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| {{short description|Association football club}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Air India FC]] |
| {{Use Indian English|date=November 2014}}
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| {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}}
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| {{infobox football club
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| | clubname = Air India
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| | current =
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| | image = Air India Logo.svg
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| | fullname = Air India Football Club<ref>[https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/air-india/ Air India Football Club profile, statistics and seasons] ''worldfootball.in''. Retrieved 23 March 2021</ref>
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| | nickname = The Pilots
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| | founded = 1952
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| | ground = [[Cooperage Ground]]
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| | capacity = 5,000
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| | owner = [[Air India]]
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| | chairman =
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| | manager = [[Naushad Moosa]]<ref>As of 2013, Naushad Moosa is the manager of the club</ref>
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| | league = [[Mumbai Football League|MDFA Elite League]]
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| | season = [[2012–13 I-League|2012–13]]
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| | position = [[I-League]], 13th (Relegated)
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| | pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=|leftarm1=FF0000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FF0000|shorts1=FF0000|socks1=FF0000|
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| | pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF|
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| |website =
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| }}
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| '''Air India Football Club''' is an [[India]]n professional [[association football|football]] [[football team|club]], founded by Anand Prajapati in 1952, based in [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Air India strikes six to defeat ONGC|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/locality/mumbai-south/air-india-strikes-six-defeat-ongc-82810|access-date=13 January 2017|work=DNA India|date=21 January 2016}}</ref> They are sponsored by [[Air India]] and have enjoyed some success in the [[Mumbai Football League]]. They have also competed in the [[I-League]], then top tier of [[Indian football league system]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Noronha|first=Anselm|title=Dempo SC 1-0 Air India: Abranches' late strike grounds the Airmen|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/94698/dempo-sports-club-vs-air-india/report|work=Goal.com|access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/lists/i-league-how-newly-promoted-teams-have-performed/ma7hveltk8i91ieo2d5oos8jg|title=I-League: How newly-promoted teams have performed|website=Goal.com|access-date=12 May 2021}}</ref>
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| Four times champions in the local league in Mumbai, Air India are best known for nurturing youngsters into big time players. Many of these boys have played with distinction for bigger teams in the later years.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100103103627/http://the-aiff.com/pages/club/index.php?Aboutclub=40&ClubDetail=40 Air India Football Club archive] ''the-aiff.com''. Retrieved 23 March 2021</ref>
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| In 2005, the team qualified to the National Football League first division and then 2007 saw Air India finishing 7th and were the Mumbai Harwood Champions in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://the-aiff.com/pages/club/index.php?History=40&ClubDetail=40 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-01-03 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103103428/http://the-aiff.com/pages/club/index.php?History=40&ClubDetail=40 |archive-date=2010-01-03 |df= }}</ref>
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| ==History==
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| Founded in 1952, Air India Football Club is one of the oldest institutional sides in the country. Though never considered as frontrunners in the I-League, the Mumbai-based club has often proved to be a thorn in the flesh for many top sides. They used to play in the [[National Football League (India)|NFL 2nd Division]] but got promoted to [[I-League|Premier Division]] and have maintained their position there till now.<ref>{{cite news |title=India File -- Starry opening to National Soccer League |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961214/34950942.html |access-date=18 October 2018 |work=The Indian Express |date=14 December 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970422182702/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961214/34950942.html |archive-date=22 April 1997}}</ref><ref name="JCTwin">{{cite news |last1=Menon |first1=Ravi |title=JCT wins inaugural Philips NFL title |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19970317/07650773.html |access-date=18 October 2018 |work=The Indian Express |date=17 March 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970420235957/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19970317/07650773.html |archive-date=20 April 1997}}</ref><ref name="begin">{{cite news |last1=Bose |first1=Saibal |title=National League all set for kick-off |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961217/35250552.html |access-date=18 October 2018 |work=The Indian Express |date=17 December 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970422194435/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19961217/35250552.html |archive-date=22 April 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sawant |first1=Yash |title=Air India beats ONGC 1-0 |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-air-india-beats-ongc-1-0-1467840 |access-date=3 September 2020 |publisher=DNA India |date=17 November 2010}}</ref> Generally a low budget side, Air India's best finish in the National Football League (now I-League) came in the 1997–1998 season when they were placed sixth in the table and their coach [[Bimal Ghosh]] received the Best coach award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Smooth take-off for Air-India|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/Storyold/16042/|work=Indian Express|access-date=10 July 2013}}</ref>
