Stadium and it was won by India by 1–0.{{cite web|url=https://khelnow.com/football/india-football-team-vs-mohammedan-sc-friendly-live-streaming#iLightbox[gallery175085]/0|title=Farukh Choudhary, Ishan Pandita guide India to 2-0 win over Mohammedan SC|website=Khel Now|date=26 August 2021|access-date=2 March 2022|archive-date=2 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302175212/https://khelnow.com/football/india-football-team-vs-mohammedan-sc-friendly-live-streaming#iLightbox|url-status=live}} In October 2022, West Bengal managed by Biswajit Bhattacharya clinched gold at the 36th National Games of India, defeating Kerala 5–0 in final.{{cite web|url=https://wap.business-standard.com/article/sports/national-games-w-bengal-hammer-kerala-5-0-to-clinch-gold-in-men-s-football-122101101341_1.html|title=National Games: W Bengal hammer Kerala 5–0 to clinch gold in men's football|location=Ahmedabad|agency=IANS|website=wap.business-standard.com|publisher=Business Standard India|date=12 October 2022|access-date=12 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012050045/https://www.business-standard.com/article/sports/national-games-w-bengal-hammer-kerala-5-0-to-clinch-gold-in-men-s-football-122101101341_1.html|archive-date=12 October 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/national-games/national-games-narohari-shrestha-hat-trick-west-bengal-beats-kerala-5-0-wins-men-football-gold-medal/article65998238.ece|title=National Games: West Bengal routs Kerala 5–0, wins men's football gold medal after 11 years|first=Y. B.|last=Sarangi|location=Ahmedabad|agency=The Hindu|website=sportstar.thehindu.com|publisher=Sportstar|date=11 October 2022|access-date=12 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012050037/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/national-games/national-games-narohari-shrestha-hat-trick-west-bengal-beats-kerala-5-0-wins-men-football-gold-medal/article65998238.ece|archive-date=12 October 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://newswaali.com/national-games-2022-the-glory-of-a-group-of-hard-working-footballers-awaits-the-trophy-at-the-bengal-national-games-news-waali/|title= National Games 2022: The glory of a group of hard-working footballers awaits the trophy at the Bengal National Games|website=newswaali.com|publisher=News Waali|date=10 October 2022|first=Deepankar|last=Ghoshal|location=Kolkata|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108234020/https://newswaali.com/national-games-2022-the-glory-of-a-group-of-hard-working-footballers-awaits-the-trophy-at-the-bengal-national-games-news-waali/|archive-date=8 November 2022}}

The following 22 players were called up for to the 2024–25 Santosh Trophy.

{{fs start}}

{{fs player|no=27|nat=IND|pos=GK|name=Aditya Patra}}

{{fs player|no=31|nat=IND|pos=GK|name=Sourav Samanta}}

{{fs player|no=41|nat=IND|pos=GK|name=Shubham Roy}}

{{fs player|no=2|nat=IND|pos=DF|name=Bikram Pradhan}}

{{fs player|no=3|nat=IND|pos=DF|name=Madan Mandi}}

{{fs player|no=16|nat=IND|pos=DF|name=Rabilal Mandi}}

{{fs player|no=19|nat=IND|pos=DF|name=Ruhul Kuddus Purkait}}

{{fs player|no=23|nat=IND|pos=DF|name=Ayon Mondal}}

{{fs player|no=35|nat=IND|pos=DF|name=Juwel Ahmed Mazumder}}

{{fs player|no=6|nat=IND|pos=MF|name=Aditya Thapa}}

{{fs player|no=17|nat=IND|pos=MF|name=Vishal Das}}

{{fs player|no=8|nat=IND|pos=MF|name=Tarak Hembram|other=vice-captain}}

{{fs mid}}

{{fs player|no=20|nat=IND|pos=MF|name=Amar Nath Baskey}}

{{fs player|no=26|nat=IND|pos=MF|name=Suprodip Hazra}}

{{fs player|no=27|nat=IND|pos=MF|name=Chaku Mandi|other=captain}}

{{fs player|no=29|nat=IND|pos=MF|name=Basudeb Mandi}}

{{fs player|no=9|nat=IND|pos=FW|name=Robi Hansda}}

{{fs player|no=10|nat=IND|pos=FW|name=Naro Hari Shrestha}}

{{fs player|no=7|nat=IND|pos=FW|name=Aritro Ghosh}}

{{fs player|no=11|nat=IND|pos=FW|name=Abusufiyan Sk}}

{{fs player|no=15|nat=IND|pos=FW|name=Manotos Majhi}}

{{fs player|no=18|nat=IND|pos=FW|name=Supriya Pandit}}

{{fs player|no=30|nat=IND|pos=FW|name=Israful Dewan}}

{{fs end}}

• Santosh Trophy[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/indiasantoshhist.html List of Santosh Trophy Finals]
• Winners (33): 1941–42, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83 (Shared with Goa), 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2016–17, 2024–25{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Sabyasachi |date=2024-12-31 |title=ফুটবলে ভারতসেরা বাংলা: ছ’বছর পর সন্তোষ ট্রফি জয় |url=https://bongfootball.in/west-bengal-wins-2024-25-santosh-trophy-final/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Bong Football |language=en-US}}
• Runners-up (14): 1944–45, 1946–47, 1952–53, 1960–61, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1974–75, 1985–86, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2017–18, 2021–22

• National Games
• Gold medal (3): 1994, 2011, 2022
• Silver medal (2): 1985, 2002
• Bronze medal (1): 1999

• B.C. Roy Trophy
• Winners (18): 1961–62, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1989–90, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2003–04, 2024–25{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/association/494|title=Indian Football Association|website=www.the-aiff.com|access-date=2020-03-25|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918095002/https://www.the-aiff.com/association/494|url-status=live}}
• Runners-up (9): 1975–76, 1987–88, 1999–00, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2017–18, 2023–24

• Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy
• Winners (12): 1965–66, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2015–16
• Runners-up (7): 1987–88, 1988–89, 1996–97, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09

• M. Dutta Ray Trophy
• Winners (6): 1992, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005
• Runners-up (7): 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003

The league and tournaments are generally played at the following Stadiums and Grounds:

• Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Salt Lake

1. capacity of around 85000
2. Important matches of Local League, Shield, I-League and International Matches are played here.

• Vidyasagar Krirangan, Barasat

1. Capacity around 20,000 and Flood Light
2. Matches of Local League, Shield are played here. It is also used for holding I-League matches also.

• Sailen Manna Stadium, Howrah

1. Present capacity is only around 10,000. But ground condition is extremely good.
2. Some important CFL matches and IFA Shield are played here.

• Rabindra Sarobar Stadium

1. Capacity around 22,000.
2. Important League & Shield matches are played here.

• East Bengal/Aryan, Mohun Bagan/CFC and Mohammedan/Howrah Union Ground

1. Full capacity of these ground are 23,500, 22,000 and 15,000 respectively. All the grounds have floodlight facilities.
2. Most of the League Matches of Premier League and First Division are played here. But these grounds are available for Football only during the period from 16 May to 10 January every year.

• 10 Open Grounds in the Maidan

1. Only matches of Junior Division and other ordinary competitions are played here. These grounds are available for football only during the period from 16 May to 30 September every year.
2. Besides the above-mentioned grounds and stadium, infrastructure of SAI i.e. Sports Authority of India, Kishore Bharati Krirangan are also used.
3. Grounds available at various places in Kolkata and Howrah are used for conducting Nursery League Matches. Besides above, small stadiums are also available in almost all the Districts towns and some Sub Divisions. Most important and mentionable stadium is at Siliguri – Kanchenjunga Stadium, where International Tournament like Jawaharlal Nehru Cup was also played. Khardah, Kalyani, Burdwan, Durgapur, Midnapur, Haldia, Malda, Raigunje, Balurghat and a few other District Towns also have Stadium.

• Indoor Stadium

1. Netaji Indoor Stadium (AC), Kolkata- Capacity 12,000.

{{main|Salt Lake Stadium}}

File:Yuva Bharati Krirangan.png

Yuva Bharati Krirangan ({{langx|bn|যুবভারতী ক্রীড়াঙ্গন}}, {{langx|en|Stadium of the Indian Youth|link=yes|italics=yes}}), commonly known as Salt Lake Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Bidhannagar, Kolkata, West Bengal. It is currently used for football matches and athletics. The stadium was built in 1984 and holds 120,000{{Cite web |url=http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/stadium/ |title=East Bengal Football Club |access-date=10 July 2011 |archive-date=28 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828233510/http://eastbengalfootballclub.com/stadium/|url-status=usurped }} people in a three-tier configuration.

It is situated approximately 10 km to the east of the Kolkata downtown and is elliptical in shape. The roof is made of metal tubes and aluminium sheets and concrete. There are two electronic score boards and control rooms. The lighting is uniformly distributed to facilitate nocturnal sports. There are special arrangements for TV broadcasting.