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| Air India FC had been playing in the Premier Harwood League since 1980. The team though qualified for the [[National Football League (India)|National Football League]] in 1995. In 1996, the club finished 6th in the League<ref name="ifde">{{cite web |title=National Football League |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/nfl.html |website=indianfootball.de|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> and then 5th in 1997. | |
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| After being relegated to the second division in 1998, Air India paved their way back into the first division the next year and played in the National Football League in 2000 as well. The years 2001 to 2004 saw Air India going through a tough phase as they were playing in the second division. In 2005 the team qualified to the National Football League first division and then 2007 saw Air India finishing 7th and were the Mumbai Harwood Champions in 2005.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100103103428/http://the-aiff.com/pages/club/index.php?History=40&ClubDetail=40 ]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://the-aiff.com/pages/club/index.php?History=40&ClubDetail=40 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-01-03 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103103428/http://the-aiff.com/pages/club/index.php?History=40&ClubDetail=40 |archive-date=2010-01-03 |df= }}</ref> In 1996, they emerged as the champions of [[Sikkim Gold Cup|Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup]] and they lifted the trophy again in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/india-sikkimgoldcuphist.html|title=India – List of All India Governor's Gold Cup Winners (Sikkim)
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| |website=Rsssf.com|access-date=13 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/sikkimgoldcup.html|title=List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup:|website=Indianfootball.de|access-date=13 March 2021}}</ref>
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| [[File:Allan Dias.jpg|thumb|[[Allan Dias]] with Air India at the [[2010–11 I-League]]]]
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| In [[2012 Durand Cup|2012]], the club emerged as the champions of the [[Durand Cup]], which was their last trophy.<ref>[http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/indiadurandcuphist.html List of Durand Cup tournament winners and runner-ups] ''RSSSF''. Retrieved 7 May 2021</ref> On 25 February 2012 it was announced that parent company [[Air India]] do not have any plans on fulfilling the AFC Criteria required to play in the league and thus may fold the club by the end of the [[2011–12 I-League]] season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Noronha|first=Anselm|title=Salgaocar FC 4-0 Air India: David Booth's side sign off the year in style|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/96211/salgaocar-football-club-vs-air-india/report|work=Goal.com|access-date=30 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/indian-football-breaking-news-25th-february-2012-mohammedan-sc-and-kalighat-ms-suffer-crippling-blows-before-div-two-final-round/ | title=Indian Football News 25th February 2012 – Mohammedan SC and Kalighat MS suffer crippling blows before div two final round | publisher=The Hard Tackle | access-date=14 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=EAST BENGAL VS. AIR INDIA 3 – 1|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/02/07/india/i-league/east-bengal-club-fc/air-india/729470/|work=Soccerway|access-date=5 November 2012}}</ref>
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| ==Crest==
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| Air India has always used a crest different from the logo of the parent company. For the [[2011–12 I-League|2011–12 season]], however, Air India used the parent logo on both the home and away jersey.
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| ==Colours==
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| To keep up with their image of being a sponsor of aircraft company [[Air India]] the club decided to make the colours of the club red which is the colour associated with the aircraft Air India.
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| ==Stadium==
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| {{Main|Cooperage Ground}}
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| Air India have always played at the [[Cooperage Ground]]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-a-shot-in-the-arm-for-cooperage-ground-in-mumbai-1553688 | title=A Shot in the arm for Cooperage Ground | publisher=DNA | date=11 June 2011 | first=Rosy | last=Sequeira | access-date=20 June 2018}}</ref> for all their home games. Between 2007 and 2013, Air India FC hosted their home games of the top tier [[I-League]] at the 5,000 seater [[Cooperage Ground]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-fifa-sanctions-2-million-grant-for-cooperage-1532025 | title=FIFA sanctions 2 million grant for Cooperage | publisher=DNA | date=15 April 2011 | first=Mihir | last=Vasavda | access-date=20 June 2018}}</ref> While renovations took place, Air India played at the [[Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex|Balewadi Sports Complex]] in [[Pune]].
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| ==Ownership==
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| Since the beginning Air India Football Club has been owned by airline company [[Air India]] which currently own a hub at [[Mumbai]]'s [[Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport]] which is where the club is located.