The stadium covers an area of {{convert|76.40|acre|m2}}. It was inaugurated in January 1984. The salient features of the stadium are unique synthetic track for athletic meets, electronic scoreboard, main football arena measuring 105m x 70m, elevators, VIP enclosures, peripheral floodlighting arrangement from the roof-top, air conditioned VIP rest room and Conference Hall. Other features of the stadium are also commentary boxes for All India Radio and TV along with several platforms for TV cameras, press boxes, dormitories and AC. rooms, player's changing rooms, practice grounds for football, cricket and kho kho, volleyball field and an ultra-medium gymnasium. The stadium has its own water arrangements and standby diesel generation sets.

The floodlights which illuminate the stadium consist of 624 bulbs of 2 kW each and two electronic scoreboards consisting of 36,000 bulbs of 25 watt each. The four underground reservoirs have unique fire-fighting arrangements with a capacity of 10,000 gallons. The architectural and structural design of the stadium was the work of the Joint Consultants viz., M/S. Ballardie, Thompson & Matthews Pvt. Ltd. and M/S. H.K. Sen & Associates – both from Kolkata, West Bengal. The track was prepared by Reckortan Tartan Track, Germany. The electronic scoreboards were supplied by Electro Impex of Hungary.

After its inauguration in January 1984 with the Jawaharlal Nehru International Gold Cup Soccer Tournament, the Salt Lake Stadium has hosted several important international tournaments or matches such as The Pre-World Cup Tournament in 1985, Super-Soccers in 1986, 1989, 1991 and 1994, 3rd S.A.F. games in 1987, U.S.S.R. Festival in 1988, Charminar Challenger Trophy in 1992, Jawaharlal Nehru International Gold Cup in 1995. The chief engineer of the stadium is Somnath Ghosh.

The stadium also hosts different kinds of cultural programs such as dance and music concerts.

{{See also|Asian Club Championship and AFC Champions League records and statistics}}

• Asian Club Championship: 1 appearance

::Group Stage: 1970{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup70.html|title=Asian Club Competitions 1970|website=RSSSF|first=Enda|last=Mulcahy|access-date=2 March 2022|archive-date=2 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002225436/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/ascup70.html#cc|url-status=live}}

Below the players, are notable footballers who represented the West Bengal football team.