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| ==Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors==
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| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:center"
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| |-
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| !Period
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| !Kit manufacturer
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| !Shirt sponsor
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| |-
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| | 2000–2011
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| | –
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| |rowspan="2"|[[Air India]]
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| |-
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| | 2011–present
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| |Star Impact
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| |}
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| ==Players==
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| ===First-team Squad===
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| {{updated| 13 June 2019}}
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| {{Fs start}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=GK|name=[[Ubaid CK]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=DF|name=[[Baldeep Singh]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=DF|name=[[Bhushan Thube]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=DF|name=[[Chanchal Saha]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=Nigeria|pos=DF|name=[[Emmanuel Ajaawa]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=DF|name=[[Faisal T]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=DF|name=[[John Dias]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=DF|name=[[Nikunj Khandelwal]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=DF|name=[[Prem Kumar (footballer)|Prem Kumar]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=DF|name=[[Santosh Koli]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=DF|name=[[Vivek Singh Kaira]]}}
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| {{Fs mid}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=MF|name=[[Akshay Mistry]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=Uganda|pos=MF|name=[[Bakali Kasule]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=MF|name=[[Anees Kutty]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=MF|name=[[Hringsolal Thomte]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=MF|name=[[Johny Singh]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=FW|name=[[Tanishq Dwivedi]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=MF|name=[[Neil Gaikwad]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=MF|name=[[Sailesh Jadhav]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=MF|name=[[Ummer Farooque]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=FW|name=[[Harold Fernandes]]}}
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| {{Fs player|no=|nat=India|pos=FW|name=[[Sudheesh A]]}}
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| {{Fs end}}
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| ==Former managers==
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| {{Main article|List of Air India FC managers}}
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| ===Last technical staff===
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| {| class="wikitable"
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| |+ Team Management Table
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| ! Name
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| ! Position
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| | {{flagicon|India}} [[Naushad Moosa]]
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| | Head Coach
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| | {{flagicon|India}} [[Anthony Fernandes (footballer)|Anthony Fernandes]]
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| | Assistant Coach
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| | {{flagicon|India}} [[Yusuf Ansari]]
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| | Goalkeeping Coach
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| | {{flagicon|India}} Joginder Thapa
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| | Senior Manager
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| | {{flagicon|India}} Sandeep Kurale
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| | Physio
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| | {{flagicon|India}} Simon D'Souza
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| | Media Manager
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| |}
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| ===Head coach's record===
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| <!-- Please do NOT just add one match on to the totals after each match as the information may be outdated. Check against reliable sources before updating. -->
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| {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
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| !Picture!!Name!!Nationality!!From!!class="unsortable"|To!!P!!W!!D!!L!!GF!!GA!!Win%!!class="unsortable"|Honours
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| |align=left|[[Bimal Ghosh]]
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| |{{IND}}
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| |align=left|2008<ref>{{cite web|title=Smooth take-off for Air-India|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/Storyold/16042/|work=Indian Express|access-date=10 July 2013}}</ref>
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| |align=left|2009
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| {{WDL|22|5|9|8|for=21|against=26}}
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| |-
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| |align=left|Yusif Ansari
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| |{{IND}}
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| |align=left|2009<ref>[https://m.facebook.com/MettammalBrothersFootballAcademy/posts/172025656843134 Coach Yusif Ansari in Air India FC] ''Facebook.com''. Retrieved 7 May 2021</ref>
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| |align=left|June 2010
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| {{WDL|26|7|7|12|for=28|against=46}}
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| |-
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| |align=left|[[Santosh Kashyap]]
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| |{{IND}}
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| |align=left|August 2010<ref>{{cite news |title= I-League: Everyone Deserves To Have A Pre-Season Training Like Salgaocar SC - Says Air India Coach Santosh Kashyap |url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2011/08/02/2601148/i-league-everyone-deserves-to-have-a-pre-season-training |work=goal.com |date=2 August 2011 |access-date=2 August 2011 }}</ref>
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| |align=left|26 May 2012
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| {{WDL|52|14|14|24|for=54|against=94}}
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| |align=left|[[Godfrey Pereira]]
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| |{{IND}}
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| |align=left|3 July 2012<ref name=IndianExpress>{{cite web|last=Sundaresan|first=Bharat|title=‘I will bring an end to Bagan’s dry spell’|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/i-will-bring-an-end-to-bagans-dry-spell/970158/0|work=Indian Express|access-date=16 July 2012}}</ref>