• {{flagicon|IND}} Sailen Manna{{cite web|url=http://www.kolkatafootball.com/kolkatafootball_indian_legend_footballers_profile.html|title=Indian Legendary Football Players Profile: SAILEN MANNA — LIVING LEGEND OF INDIAN FOOTBALL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914072626/http://www.kolkatafootball.com/kolkatafootball_indian_legend_footballers_profile.html|date=14 September 2008|archive-date=14 September 2008|access-date=25 January 2011|website=www.kolkatafootball.com|publisher=Kolkata Football}}
• {{flagicon|IND}} P. K. Banerjee
• {{flagicon|IND}} Chuni Goswami{{cite news |title=Chuni Goswami Profile |url=http://www.iloveindia.com/sports/football/players/chuni-gosami.html |access-date=1 May 2020 |website=IloveIndia.com |archive-date=19 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519182815/http://www.iloveindia.com/sports/football/players/chuni-gosami.html |url-status=live }}
• {{flagicon|British Burma}} Fred Pugsley{{Cite web|url=https://eastbengaltherealpower.com/pugsley/|title=PUGSLEY|website=East Bengal the Real Power|date=13 November 2020 |access-date=7 March 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624223305/https://eastbengaltherealpower.com/pugsley/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |author=soumen78 |url=https://eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/list-of-foreign-players-to-play-for-east-bengal-club-from-1942/ |title=List of Foreign Players to Play for East Bengal Club from 1942 – East Bengal Club, India – Records, Funs and Facts |publisher=Eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com |date=2016-03-31 |access-date=2018-12-18 |archive-date=19 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019001914/https://eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/list-of-foreign-players-to-play-for-east-bengal-club-from-1942/ |url-status=live }}
• {{flagicon|IND}} {{flagicon|PAK}} Mohammed Rahmatullah[https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-at-the-asian-games-1958-tokyo Indian football team at the Asian Games: 1958 Tokyo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905102115/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-at-the-asian-games-1958-tokyo |date=5 September 2018 }}. Sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
• {{flagicon|PAK}} Osman Jan{{Cite web |agency=ANI |date=26 December 2022 |title=Osman Jan, Delhi's Santosh trophy hero who also captained Pakistan |url=https://theprint.in/sport/osman-jan-delhis-santosh-trophy-hero-who-also-captained-pakistan/1282459/ |access-date=14 August 2023 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US |archive-date=26 December 2022 |location=New Delhi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226040117/https://theprint.in/sport/osman-jan-delhis-santosh-trophy-hero-who-also-captained-pakistan/1282459/ }}
• {{flagicon|PAK}} {{flagicon|IND}} Balai Dey{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/balai-dey-the-man-who-connects-india-pakistan-and-the-hero-santosh-trophy|title=Balai Dey: The man who connects India, Pakistan and the Hero Santosh Trophy|date=24 February 2023|access-date=24 February 2023|location=New Delhi|first=Sruti|last=Chakraborty|website=the-aiff.com|publisher=All India Football Federation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224114350/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/balai-dey-the-man-who-connects-india-pakistan-and-the-hero-santosh-trophy|archive-date=24 February 2023}}{{cite web|first=12:56 PM IST|last=ETV Bharat News Desk, West Bengal|url=https://www.etvbharat.com/bengali/west-bengal/state/kolkata/balai-dey-who-played-for-india-and-pakistan-1/wb20190616125621719|title=ভারত-পাকিস্তানের জার্সি গায়ে মাঠে নেমেছিলেন বলাই দে [Balai Dey, who played for both the India and Pakistan]|date=16 June 2019|access-date=5 April 2022|website=www.etvbharat.com|publisher=ETV Network|archive-date=4 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404112728/https://www.etvbharat.com/bengali/west-bengal/state/kolkata/balai-dey-who-played-for-india-and-pakistan-1/wb20190616125621719|language=bn}}
• {{flagicon|IND}} Shabbir Ali{{cite web|first=Rudra Narayan|last=Das|url=http://www.indianfootballnetwork.com/blog/2011/11/29/shabbir-ali-biography/|title=Player Biography : Shabbir Ali – Only Footballer To Win Dhyan Chand Award|website=indianfooty.net|publisher=Indian Football Network|date=29 November 2011|access-date=6 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823002522/http://www.indianfootballnetwork.com/blog/2011/11/29/shabbir-ali-biography/|archive-date=23 August 2012}}
• {{flagicon|IND}} Samar Banerjee{{cite web|title=India's star Olympic football captain Samar 'Badru' Banerjee dies|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/indias-star-olympic-football-captain-samar-badru-banerjee-dies/articleshow/93675414.cms|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|publisher=The Times of India|date=20 August 2022|access-date=20 August 2022|location=Kolkata, West Bengal|agency=Press Trust of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820102341/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/indias-star-olympic-football-captain-samar-badru-banerjee-dies/articleshow/93675414.cms|archive-date=20 August 2022|url-status=live}}
• {{flagicon|IND}} Jarnail Singh{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/sports/past-masters-of-indian-sports-jarnail-singh-dhillon-the-hard-tackler-who-many-consider-the-all-time-best-indian-defender-8695801.html|title=Past Masters of Indian Sports: Jarnail Singh Dhillon, the hard tackler who many consider the all-time best Indian defender|first=Ujwal|last=Singh|date=12 August 2020|access-date=6 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724200536/https://www.firstpost.com/sports/past-masters-of-indian-sports-jarnail-singh-dhillon-the-hard-tackler-who-many-consider-the-all-time-best-indian-defender-8695801.html|archive-date=24 July 2021}}
• {{flagicon|IND}} Peter Thangaraj
• {{flagicon|IND}} Krishanu Dey
• {{flagicon|IND}} Subrata Bhattacharya

• Football in West Bengal
• History of football in India
• Football in Kolkata

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|first1=Boria|last1=Majumdar|first2=Kausik|last2=Bandyopadhyay|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V-sMYjZkpigC&pg=PA69|title=A Social History Of Indian Football: Striving To Score|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629140637/https://books.google.com/books?id=V-sMYjZkpigC&pg=PA69|archive-date=29 June 2021|publisher=Routledge|date=2006|isbn=9780415348355}}
• {{cite book|first1=Jaydeep|last1=Basu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QeovtKLi-1sC|title=Stories from Indian Football|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011131939/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Stories_from_Indian_Football.html?id=QeovtKLi-1sC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y|archive-date=11 October 2022|publisher=UBS Publishers' Distributors|date=2003|isbn=9788174764546}}
• {{cite journal |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14660970500106410?journalCode=fsas20 |title=Regionalism and club domination: Growth of rival centres of footballing excellence |publisher=Taylor & Francis |date=6 August 2006 |access-date=1 March 2023 |archive-date=1 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301202832/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14660970500106410?journalCode=fsas20 |journal=Soccer & Society |volume=6:2–3 |issue=2–3 |pages=227–256 |doi=10.1080/14660970500106410 |url-access=subscription }}

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927221915/http://www.the-ifa.org/ West Bengal football association website]}} (Indian Football Association)
• [https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/west-bengal-football-team/29375/ West Bengal football team] at Global Sports Archive

{{Santosh Trophy}}

{{Indian state football teams}}

{{West Bengal Sports}}

{{Football in India}}

Category:Football in West Bengal

Category:Santosh Trophy teams