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| |align=left|27 December 2012
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| {{WDL|17|7|3|7|for=25|against=27}}
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| |[[2012 Durand Cup]]
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| |-
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| |align=left|[[Anthony Fernandes (footballer)|Anthony Fernandes]]
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| |{{IND}}
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| |align=left|30 December 2012<ref>{{cite web|last=Srivastava|first=Ayush|title=Godfrey Pereira has problems regarding monetary issues with the club officials - Air India interim coach Anthony Fernandes|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2012/11/12/3520590/godfrey-pereira-has-problems-regarding-monetary-issues-with|work=Goal.com|access-date=30 December 2012}}</ref>
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| |align=left|2 March 2013
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| {{WDL|7|1|4|2|for=8|against=14}}
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| |align=left|[[Naushad Moosa]]
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| |{{IND}}
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| |align=left|2 March 2013<ref>{{cite news|title=Moosa lined up for Air India coach job|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/Moosa-lined-up-for-Air-India-coach-job/articleshow/18526807.cms?|access-date=29 June 2017|work=Times of India|date=16 February 2013}}</ref>
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| |align=left|Present
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| {{WDL|0|0|0|0|for=0|against=0}}
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| |}
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| ==Honours==
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| {{details|List of Air India FC seasons}}
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| ===Domestic===
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| [[File:Durand Cup.jpg|thumb|right|The coveted [[Durand Cup]] trophy, won by Air India FC for one time]]
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| * '''[[National Football League (India)|National Football League 2nd Division]]'''
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| :{{Gold1}} Champions (1): 1999–00
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| * '''[[Durand Cup]]'''
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| :{{Gold1}} Champions (1): [[2012 Durand Cup|2012]]<ref name=DurandCupStart>{{cite web|last=Choudhury|first=Arunava|title=125th Durand Cup: Problems at the start of India’s oldest tournament|url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/08/16/125th-durand-cup-problems-at-the-start-of-indias-oldest-tournament/|work=Sportskeeda|access-date=16 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Air India win Durand Cup|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-02/top-stories/33548200_1_durand-cup-dodsal-mumbai-air-india|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103124019/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-02/top-stories/33548200_1_durand-cup-dodsal-mumbai-air-india|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2 September 2012}}</ref>
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| *'''[[Sikkim Gold Cup|Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup]]'''
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| :{{Gold1}} Champions (2): 1996,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/india/sikkim-governors-gold-cup/2010/final-stages/|title=Summary - Sikkim Governors Gold Cup - India - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway|website=Soccerway.com|access-date=7 May 2021}}</ref> 2006
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| :{{Silver2}} Runners-up (2): 2000, 2003
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| *'''[[MDFA Elite Division]]'''
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| :{{Gold1}} Champions (4): 2009–10, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17
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| *'''Mumbai Harwood League'''
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| :{{Gold1}} Champions (1): 2000<ref>[http://www.indianfootball.de/local/msd2000.html Mumbai Harwood League: statistics, league standings and archive] ''Indianfootball.de''. Retrieved 7 May 2021</ref>
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| *'''EK Nayanar Gold Cup'''
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| :{{Gold1}} Champions (1): 2008
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| * '''[[Rovers Cup]]'''
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| :{{Silver2}} Runners-up (2): 1994, 1996<ref name="RC">{{Cite web|title=India - List of Rovers Cup Finals|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/indiaroverscuphist.html|access-date=18 March 2021|website=www.rsssf.com}}</ref>
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| ==Achievements==
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| *In 2008, Air India created history by winning the '''EK Nayanar Gold Cup''' by defeating three foreign club teams – [[Associação Ferroviária de Esportes]] of [[Brazil]], [[Bayelsa|Bayelsa FC]] of [[Nigeria]] and [[Buenos Aires Football Club|Buenos Aires De Futbal]] of [[Argentina]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/institutional-sides-in-indian-football-the-story-of-ongc-fc-air-india-fc-and-hal-sc/|title=Institutional Sides In Indian Football: The Story Of ONGC FC, Air India FC And HAL SC|website=www.thehardtackle.com|access-date=23 January 2021}}</ref> Interestingly Bayelsa won [[Nigerian Professional Football League]] and reached semi-finals of [[CAF Champions League| African Confederations Cup]] once. Other than [[Mohun Bagan A.C.]] (1911 [[IFA Shield]]) and [[East Bengal FC]] ([[2003 ASEAN Club Championship|ASEAN Club Championship]]), no other [[List of football clubs in India|Indian club]] has defeated so many foreign teams to win a single tournament.
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| ==See also==
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| * [[List of Air India FC managers]]
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| * [[List of Air India FC seasons]]
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| * [[Cooperage Ground]]
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| * [[2012 Durand Cup Final]]
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| * [[List of football clubs in India|List of football clubs in Mumbai]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| ==External links==
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| * [http://www.goal.com/en-india/teams/india/796/air-india Air India Goal.com Profile]
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| {{I-League}}
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| {{Air India}}
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| [[Category:Air India F.C.| ]]
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| [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1952]]
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| [[Category:I-League clubs]]
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| [[Category:Football clubs in Mumbai]]
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| [[Category:1952 establishments in Bombay State]]
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| [[Category:Works association football clubs in India]]
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